Polaris Global Marketing Scam blog suspended
Sometime over the last 48 hours Rhamnousia’s ‘Polaris Global Marketing Scam?’ blog has been suspended for a violation of WordPress’ terms of service.
Initially I thought Polaris Global might have thrown some weight around to get the information removed but after having a quick look at the terms and conditions it seems to be just a routine suspension.
The ‘Polaris Global Marketing Scam?’ blog was hosted for free on WordPress’ inhouse hosting service. This meant that it had to comply with the WordPress Terms of Service.
Although I’m not 100% sure, the clause the ‘Polaris Global Marketing Scam?’ blog was in breach of appears to be;
Your blog is not named in a manner that misleads your readers into thinking that you are another person or company. For example, your blog’s URL or name is not the name of a person other than yourself or company other than your own.
Despite the business name Polaris Global Marketing not being actively promoted, it seems the clause applies to inactive business names too.
It’s interesting to note that WordPress runs on a complaints system stating that
Automattic (WordPress’ parent company) has not reviewed, and cannot review, all of the material, including computer software, posted to the Website, and cannot therefore be responsible for that material’s content, use or effects.
This indicates that there’s a good chance the folks at Polaris Global themselves put in a complaint and had the blog taken down.
Reader written-info recently left a comment indicating that Polaris Global are planning to release Beyond Freedom Decision in May 2010 and Beyond Freedom Action in September 2010. These two flagship product release dates are a whopping eight and twelve months respectively after Polaris Media Group was launched in September 2009.
Perhaps these release dates would be sooner if Polaris Global put in half as much effort into releasing their flagship products as they do seemingly trying to police the internet.
Update (26/04/2009): A new WordPress blog titled ‘Polaris Global’ has appeared and is being run by a ‘Jen’. Unlike the ‘Polaris Global Marketing Scam?’ wordpress blog this one is strictly about presenting Polaris Global in a positive light.
Unless Shane Krider had a sex change, or Rachel Oliver is publishing under an alias then I’m pretty sure ‘Jen’ doesn’t own Polaris Global.
I haven’t personally made a complaint as I can’t be bothered I’m not that petty. It’ll be interesting to see whether this blog is permitted.
Hey OZ – I am defo not a mouth piece for Polaris but can shed some light on the history of release dates for Beyond Freedom because I was there at the Super Saturday Event last September. They said that Departure would be in Jan, Decision by mid 2010 and Action by late 2010. So far they seem to be on schedule. Only time will tell.
Also mate, I don’t have access to any insider info – just complementing your research with stuff they’ve made public so far on websites/blogs/events that I know of.
I was also at the Super Sunday event and the information then was the BFE would be available Dec. Then the date changed to Jan 1 I didn’t receive my first module until Jan 17th and that was as a result of several emails to the company. This was supposed to be a 3 month interval, so with Jan 1 and three months makes it April 1st, it’s now April 25 and I have not received my 3rd module yet or my ‘ring’. I’ll keep you informed on when and if I received the products I’m not allowed to get a refund on.
Hey written I wasn’t claiming you were a mouth piece for Polaris, just that you were the person that brought the info about BF to my attention.
Thanks for the contributions. A lot of the information about Polaris Global that comes out are from people in the company themselves. This kind of makes it hard to pull the ‘it’s just randoms posting on the internet who have no idea about the company’ argument.
It looks like Jen added a disclaimer to her blog… might she be a little concerned that they’ll take her blog from her?
And this comment was posted on her “Rebuttal to Rhamnousia” post:
Looks like Polaris wants to remove all trace of Rhamnousia’s blog. I wonder if she’ll start another?
I like how the suspension of Rhamnousia’s blog, due to nothing to do with the credibility of the information presented, translates into the ‘information no longer being relevant’.
That’s the sound of Polaris Global burying its head in the sand…
In September last year, Polaris did an Aussie tour which was a training day to help associates with all the changes taking place. Shane and Rachel and EMC travelled to most states to conduct this training.
I attended the Sydney event and Shane told everyone that he was very well aware of the negative stuff being written on the internet. He advised everyone not to look for it or click on it as you would be adding to its power on Google. I stupidly listened to that advice for a while, until I got my senses back. How can you call yourself a business person and not know what is being said in the market place about your own company? Glad I found out.
When I think back to Shane’s speech now, he told the audience not to worry because he knows who these people are and that he will be dealing with them and they will be stopped. Only my opinion but he had a bit of a crazy look in his eyes!!
Hope Rhamnousia is OK and can continue to contribute in getting the message out there so no one else loses their life savings.
Ummm … I think there’s another explanation as to why Shane may have had that crazy look in his eyes. 😉 But in all seriousness, you bring up a great point.
That tour was in September. Here we are almost in May. Still no Beyond Freedom Evolution Complete. And no concrete conference dates set in stone. Oh, and on the horizon, Brent Payne and his cast of pissed off characters. And in the other corner, it’s the Lavenias and their pissed off posse. Should be interesting times here as those companies launch.
What are the Lavenia’s doing?
Give Opp: giveopp.com
They had a call yesterday, sounds like some kind of Scientology travel scam. Don Glanville was the scam artist behind the Reverse Funnel System, and John and Shannon Lavenia were instrumental in launching Polaris Global.
They call it Give Opp… they should call it Give Up!
giveopp does sound a bit tragic, all the more so perhaps because they are using it. takeopp might be more appropriate.
John and Shannon Lavenia Give Opp – travel – what next.
I heard from someone on the call last night that they have to pay $59 to sign up before they even get to know what it is fully about, and then it is discount travel – man have they not heard of expedia.com – must be desperate.
And what is sad is that a lot of people will get sucked into it, thinking they are following a great leader, whilst all they
are doing is lining Lavenia pockets!
… takeopp.com sounds more like it LC.
Polaris Global has laid off half it’s office staff over the last week. Looks like the North Star is about to collapse.
@Rhamnousia-pathetic?
How’s that for karma?
Hmm that’s certainly interesting. What’s the source of the information?
Also any idea how much total staff they have? Be interesting to know what ‘half’ means numbers wise. Wonder what the official explanation will be.
I heard it through the grapevine… it seems a Skype message went out from one of the terminated employees. Their office staff was around 5 or 6 people, so this would would put them down to just a couple of employees. I wonder if they will be able to handle the massive success of Polaris Global?
Rumor also has it that they plan on closing their office in Scottsdale Arizona.
Seems like Brent is building a new office somewhere in Scottsdale based on the pics. Shane is firing his Scottsdale office workers. Wouldn’t it be easier for Shane to hand the keys to Brent and have Brent hire the workers for his new deal?
I got the sense they joined WMI but then I could be wrong.
Does this mean nobody is getting the complete Evolution program?
Wouldn’t be surprised. I bet nobody gets refunds either.
More of us here need to go to google and search Polaris Global, scroll down and click the link to behindmlm to move this site to the top of the google page, it’s been moved from page 2 and is now link number 8 on page 1. Polaris Global scam brings up lots of oz related information on the scam that PolarisGlobal/LLI/PMG or whatever their name is going to be next week.
I just Googled Polaris Media and found Behindmlm.com on page 1. Yay!!!
and #1 spot…yippeee… Polaris is falling down falling down Polaris is falling down, hope every body jumps off before that happens.
Hey, Just curious, more members of the EMC found BehindMLM.com and left. In fact, Polaris Global corp. site took down the remaining EMC and just now have Shane, Rachel and Greg Strom under the “About Me.”
I wonder if Yonika and Paul are still moving to the United States to assist in the massive growth of Polaris over there? As for jumping off the ship, it seems more and more like the Titantic movie. Not enough life rafts the longer you stay on board.
Have the EMC actually resigned or has the Polaris website just been fiddled with?
Having a closer look at the Polaris Global website, it seems most of the EMC bio’s have been shifted to the product testimonials section.
I guess Polaris thought their testimonial section was looking a little bare.
And they still claim that ‘Beyond Freedom Evolution’ has changed their lives completely …did they get all 3 modules to claim this? How stupid do they think people are? Right from the moment before any of the BFE was even available people were claiming the BFE was phenomenal and changed their lives back in September, Oct, Dec… and then finally shipped in Jan was only the first module… and that left a lot to be desired. Looked like a hastily slapped together, bad grammar worse spelling and botched set of personal development program I’ve ever seen. Obviously they didn’t have Bob Proctor’s help on this one like he was obviously involved in Brent Payne’s original Beyond Freedom program. Stick with that one and you do see results in your life.
When I read that Scientology beliefs were not a part of Polaris, just read some of that Departure program… talks about setting your North Star which I understand is part of a Scientology programming. I don’t know much about that religion but I do know enough to NOT want to have anything to do with being associated with it.
Who really gives a shit!!!
Do u guys hav nothin beta to do? Just keep being negative and horrible to others and see where that gets u..
F@(k$n losers ahahahahhaha shocking!
@hon — clearly YOU have nothing better to do either. Not only that, you added nothing relevant to the discussion. Thanks for nothing but taking up random space.
As opposed to ripping them off blindly and then moving onto the next target?
Interesting that you associate criticism with negativity rather than the cold hard truth. Good luck with that.
I have just enquired about a business opportunity from a website and I have been directed to the Polaris Global Website. Doing my research I came across this blog. Where is the part of the business that scams. Is it that they make you buy these products that are expensive(i don’t know how much they cost). or is it that you won’t be able to sell it to others. I can find that ot is different to amway. So up to now it seems not so bad. So can someone tell me how it is a scam
The basic idea with Polaris is that you don’t make any real money unless you sell conference tickets. BFE is retail but it’s a pretty crappy commission compared to the conferences.
Naturally nobody is going to buy tickets to a conference you yourself haven’t been to, so in effect you’re strongly encouraged to attend the conferences which requires a significant investment on your part (and pays a commission to someone).
Then those that you recruit have to go and do the same and the system perpetuates. There’s zero market for the conferences at a retail level, those who attend are simply attracted to the business opportunity, which can be boiled down to convincing other people to attend the conferences.
Sign up, mention you’re not interested in attending conferences and see how quickly you are dropped like a cold brick.
I can so agree… this is what happened to me… basically I was encouraged to borrow… BORROW…. over $25,000 to pay for all levels up front because if I didn’t COMMIT to it myself.. how was I meant to sell it to others???? born yesterday – I don’t think so!!! …
interesting that the 2 people I know that are still ‘struggling’ with this career choice are both working 2 jobs just to pay for their “‘Lifestyle choice’ which by the way is no better than mine and at least I kept my full time job…. although I was “encouraged” continually to “””leave the herd” behind and commit and take ownership – whatever that is,….
but at the end of hte day you spend alot of hours flogging a dead horse to someone with no money just like you – it basically boils down to how well you can sleep at night – be rip off artist – or not@@@ its a scam and believe me they are not making the money they say they are!@!!!
have some common decency and be honest!!!
I also have made some enduiries into thie oppurtunity. I very quickly put this into the too good to be true category but decided after a bit more research that this could be ok.
I understand the conference sales are focused at the distributor, but i dont see a problem with that. The recruitment process essentially creates a market for the conferences. Yes they are expensive and I wont even pretend I know what the content of the conferences are about but I am told this upfront and also aknowledge this will provide the OPPURTUNITY to create some wealth, so it has more value to me than say a tony robbins event at two thirds the price.
One of the comments above refer to the BFE program as a slap together job. That is a little dissapointing to hear because if the course was good and really made a difference, you are getting value for your money. This seems to work best for someone very interested in personal development, that also has a desire to run a business/work from home, that is willing and able to put in the hours required, that lives the product they are selling. If you want just a work from home business, this might not be for you.
Regardless, places like this are very important for people like myself to make an informed decision, but just like you can find a page that talks the program up, you will find them that talk it down. I dont believe this to be a scam because although you are advised to purchase all products at the beginning, you dont have to. You can purchase one, do some of the business and see how you go. if it works you can reinvest if you like, if it doesn’t, stop.
I will continue to investigate the group itself, as well as investigating the refund process, if any. The idea of spending all that money on an event 12 months away worries me, I think if i did get that far, i would not purchase the tickets until it was around the corner.
I may be viewed as gullible, but i believe i am just taking a punt. Thanks to all that have commented.
@sceptic
Unfortunately, what you are describing is the essence of a pyramid scam, where your recruits pay for your expensive conferences and their recruits do exactly the same. This business model is completely unsustainable, and the last to enter the “business” lose all their investment.
Punters are always advised to bet only what they can afford to lose. Many Polaris punters have used borrowed funds for the punt.
@sceptic at heart:
Polaris Global Media’s former name was Liberty League International, and it collapsed in Australia in September 2009. Try to google “pyramid” + “Liberty League International” before you pay anything?
They haven’t changed the business model much since 2009. It’s still a “sell the opportunity to sell the opportunity”-model, an endless chain of recruiting. The seminars attached to this opportunity aren’t really necessary, and they can easily be replaced by something else.
Really, most people are not THAT interested in paying for seminars? They are much more interested in an opportunity to make some serious money? “Lifetime residual income” are fare more attractive than “$25,000 self development”?
Selling seminars is NOT illegal, but it becomes illegal when there is an opportunity attached to the ‘products’ – and when practically none of the ‘customers’ buy the products without such attachments.
None of the companies using the same business model seems to be able to sell seminars without any opportunity attached to them.
Wealth Masters International and LifePath Unlimited use/used the same business model, and they both have had trouble with authorities or/and have had one or more collapses. Both companies were founded by former LLI top earners.
At the last Sydney conference, Polaris guest speakers included Patrick Combes -ex Lifepath, ex Wealth Masters, who hops from one scam to the next exhorting the gullible to part with their cash and go “full boat”, get “activated” and otherwise be fleeced.
Guess who Patrick’s current wife is—- none other than Deanna Latson who parted company with Wealth Masters and their “Pure” scam recently.
COMPLETELY FALSE statement by m_norway:
@Lawrence:
Please be more specific?
* “Completely false” means “none of these companies were founded by former LLI top earners“.
* “Partially false” means that a part of my statement was wrong.
Both Kip Herriage and Karl Bessey have been in Liberty League International. Try to google “Kip Herriage Liberty League International“? And try the same with Karl Bessey?
I may be wrong in something here, so please be more specific?
Here is sources that connect each of the founders to LLI:
Patrick Combs: http://citizencorps.com/not-recommended/liberty-league-international/
Joe Neid: http://www.betternetworker.com/articles/view/joe-neid-review-and-information-about-joe-neid-can-he-be-trusted
Karl Bessey and Kip Herriage: http://mlmfiles.com/kip-herriage-and-karl-bessey/
I can’t find any source that connects Dave Mackenzie to LLI, so there is a chance that M_Norway might be 20 % wrong.
Patrick Combs was hired talent at several LLI events. Never a top earner, not even a marketer. Also, not even an actual founder of LPU.
Joe Neid was a corporate employee of LLI, never a marketer or top earner.
Karl Bessey and Kip Herriage were not affiliated with LLI in any capacity.
Dave Mackenzie was not affiliated with LLI.
M_Norway’s statement is Completely False, as opposed to much of the content on this blog which is only partly false, as is the case with many such blogs, and should not be regarded as “source” material.
Even bloggers with good intentions sometimes get their facts mixed up, but even more so when objectivity is clouded by contempt. Be sensible when googling.
MLMFiles is run by Ryan Nelson, WMI corporate as Vice President of Internet Strategy, and it states;
I don’t see why Nelson has any reason to lie about this.
Reader comments aside, I’m all ears if the primary content is as you state inaccurate. One readers comments doesn’t all of a sudden negate the accuracy of a blog’s primary content.
Your own comment is a great example of this.
@Lawrence:
OK, I was wrong. Here’s the correct statement:
Kip Herriage and Karl Bessey as top earners. Correct?
Joe Neid as employer. Correct?
Just forget Dave MacKenzie and Patrick Combs. The expression ‘founded by’ only requires that one of the founders is correct in each company. Correct?
LLI was founded in 2001, and Karl and Kip met in 1999 according to Kip’s CV. I believe they have met in another company, and I’ll guess it was Global Prosperity Group.
When I searched on the internet in 2009 I found a lot of independent stories confirming that founders and ‘founding members’ of WMI left LLI in 2005/2006. This also includes Jay Kubassek and Aaron Parkinson (founder/cofounder of CarbonCopyPRO).
Please refer to some sources if you mean this is not correct?
OK, then. Since you seem to know everything, which company were they affiliated with before launching WMI? I have asked Kip and Karl about this, but they will not answer the question.
Very few people involved with LLI earned any money at all. I guess Joe Neid would not work for LLI for a number of years without getting paid. I am pretty sure that he made more money on LLI than 95 % of all other people working for or affiliated with LLI, ergo a top earner.
Take a look at this (out of date) web page which promotes LPU:
http://www.aboutlpu.info/
Here, Combs is named as co-founder of LPU.
(and what a surprise to find Deanna Latson there too…)
I will try to settle this discussion about founders and employers, and not wait for any corrections from Lawrence.
I will guess we all had som mixed up facts, and this also includes Ryan Nelson. As far as I know Liberty League International was founded in 2001.
My original post was about the business model, so the discussion about the founders is not very important. Lawrence can still add corrections if he like.
Yes, Ryan’s statement is incorrect. I don’t know that he would deliberately lie, probably just failure to get his facts straight whilst blogging. (And yes, M_Norway is correct that LLI started in 2001)
Kip & Karl met at a finance seminar in 1999 which was hosted by none of the companies that have been mentioned here.
In my opinion, grouping many companies in the high-ticket space seems way too general, as their differences outweigh their similarities. Polaris, in particular, is a travesty. Every person capable of discerning thought has left that “organization”.
Out of curiosity, why wouldn’t you just go ahead and mention the company if you know it. Is it some sort of big secret?
Wouldn’t happen to be Global Prosperity Group would it? I believe a few of the LLI crew came from there.
I’d disagree. Fundamentally you’re looking at conferenced priced so high the only inherent value in them is the business opportunity attached. As such you get a near 100% turnout rate that is just members or prospective members interested in the business opportunity, as such there is no retail or retail value to the products.
That’s a pretty big consistent mechanic that in my opinion overshadows any other difference or similarities between the big ticket MLMs.
I know this information for a FACT. Kip and Karl met in Global prosperity. Neither were ever members of LLI.
Joe Neid was an employee of LLI never a top income earner.
Patrick Combs was a hired speaker for LLI and WMI. He was the product developer for LPU and then later named as a founder.
Anybody here ever see what T Harv charges for a seminar?
@realdeal
Global Prosperity crashlanded in 2001. Kip and Karl must have been somewhere between 2001 and 2005/2006 – when they founded WMI?
I checked these things in 2009, when it was easier to find such info. One of the sources was RipoffReport, and here’s a part of the story from there.
This example doesn’t involve Kip and Karl, but it’s just an example. I found a lot of info in 2009 for all the top leaders in WMI and CCPro, from different sources with different stories.
I spent a lot of hours in 2009, and I’m not very tempted to repeat the work. I’ll prefer to accept that Kip and Karl were ‘somewhere else’ between 2001 and 2005.
I found no info from the years 1999 to 2001 for Kip and Karl, but the most WMI/LLI-similar consept was Global Prosperity Group.
How about the bottom line; if someone is interested in getting involved in a MLM or Top Tier company is Polaris Global a good investment.
It appears to me that the opportunity is severely limited by the investment required.
Am I wrong?