Our Gas Club Review: Troy Mason still at it with gas pyramids
Our Gas Club’s website doesn’t directly provide company ownership or executive information.
For that you have to specifically visit the “webinars” section, wherein it is disclosed Troy Mason is President and CEO of the company.
BehindMLM first came across Mason back in 2013 with Gas Club of America.
Gas Club of America was a simple matrix-based pyramid scheme, combined with penny auctions.
Penny auctions were a thing at the time, mostly owing to success of the by then shutdown Zeek Rewards Ponzi scheme.
Other MLM companies launched by Troy Mason include Zlicense (2015) and ZBlackCard (2018).
As recounted by Mason in an April 8th 2022 Our Gas Club corporate webinar;
I saw a trend, okay, that I’d seen before, okay.
And so I want to make this perfectly clear to you guys. When I saw this trend started to happen, it was something that was happening back in 2008 I think it was, in which I noticed that kinda the gas prices were starting to creep up.
I watched it for a minute and I sad, “Waitaminute, hold on. This is getting ready to repeat 2008.”
And so we started preparing back over four months ago, for what’s happening right now today.
Our Gas Club’s website domain was registered on March 2nd, 2022.
Figuring there was a high probability Mason had launched other gas schemes between 2008 and 2022, I ran a search and came across Ztegrity.
Note the date of the video, November 4th 2021. This loosely fits in with Mason’s “four months ago” claim above.
Here’s where things get interesting. Prior to being rebooted as the precursor for Our Gas Club, Ztegrity was a forex opportunity.
In June 2021, the CFTC sued Mason and Ztegrity for fraud.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced today that it has filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas against Troy Mason of Houston, Texas and his Texas-based company, ZTegrity, Inc., charging them with fraudulent solicitation and failing to register with the CFTC as required by the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).
The complaint alleges that from at least October 2019 to the present the defendants used various websites and social-media platforms to fraudulently market their forex trading pool as a version of a savings account that offered a greater yield with similarly low or no risk.
The defendants called this forex trading pool “The Black Club” and “The Forex Savings Club,” which their website claimed had received over $460,000 from 411 participants.
The complaint further alleges the defendants induced participation in their forex trading pool by falsely claiming to “guarantee” to repay participants the funds they contributed to their individual “Forex Savings Accounts” and falsely offered participants “with a 100% certainty” portions of the “substantial profit[s]” to be generated using participants’ pooled funds to trade forex.
I pulled up the case docket. On June 9th the CFTC filed an emergency motion seeking an ex parte statutory restraining order.
The motion was granted on June 10th, prohibiting Mason from
withdrawing, transferring, removing dissipating, or disposing of any funds, assets or other property received in connection with (the) unlawful operation of the Forex Savings Club.
Mason was also prohibited from destroying and related Ztegrity evidence.
On July 2nd the CFTC filed for a preliminary injunction, which would supersede the already granted statutory restraining order.
A preliminary injunction was granted against Mason and Ztegrity on July 13th.
As of September 1st, a trial has been scheduled for February or March 2023. Mason filed his response to the CFTC’s lawsuit on September 23rd.
Ztegrity’s late 2021 gas offering was put together after the CFTC shut down Mason’s forex scheme.
For all intents and purposes Ztegrity’s gas offering is a reboot of Gas Club of America, and Our Gas Club is a rename/reboot of Ztegrity.
The rebranding is likely an attempt to distance public association with the CFTC’s Ztegrity fraud lawsuit.
Read on for a full review of Our Gas Club’s MLM opportunity.
Our Gas Club’s Products
Our Gas Cub markets $19.95 access to an app-based discount platform.
No specifics about the platform are provided.
Our Gas Club’s Compensation Plan
Our Gas Club’s compensation plan pays on recruitment of $89.95 a month fee-paying affiliates.
Commissions are paid down two levels of recruitment (unilevel):
- level 1 – $25 a month
- level 2 – $15 a month
Commissions are paid each month as long as recruited affiliates continue to pay their $89.95 fee.
Joining Our Gas Club
Our Gas Cub affiliates must first sign up for the $19.95 app-based discount portal.
Affiliate membership is then $79.95 a month.
Our Gas Club Conclusion
The “gas” side of Our Gas Club is marketing for what is otherwise a bog-standard pyramid scheme.
The ruse is Our Gas Club earnings are “more than enough to cover the cost of most people’s monthly gas usage”.
Back in 2013, I wrote this of Gas Club of America;
What any of this has to do with “gas” I have no idea.
The same is true of Our Gas Club. The upfront pitch is “help cover rising gas costs”. What is not openly disclosed is this is achieved through an unsustainable pyramid scheme.
Our Gas Club affiliates sign up for the discount platform for $19.95. Whatever the third-party commission is on this is pure profit for Troy Mason.
Then you sign up for “Platinum Membership”, which doubles as affiliate membership, for $79.95 a month.
Keep paying this fee and recruit others who do the same to get paid.
Our Gas Club does provide marketing material to promote the scheme with but that doesn’t change the pyramid nature of the business model.
As per the FTC, MLM companies without significant retail sales are pyramid schemes.
One could argue the discount platform constitutes a retail service. While it very well might, it has nothing to do with Our Gas Club’s MLM opportunity.
100% of commissions paid out by Our Gas Club are tied to recruitment.
Speaking of the FTC, Our Gas Club is also likely violating the FTC Act:
The above is clearly an income claim, which would fall under deception. Should the FTC investigate, I suspect the only person who comes anywhere near to making six figures a year in Our Gas Club is Troy Mason.
It goes without saying running a pyramid scheme is also a violation of the FTC Act.
As with all MLM pyramid schemes, when affiliate recruitment dries up so too will commissions.
Downlines will stop paying $79.95 a month, seeing those above them stop getting paid. They stop paying their fees and before you know it an irreversible collapse is triggered.
The math behind MLM pyramid schemes guarantees the majority of participants lose money.
Given Ztegrity was the precursor for Our Gas Club and Mason is running both schemes, I’ve added the CFTC’s Ztegrity lawsuit to BehindMLM’s case docket calendar.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue track the case.
Update 13th September 2022 – Troy Mason has rebooted Our Gas Club as 25X Club.
Update 12th October 2022 – Troy Mason has settled Ztegrity forex fraud charges with the CFTC for $943,570.
I’m so glad someone finally covered this one. After the CFTC stuff, he “raised” or better yet scammed more money from his followers through “Z Black Table”, and then “ZTEG1”, his take on Crypto…so money people out of money.
Just lookup “ZTEG1”, and see how that went.
Sad part is, this OurGasClub scam has NOTHING to do with gas. He’s only using the word gas because he’s promising people to pay back in gas cards.
Whats even sadder is that people are falling for it.
He still continues with all the false claims, lecturing people about money when it’s so clear that he’s scamming people for even more money so he has enough to pay back CFTC when his hearing happens in 2023.
At one point he was even telling his ZTegrity people to submit reviews with BBB, I wonder what happened to it now…lol, not accredited anymore.
I purchased a monthly membership in a business (ztegrity) for $70, which has changed company names several times (ztegrity, free gas club, and is now the 25xclub) in April 0f 2021.
After joining the business I purchased a membership in a club (black table) that was supposed to produce an aged corporation and corporate funding for $5,000.
The club objective has changed several times over the last year and has now completely stalled and taken the back seat to Troy Masons (CEO) quick money or build wealth ideas. (crypto, gas club, now 25x private club).
I have waited over a year and there are hundreds of black table members being quieted by small random programs with an opportunity of getting money.
Each program we entered we had to pay an entry fee and another fee if we received money. Normally 20%-25% on the back end.
I have reached out several times via email, text message and phone calls starting early June.
My initial email and text requests were ignored, so I called him several times. He finally answered and asked for a month to get my refund money because he says he has no money.
He’s saying that the government came in and took all of his money which included our member’s money.
I have grown tired of the lies, false promises and ponzi scheme antics.
Now my calls go to voicemail and he isn’t responding to my emails.
Mason has been sued by the CFTC. Might be worth reaching out to them.
I’ll give it a shot.
Just sayin! I’m reaching out to the CFTC!! And so should you!!
The last two years: (Had us write a BBB Review)
1) Ztegrity
2) Forex – The Black Club
3) Zlicence
4) Brand U Cards
5) MetLCard – ZBlack Carf
6) Crypto – Zteg 1 and 2
7) Authorcation
8) Air device program
9) Weight loss program
10) Meta Bank
11) The Black Table
12) Free Gas Club
13) Our Gas Club
14) 25X Club
15) Membership monthly fees
16) To name a few….
***My Return On Investment (ROI) = $0.00
There also needs to be a Class Action Suit on this man!!
I can go on and on, not to mention the friends, associate I lost that joined. Based on my word alone, I would never dare to approach them with a potential business idea etc. (They probably wouldn’t) It’s Embarrassing to say the least.
I filed complaints with the Texas attorney general, the ftc, and the cftc.
Good Evening Sir,
Where can I also file complaint! There’s a bunch of us that want to follow suit!! There needs to be an Action Suit against this man!!
Thanks Edwin
Uh see #6 above?
Good morning sir,
I agree.
I contacted the Texas attorney general, FTC & the CFTC.
Gotta get the word out about the suit.
My husband was involved in this scam l called Troy Mason to find out what my husband was involved in and that he had transition and we wanted more info about the company and his investment.
I found info that showed his investment but nothing about the return of his investment.
I have left messages for Troy and Fiona and no answer. I would love to be a part of a class action lawsuit so I could get some answers.
Everybody wants to be part of a class-action. Nobody wants to file one.
Troy Mason is now promoting a Business called 25 X Club. He has Videos on You Tube. So beware and do not join this!
To file a complaint with Texas Attorney General:
texasattorneygeneral.gov/
Click on the menu tab: File Consumer Complaint tab, Common Scams and scroll through the info and file!
To file complaint with CFTC:
whistleblower.gov/
(Submit a Tip – Form TRC)
To file complaint with FTC:
reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
Follow the prompts!
I apologize that you feel as if you’ve been scammed. The services we provide are not about scamming people. We are a network of individuals seeking to expand horizons, while increasing cashflow in ways that allow others to set and achieve goals.
Though our services may, at time require a long-term commitment, our team is determined to achieve those goals. We sincerely apologize for any misunderstandings that may have lead you to draw such conclusions.
P.S-In my 20yrs of service I never been asked to write a review.
Obvious PR statement is obvious.
The goal of pyramid schemes like Our Gas Club and now 25X Club is to steal money from people. Let’s not beat about the bush.
Our goal is to help others set and achieve long-term goals, that allow us all to experience the benefits of joining our club.
A club designed to help us all advance financially. Though at times we experience set-backs, business was designed for such curves.
We are not in the business of stealing money. My sincerest apologies for you being so sadly mistaken.
to steal money through a pyramid scheme. Otherwise you wouldn’t be in and promoting a pyramid scheme.
Calling a pyramid scheme a “club” doesn’t change the fraudulent pyramid scheme business model.
This is mathematically impossible in a pyramid scheme.
Getting sued by the CFTC for fraud isn’t a “setback”. It’s a consequence of running a fraudulent buisiness.
Pyramid schemes exist solely to steal money. Promoters of pyramid schemes do so for the sole reason of stealing money.
Save your apologies for your victims. You’re lies don’t fly here but they will unfortunately draw new victims into your scam.
This isn’t a scam, I too have time and money invested in these ventures. You’re stating I’m a victim, (Ozedit: snip, see below)
Whether you have money in a pyramid scheme is irrelevant to it being a scam.
Our Gas Club, 25X Club and all of Troy Mason’s other MLM opportunities over the years have one thing in common: retail isn’t part of the MLM business model.
In your next comment you’ll address how, contrary to FTC guidelines, an MLM company without retail sales isn’t a pyramid scheme. I’ll be marking anything else as spam.
Never happened. Derails removed.
Oz the company has multiple products available for distribution. Those products are for members only. Maybe you haven’t had time to check the website.
You just re-confirmed Our Gas Club/25X Club has no retail customers. I already know this – it’s what makes them pyramid schemes.
I’ve purchased multiple products from the company. That wouldn’t be an accurate statement.
You’re an affiliate. You are not a retail customer.
Our Gas Club/25X Club has no retail customers.
I’m a member of Sam’s club. (Ozedit: derails removed)
Sam’s Club isn’t MLM. If you wish to discuss non-MLM business models do it somewhere else.
Look I’ve been running BehindMLM for 14 years. I’ve heard all the excuses.
MLM + insignificant (or no) retail = pyramid scheme. No exceptions.
Latest FTC guidance to MLM industry emphasizes retail sales
FTC: MLM companies with little to no retail activity are illegal
This is the part where you either be honest and admit you don’t care 25X Club is a pyramid scheme so long as you’re stealing money, or you keep coming up with cliches I shoot down.
Please don’t waste my time with the latter.
I started selling Avon when I was 16. So you’re saying (Ozedit: derails removed)
I don’t care where you started or what companies you’ve joined. What I’m saying is very clear:
Our Gas Club/25X Club has no retail customers, making it a pyramid scheme.
Last derail warning.
You’ve a wonderful night. I was just making sure you realize, if I didn’t sell those products, I didn’t get paid.
I didn’t come here for a battle. I came here, only because someone sent me this link.
Adding products to a pyramid scheme doesn’t legitimize fraud.
Best of luck with the scamming. It’s a shame you couldn’t be honest about it.
What am I not being honest about?
See above. I believe we’re done here.
Our initial products were career kids portraits. Those portraits included a career guide that helped kids set and achieve positive career goals.
Each career came with a career building guide. We photographed kids dressed as whatever they wanted to be. That’s why I’ve no clue what your argument is.
We were built on a positive foundation, that’s why I joined the company.
Adding products to a pyramid scheme doesn’t legitimize fraud.
MLM + no retail sales = pyramid scheme
You joined a pyramid scheme to steal money from recruits. It is the only reason people join pyramid schemes.
Pretending you still don’t know why Our Gas Club/25X Club is a pyramid scheme, when I’ve explicitly laid it out you, is wasting both our time. Goodbye.
We’d like to hire you to assist in helping resolve the issues that are stopping us from moving forward? We need you to help us become the company that defies these barriers.
It’s obvious you’ve all the questions we need answered, to advance. Come help us get on top of this.
Thanks for the offer Gail but I don’t do private consulting. Any research I do is published here on BehindMLM.
Based on that research, you can stop running a pyramid scheme.
If what you’re offering isn’t viable to be sold to retail customers, then the business itself isn’t viable.
No idea where Gail came from but geez, that KoolAid is spilling over – more like gushing & its purple!