There is no information on the OneBuckCycler indicating who owns or runs the business.

The OneBuckCycler website domain (“onebuckcycler.com”) was registered on the 19th of November 2015, however the domain registration is set to private.

Someone going by the name of “William Benedict Adams” is admin of the official OneBuckCycler Facebook group, but whether or not this is a legitimate profile is unclear.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]

Mid 2014 saw Solavei drowning in $63 million dollars of debt, which in turn lead to the company filing for bankruptcy.

Initial vendor costs and affiliate commissions were cited as primary reasons for the filing.

What sounded like the end of the company later transitioned into maintaining Solavei’s business operations, albeit on a tight budget.

Just shy of a year and a half later it appears that, even on a tight budget, Solavei’s business model still isn’t feasible.

In a video announcement made within the twenty-four hours, CEO Ryan Wuerch has announced the end of Solavei as we know it. [Continue reading…]

Stream launched in 2005, with the company today claiming to be

the largest direct selling energy company in the world, with over $7 billion in revenue in just six states.

Based out of Texas in the US, Stream is headed up by President and CEO, Mark Schiro (right).

As per Schiro’s Stream corporate bio, he

previously served as president of his personal investment firm, STI Investments Ltd., and STI Masonry LLC, an architectural paving products manufacturer.

Steam appears to be Schiro’s first MLM venture as an executive.

As to the company itself, in 2009 two class action lawsuits were filed against Stream. Both lawsuits alleged Stream operated ‘as a pyramid scheme which is substantially more active in recruiting sales associates than in recruiting new customers‘.

The lawsuit in Georgia was dismissed on procedural grounds, with litigation in Texas ongoing.

October 2015 saw a class of plaintiffs in the case decertified, leaving two plaintiffs standing.

The two remaining plaintiffs have requested a rehearing with the full Fifth Circuit.

The case will be reheard only if a majority of the 15 active justices now sitting on the Fifth Circuit agree to do so.

Update 10th October 2016 – On September 30th the Texas Fifth Circuit Appeals Court upheld RICO class-certification. /end update

Earlier this Solavei filed its own lawsuit against Stream, alleging breach of contract and theft of trade secrets.

Back in June the case was dismissed via summary judgement, with the court finding ‘Solavei had no evidence whatsoever to support its groundless allegations‘.

A press-release published on June 25th by Stream claimed

Stream will pursue its own counterclaims against Solavei and two of its corporate officers – CEO Ryan Wuerch and General Counsel Rick White – for charges of defamation and tortious interference with Stream’s business.

As at the time of publication I wasn’t able to find anything further. Ryan Wuerch meanwhile announced yesterday that Solavei has collapsed.

Stream has also had run ins with state regulators, with Texas fining

Stream nearly $100,000 in 2011 and 2012 for violating customer protection rules.

Read on for a full review of the Stream MLM business opportunity. [Continue reading…]

There is no information on the Money Booster website indicating who owns or runs the business.

The Money Booster website domain (“money-booster.com”) was registered on the 14th of November 2015, however the domain registration is set to private.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]

Azaya Blue launched in early 2011 and is headed up by co-founder Katalin Kekedi (also credited as Kata Kekedi).

Neither the Azaya Blue website, Facebook profile or website domain registration lists a location for Azaya Blue’s business operations.

Kekedi’s LinkedIn profile location is listed as Washington in the US, which I assume is where Azaya Blue are based.

Kekedi’s LinkedIn profile also lists her as a co-founder of Azaya Blue, with the other founders not disclosed or mentioned on the Azaya Blue website.

As per Kekedi’s Azaya Blue corporate bio;

As a new mom and designer working in the fashion industry, I quickly realized the confines of the corporate structure would not fit my lifestyle.

Instead I pursued my dream of creating lavish, must have womens’ accessories, and began making prototypes on the family dining room table.

The Azaya Blue collection was born and named after my daughter Aziza Maya.

My first Azaya Blue collection landed nationwide on Nordstrom store shelves. Production quickly moved from the kitchen table to overseas.

Since then, my designs have been a presence at Nordstrom. They have sold at Henry Bendel, Fred Meyer and other retail chains, as well as at small boutiques from Arizona to Australia, from California to Qatar.

It was during this period, in the midst of doing pop up boutiques at Henry Bendel and Nordstrom, that several friends asked about opportunities to do private Home Boutiques.

So the story goes, this prompted the founding of Azaya Blue.

Azaya Blue itself is Kekedi’s first venture into MLM, with previous experience seeing her work ‘as a fashion and product designer in Hungary, Holland and the United States.‘

Read on for a full review of the Azaya Blue MLM business opportunity. [Continue reading…]

With his DFRF Enterprises Ponzi empire in ruins and a criminal court case looming, Daniel Filho has brought in the big guns.

Well, he’s brought in something… but to what end we’re not sure.

In an affidavit filing by self-styled attorney-in-fact Lynn Schmaltz, a number of amusing demands are made. [Continue reading…]

On September 29th 2015, Thomas A. Seaman was appointed Receiver through the SEC’s USFIA Ponzi case.

This appointment grants the Receiver

full powers of an equity receiver, including, but not limited to, full power over all assets and property belonging to, being managed by or in the possession or control of the Receivership Entities, and was immediately authorized, empowered and directed to take certain actions as set forth in the Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”).

A TRO was granted against USFIA and owner Steve Chen, it has since been converted into a preliminary injunction.

Pursuant to the TRO and PI Order (“Appointment Orders”), the Receiver has been charged with, among other things,

(1) assuming control over the Receivership Entities and their assets (“Receivership Assets”),

(2) performing an accounting of the assets and financial condition of the Receivership Entities,

(3) investigating, locating, and recovering Receivership Assets,

(4) pursuing claims and causes of action of the Receivership Entities, and

(5) preparing reports for the Court.

The Receiver has successfully taken possession of funds in bank accounts frozen pursuant to the Appointment Orders, real and personal property, and documents and records from the numerous sources

As per the appointment orders, on the 13th of November the USFIA Receiver filed his first report with the court.

This report contains a summary of work performed by the Receiver thus far, as well as his preliminary observations and recommendations.

Below is a summary of the key points of interest in the 36 page report. [Continue reading…]

There is no information on the Ad Profit website indicating who owns or runs the business.

The Ad Profit website domain (“adprofit.in”) was registered on the 22nd of September 2015, with “Piyush Makwana” listed as the owner. An address in Gujarat, India is also provided.

In September 2013 Makwana launched Get Paid To Click, a Ponzi scheme offering a 120% ROI on $1 investments.

By the end of 2013 Get Paid To Click had collapsed. On social media, Makwana complained about a lack of new investors from October (a month after launch).

I wasn’t able to dig up any further MLM activity from 2014 onwards until Makwana launched Ad Profit this week.

Read on for a full review of the Ad Profit MLM business opportunity. [Continue reading…]

When Vemma’s Young People Revolution (read: Alex Morton’s downline) jumped ship for Jeunesse, there was a bit of confusion surrounding the different product lines.

Awkward videos and testimonials began to pop up, from people who clearly didn’t give a crap about skincare.

Lip-service to the FTC or a genuine about-face on a product niche they’d previously expressed no interest in, but were now wildly excited about?

Who knows.

What we do know though is that this weekend Jeunesse unveiled a new product range under its existing Nevo energy drink line.

Eerie dejavu or am I just being too damn cynical?
[Continue reading…]

There is no information on the JuanDaan website indicating who owns or runs the business.

The JuanDaan website domain (“juandaan.com”) was registered on the 14th of September 2015, however the domain registration is set to private.

As per the JuanDaan website:

What does “JuanDaan” stands for?

Juan –One/You

Daan – Way

Juan Daan – One Way or Your Way, which represent the Internet Super Highway and JuanDaan is the way to promote Advertisements.

Much of the marketing material for JuanDaan is in Filipino, with the owner(s) of the company also likely based there. Why this information is not provided on the JuanDaan website however is a mystery.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]