This chart shows how a typical Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) operation sustains itself by ripping off the entry-level salespeople. Most of each of sales commission flows upwards, or to the “uplinks.” Additionally, there may be entry costs, like Cutco reps who have to buy their $150 demo kit.
consumer alert
Reader Lured Into 2 Different DS-MAX Interviews Via Monster.com Job Listings
By 6.1.07
Morris had an encounter with two different DS-MAX type places last December when he was looking for a job. In both instances, he was lured in through postings on Monster.com advertising entry-level marketing full-time jobs with full benefits.
Watch Out For This Cellphone Scam
By 5.23.07
Be wary of people calling your cellphone claiming to be from your service provider and offering to upgrade your phone packages. They may actually be independent dealers trying to make a quick buck.
Home Depot Sent Registered Sex Offender To Refinish Single Woman's Cabinets
By 5.22.07
“I asked for a kitchen, and I never thought I was going to get a sex offender.”
— Home Depot customer Niki Lebrecque on learning that the home improvement store sent a convicted sex offender with an extensive history of violent attacks to refinish her cabinets.
Watch Out If Your Credit Card Gets Sold To SST Card Services, Cause They're A Total Freakin' Scam
By 5.15.07
Consumer complaints are mounting against SST Card Services for deceptive and unlawful billing practices.
Beware Address Fraud
By 5.14.07
Identity thieves can take over your accounts, just by swapping their address for yours with your financial institutions. Banknet360 elucidates how this works:
If Your Contractor Doesn't Pay The Sub-Contractors, You Can Find Them Coming After You
By 5.11.07
If your contractor doesn’t pay his sub-contractrors, you can find yourself in a position where the sub-contractor is coming after your property and making you pay up, this cautionary tale from reader G warns…
Prevent ID Theft Of Dead Loved Ones
By 5.10.07
Based just on a name, and an address, crooks can purchase parts of a deceased person’s information from other crooks. This bits can be used to open up new bank accounts, credit cards, get a Social Security card, or used as a mask to conduct further crime.
Bank of America's "Perfect" Security System Actually Vulnerable To Phishing
By 4.13.07
Bank of America has an online security measure called SiteKey and says, “[W]hen you see your SiteKey, you can be certain you’re at the valid Online Banking website at Bank of America, and not a fraudulent look-alike site.”
How Waiters Steal Your Credit Card
By 4.11.07
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do except watch your credit card statement and report any suspicious transactions as soon as possible. — BEN POPKEN
UPDATE: Lowes Steals Money From Old Lady's House, Threaten To Sue Her For Slander
By 3.27.07
Remember that old lady who hired Lowes contractors to work on her house, only for them to steal $295 in cash hidden in her bedroom? And when she complained, the store manager threatened to sue her for slander? After we ran her story, a Lowes PR rep contacted us to get in touch with the complainant.
Massive Pet Food Recall After Animal Deaths
By 3.19.07
60 millions cans and pouches of pet food were recalled this weekend after being linked to 10 animal deaths by kidney failure.
Lowes Steals Money From Old Lady's House, Threatens To Sue Her For Slander
By 2.26.07
Subcontractors working for Lowes stole money hidden in a reader’s elderly mother’s bedroom. When the mother complained, Lowes threatened to sue her for slander.
Avoid Counterfeit Check Scams
By 2.13.07
Unwitting consumers are falling for a new twist on the old “advance fee scam.” In this variation, a consumer receives what looks like a legitimate check in the mail, either as “foreign lottery proceeds,” “prize money,” or even payment for goods via classifieds (which includes Craigslist and eBay).
Flowers From Colombia Not Tested For Toxins
By 2.13.07
Unless you’re trying to pull some gothic gesture, you may want to avoid giving your beloved flowers from Colombia this Valentine’s Day.
Scented Clorox 54% Weaker Than Regular Clorox
By 2.12.07
Scented Clorox contains less than half the bleach of regular Clorox, reports Mouseprint.
Protect Yourself From Purse Thieves At The Gas Station
By 1.31.07
To protect yourself, Sheriff Ken Jenne of Broward County, Florida offers common sense advice like
