My cousin is about to give up her career as a teacher to join a pyramid scheme

[OurHouseInTheMiddle]

AIBU to tell her that she is insane? I cannot cope with her Facebook posts anymore either! She has honestly become brainwashed.

I know a police officer who does one of the hun MLM things and I feel similarly .. I hope she never actually gives up her career.

I would have to be truthful.

Is it Arbonne? My cousin got into that recently but she can afford the losses.

It's The Body Shop. But apparently she is also joining one called FM perfume

Oh God. Hun! She says that all the time and I swear she had never once said hun in her life before. And babe!

That must be so hard to watch. They do operate a lot like cults with the brainwashing and alienation from anybody who isn't "supportive." There's probably nothing you can do.

The snarky bitch in me says that if she's daft enough to fall for that bollocks then she absolutely shouldn't be responsible for educating children.

But that doesn't really help you. I'd find info online and do your best to dissuade her.

You wont be thanked for interfering. On the plus side, teachers at often I demand, so a career break may not be completely disastrous.

She can't be that clever enough to teach anyway if she has fallen for this. Who in their right mind would except for desperate or vulnerable or very stupid or naive people?

@Ohalrightthen

The snarky bitch in me says that if she's daft enough to fall for that bollocks then she absolutely shouldn't be responsible for educating children.

But that doesn't really help you. I'd find info online and do your best to dissuade her.

I’m afraid I agree with this 😬

It seems like every other woman in my town has become a body shop rep. My otherwise smart friend is totally taken in by it, she has a cupboard full of bodyshop products so she can provide pretty much any sample, it must have cost her hundreds of pounds. I just dont understand it, it's cheaper to buy directly from bodyshop with discounts.

How direct you can be with her about this depends on your relationship with her, I was very direct when someone close to me when she became an Ann Summers rep, her higher up told her to run competitions to get her started on sales (she's skint) I told her she is wasting money she doesn't have on a sex toy for a stranger who's never going to buy anything off her, luckily she stopped.

Honestly, it's awful. I phoned her on Sunday for a chat but she said she was too busy to chat, was about to have a massive online "business meeting" with her "team". Cringe.

If you think there's any chance of saving her then link her this woman's story:

ellebeaublog.com

Not the same MLM but they all use the same tactic. Otherwise leave her to it, whilst passively aggressively mentioning you hope she actually manages to do what others don't out of MLMs, an actual profit.

Agreed with ellbeau blog. Also worth checking out /r/antimlm on Reddit.

In my experience you let them get on with it and then let them figure it out.

Don’t buy from them, don’t tell them it’s a great idea, don’t turn up to their selling parties because all you’re doing is giving them false hope.

But be prepared for them to get angry with you at some point because they’ve suddenly realised they’ve wasted their time and money!

Good luck!

This video realms about profit in FM world

I had someone on Facebook announce that she's so excited about her new business, being an entrepeneur, no details on the company. It all screamed MLM so I sent some information on MLM's. She defriended me.

Yes, you should probably send her some info, but she won't thank you for it (yet).

This might help too

www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/is-it-really-possible-to-make-money-in-an-mlm-we-do-the-sums/

She's been pulled in. Talking to her now won't help but supporting her when it inevitably falls apart would be good.

Send her a link to the Elle Beau blog for a warts and all account

Someone on here shared a BBC documentary a few weeks ago too. It said the same sort of thing but was quite shocking.

Why on earth would she consider giving up teaching for this, rather than doing the two side by side for a bit (so when she works out she can't make any money from it she still has a job?)

Honestly, I'm just so sad for her. She is a single mum to 3 kids and was on benefits. She put herself through uni and turned her and her children's lives around. She was hoping to buy her council property next year. I was so proud of her and can't believe she's fallen for this crap.

@plipplops

Why on earth would she consider giving up teaching for this, rather than doing the two side by side for a bit (so when she works out she can't make any money from it she still has a job?)

They've convinced her she will earn mega bucks if she commits to it full time, and that she will have all this extra time with her kids too.

The snarky bitch in me says that if she's daft enough to fall for that bollocks then she absolutely shouldn't be responsible for educating children.

You know that the people who fall for this are mostly women stuck with few prospects, who want to earn a little bit of money. They are targeted by the mlms, and sold a lie. Doesn't make them daft. In most cases they're desperate.

I know someone who has recently gave up teaching for a MLM. It’s extremely hard watching her crash and burn (not like she knows it yet). Unfortunately she’s fallen for ‘big ticket items’ and that’s why all MLM fail as they only sell smaller items and get smaller commission.

I tried gently explaining to her that nobody is going to make money selling a single £3000 air condition unit especially off Facebook. Apparently you have to buy two to sign up (which is fine as there’s a credit card you can get!!)

She’s completely tunnelled vision. God knows how much debt she’s going to end up with.

Awful, awful people praying on her. The only plus side to this is that your cousin will be able to pick up her career easier than some.