This is a scam isn’t it?

[Namechabgeforthissss]

I’m pretty sure it is but I’m actually quite surprised by the tone of the messages now. I moved into a lovely neighbourhood and one of the neighbours same age kids as mine, same profession as mine too so we had a lot in common. I thought she was a lovely person with a lovely family so I wanted to get to know her more.

It started off with just a simple text asking if I wanted to make extra money on the side which I said I don’t have time right now as I’m still settling into new home and new job. Few weeks later another one and to be polite I asked details and she said I just need to give her £800 to become her partner on the business and then sign up at least 4 more people and I can earn £1200 a month! I told her again really politely I don’t have time do I won’t sign up. She’s messaged me again a few more times including this morning at 6am! Saying she really wants me to have this opportunity as it won’t come again. I obviously know it’s a scam but it’s put me off getting to know her better. Our kids are in same school so I wanted the kids to get friendly but I’m feeling like completely blanking her now. It’s such a pity as I think it would have been nice for the kids. Am I right to avoid her?

husband said it’s a pyramid scheme. I obviously will not be giving her any money on any grounds or signing up to some weird partnership

Maybe she does not quite realize its a scam yet herself? Perhaps she paid someone else 800 and now needs to get 4 people to do the same. I would politely decline and mention to her that it sounds like a pyramid scheme and to be careful with it.

It's obviously a scam although maybe she doesn't realize it? Anyway, you just have to politely say No Thanks - and keep repeating that. You don't even have to give a reason.

Absolutely a scam.

I don't entertain such people. They only use your friendship for their business purposes. They aren't real friends.

It's Utility warehouse. I've done it before myself, it's not a scam as such, it's a marketing thing but it relies on people becoming "partners" and then selling their utility bill products - gas and electricity, internet, phone / SIM cards, they also include home insurance etc. the more you sign up to with them, the more of a discount you get. They get you to "practice" the sell on people you know, then once you've run out of people to switch their bills, they will want you to sign up other partners. You can earn money but it's commission based. I have a friend who did very well on it and signed up loads of other partners. I gave it a go and I hated it, nobody signed up (probably because I'm not very good at selling things!) and I wasted loads of time for nothing.
I did not have to pay anything up front though - so I don't know what that's about. I wouldn't be parting with any money! If you want all the details I'd go on their website and see what it's all about yourself. The girl will want you to do it through her, because she'll get money for signing you up.

When Ds was in Reception I dropped him off and another Mum who I didn't know at all popped up next to me and said "I will walk back to the car park with you". I said Ok and she started talking about work and how great it was to be able to do the school run etc and within seconds I realised what was going on. I told her I had no interest in "another income stream" and she never spoke to me gain

Don’t tell her you don’t have time right now or ask for details to be polite. Just tell her you have a job and don’t want to do anything else on the side. Then swerve her unfortunately. If it sounds like you are a bit interested or might be in the future then she won’t give up

Usual advice, only invest or pay up front, money you can afford to lose. If it’s not explicitly clear what it’s for and the terms and conditions, it’s probably a scam. I would definitely walk away.

we had friends years ago where the husband was trying to pull all of us into an investment scheme he had invested heavily in. I think he genuinely believed in it, but there were major red flags for me and I didn’t invest. Within 5 years it was exposed as a scam and everyone’s money gone.

You're asking if is scam. You're asking if you should ignore her.

You clearly do need it pointing out to you.

sounds really iffy, just say 'no thanks, I'm not interested smily face bye...'

I had a few people asking me if I'd like to become my own boss and make some easy extra money. They were quite taken aback when I told them I already was my own boss and made a good living from it. Being a freelance book-keeper has its uses and I did in the end get one of my MLM friends to see the light. She asked me to show her how to do her own accounts, and she eventually realised that she wasn't making all the profits she thought she was, and she was, in fact, making pretty much nothing for all that effort and time. All those products she was buying to show at parties, and the free gifts and discounted items she was offering were costing a lot of money (and were expenses paid out of the business) and it finally dawned on her that she was her own best customer.😂

@Offloadontome @inappropriateraspberry @Endofyear @Steeleydan @Arregaithel Utility Warehouse doesn't ask for money up front from anyone,or at any time bar £10 a year to register and £3 a month thereafter.

No, I don't work for them, but we do pay our utilities through them. We get a stonking 74p a unit Feed in Tariff because we have solar panels, and so far this year they have paid more into our bank account than we have paid out. We are £780 in pocket so far this year due to all the bright weather we enjoyed in spring and summer.

But they are an MLM, and incredibly shady.

@PoliteSquid as a utility supplier they really aren't - see above. They are also recommended by Which?

@Namechabgeforthissss Pyramid schemes are illegal in the UK and people who establish, operate or promote them can be prosecuted under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

If it helps, she's you, just a bit more naive. She got roped in by someone else, paid her £800, and has made absolutely bugger all in return. So now the only way she's ever getting any of the money back is to do what was done to her and rope in 4 more idiots.

That's how these MLMs / pyramid schemes work, they con some poor vulnerable idiot, who then has to con 4 more idiots, and lose most of their friends in the process. The next four idiots then have to con another 16, who then have to con 128, who then fail miserably at conning anyone else because all the idiots are already involved. So they're stuck actually trying to flog the candles / financial advice / aloe Vera crap that the business is supposedly actually about.

It doesn’t sound like a bona fide company to me, more like pyramid scheme. My husband was approached by someone in the same band as him who also started up with” I have a great opportunity I’d like to share with you”. Took him about an hour and a half to extract himself from her clutches. Pushy and deaf to polite demurral is the norm with the recruiters.

Its a scam. Say you dont want to be involved.

I agree, and then OP gets snippy at posters answering her question about whether this is a scam or not.

Indeed. Like the ‘friend’, she’s probably desperately trying to do it and losing friends in the process. If she doesn’t do it, she’ll lose her money which she probably can’t afford. It’s all quite sad

I would also say. "No thank you I'm not interested and please don't ask again because the answer will always be no."

Bear in mind that pyramid schemes are illegal in the UK and any association is dangerous. For this reason put yourself first - tell her that you are not investing as it is illegal. People like this usually need firm words to get the message. If she keeps pestering you then inform the police. Pyramid schemes have caused so many financial disasters and suicides, this is just not worth spending any time worrying.

Sorry if I come across as abrupt but I do worry how many people can be taken in by these types of schemes.

The latest scam on my local FB seems to be about running your own travel agency from home.Lots of pictures of exciting free holidays you can earn.Im by no means simple minded but even i cant work out how it works apart from the usual recruiting..

All the MLMs I've come across absolutely do have a product but that's not what you make the money from

Which ones don't have any product or service at all?

Amway products I understand are actually pretty good, or at least they used to be

Is there not an episode of This Country where Kerry Mucklow becomes a Juice boss lady

Yes @Namechabgeforthissss it's a scam, all of these kinds of things are. MLM, and pyramid schemes and the like. It's despicable for her to have targetted you as a newbie on the block - and well done for resisting.

I have had several women in my village wanting me to get on board with their 'bodyshop on line' business, or something similar. I have said 'definitely not,' and they haven't carried on... Maybe I gave a resting bitch face vibe!

What people don't tell you is that in most cases, you will pay say, £750 for goods that can sell for £2000 (with the mark-up on each item.) You get half the £1250 profit, and they get half. (So £625 each.) No matter how much you sell (or don't sell) you will still have to give them their £625.

So the onus is on YOU to make sure you sell sell sell, as you have to give them their £625 cut! Even if you don't sell most of the product(s.) and make just £200 (for example) then you will still have to give them £625. So you will have to fork out an extra £425 to make sure they get their £625 from you. And you will make nothing.

They will still want their cut even if you sell nothing! So you will be out of pocket for the £750 you forked out, and an additional £625 for their 'cut.' So £1375 gone, and you're stuck with a bunch of stuff you can't sell!

AVOID like the plague. These vile schemes always target women, and usually younger women who are mums, as they are seen to be more vulnerable than middle aged and older women - most who would flat out refuse. I'm not saying all younger mums are soft and gullible, and older women are not, but they do typically find that young mums who are perhaps not so well off financially are more likely to fall for this type of scam. And it is a scam. Very few people make money from it, and many people lose out.

Don't get involved. Don't be that annoying person trying to con people into joining in. You will very likely all lose money, and you will lose friends. I can't believe these dreadful schemes/scams are still going! I guess there are always some people gullible enough for them to continue!

ONE poster who got stuck on word “pretty” and yes this does enrage me as English
not my first language so people often “correct” me. Of course I know it’s a scam! I just wanted to talk about it as apart from DH who isn’t very responsive I don’t have anyone to discuss this with. You must understand some people need to talk about things they experiencing it’s not that uncommon,

thank you all for giving me your advice, of course I knew it was a scam but know I feel confident enough to ignore her and I do feel angry she’s targeting people. I’m sorry to hear your stories.

Its like the cup of tea anology. She offered you said no, that should be the end of it... anyone who doesnt accept no the first time needs distance.

Defo a pyramid scheme

That sounds awful, I didn’t realise they still want a cut if you sell nothing, so vile