MLm-bot watch - now including Timeless Vie!!

[CheekySmile]

Continuing the discussion of the MLMs Forever Living, Herbal Life, Juice Plus, Younique etc, plus our very own MN-MLM Timeless Vie!

www.facebook.com/timelessvie
twitter.com/timelessvie

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/2437667-MLM-bot-watch-FL-Juice-Plus-Younique-etc

I feel now I must share my sort of shame.

Mentioned in an earlier post (can't remember which thread) that part of the reason I've been so anti-MLM all this time is as a result of working in Fraud Prevention for the best part of a decade, specifically in the recruitment sector, where Herbalife / Forever Living / Younique and all the rest are collectively banned (at least by any reputable recruiter...), but never cease in their constant attempts to find new victims!

Perhaps I should thank them and their ilk for keeping me in work...

Until recently, I'd never have heard of it otherwise.

But my DStepSiL has now become "one of them" (HL), with all the usual FB self-aggrandising paraphernalia that entails...

Knowing what I know and tipsy, I did challenge her on the true nature of MLM on her FB posts, and it all ended up a bit of slanging match - not swearing or insults or anything like that, but apparently I was "being negative about a business I don't understand". If only she knew! I was pointing out the inherent flaws of the "business model" - she took it as a personal insult.

I am usually very conflict-averse, and have never ever had a FB tussle, or ever fallen out with a family member - step or otherwise.

Eventually I realised this was probably about as productive as trying to de-convert a die-hard Scientologist, and STFU for the sake of future family harmony (my lovely mum in particular would be very upset if there were discord between us - though she has a few MLM-bots of her own, and thinks they are "barmy").

It still leaves a nasty taste in my month, a good month or two on. I doubt the relationship with my little step-nephews (1 and 3) will ever be allowed to be the same as a result. We are all pretending to get on for the sake of the "faaaaaaamily", but at the same time seem to sense tension on both sides. Fortunately there have been no face-to-face meet-ups in the meantime, as that would have ended up very awkward...

She is a lovely girl, a lovely person, and a lovely mum. Breaks my heart to see her fall for this bullshit, and am only surprised that her otherwise sensible husband is fervently supporting her in this crap....

i'm in the exact same position ladyshirazz ... but with one of my best mates.

i compared it before to them biting each other like zombies to then become 'forever living'. I was too late in giving her sound advice, I couldn't even just chop off the arm to stop the infection spreading.. she'd already converted by the point I was aware what she was doing. I can only hope, one day, she will see the light. Luckily she doesn't have a lot of spare cash to keep plunging into the hole, so it might be that she gives up before losing too much. One can hope.

I think many of us ended up in this forum after trying to check our facts after a friend/family member got sucked in. Little did we know the rabbit hole of deceit MLM truly is. It's now a morbid fascination for me a bit, but i'm not going to warn my friend any more.. I've said all I can without it being me that actually sounds obsessed and bonkers, as well as 'negative'.

Just leaving her to it now and not mentioning it when we meet. A little awkward, but we've know each other long enough to find plenty of other stuff to chat about.

You're so right mobius. Even after nearly ten years, I didn't realise this was so pernicious. Knew it was a complete mug's game, yes - but not one that would get their hooks in ever to me or mine, and so subtly and viciously too...

That came from here, and the MN own mix of humour, mockery, digs and just plain old outrage at the exploitation of the vulnerable and not-even-so-seemingly-vulnerable.

Seems like there is nothing you or I can ever do or say to combat it either, where it truly matters... :(

Part of me is tempted to tell her to hit me up when she's a HL millionaire, except knowing the bots, she'd probably lie!

You can't know how persuasive and insidious it is until you've fallen for it (or nearly) or had a loved one. It's so easy to think these people are just greedy fools and you'd never be conned, but it's pretty seductive stuff. Not that I see them as victims entirely. They have to buy into the notion that it is ok to basically guilt friends and family into parting with significant cash to 'support their little business' whilst they flaunt their current or future wealth on social media. Brainwashing sounds like a serious process but it can be done surprisingly subtley. Loving the zombie comparison. Perhaps that was in the mind of the person who decided to call the aloe shite 'forever living' right enough!

unfortunately, I think MLMs make use of a common trait in decent people: the belief that most people are good. Because no government has taken down an MLM yet, or bothered to, and they 'seem' successful, it would never occur to most people how utterly devious and manipulative bs-merchants hey are really are and be allowed to get away with it over and over again.

"hiding in plain sight"

I hesitate to use the word evil cos it's so primal but there is something really freaking nasty about it, if you really think about it.

It is evil, I agree.

yeah. chilling.

My cousin is involved in this. There is not a day that goes by where she isnt brag and talking about how incredible her life is.

I almost feel sorry for the coopers. Im now comparing them to the book Im reading, and I dont think for a moment they are earning £40k a month. Why on earth would they be renting, it doesnt make sense. Fake it till you make it, comes to mind. They are probably making money selling the pro-planners, perhaps being paid for the use of filming in their (rented) castle. They are making new footage to entice new victims into the FL scam. I for one will put the record straight if I see any footage insinuating "that you too can live in a fairy-castle like the Coopers if you get into the FL shit. Im waiting for my SIL to tell me about the fairy-castle, or to put it on her FB. Will have to be negative and tell her the truth.

Oh n now theres the FL managers summit coming up....they are all doing the cleanse9 and they are all excited for the hardcore training Cough brain washing cough that awaits them...

Yep, my bot is excited for the managers summit

Yaaay mocktails on tap. Ugh!

I'm loooking forward to the sunday after fb action. "I've met some incredibly inspiring wonderful amazing people this weekend. They have changed my life. I'll never go back to proper, real, normal human work again. X

What's the CC for manager again? If to make manager you have to purchase £2k per month AV stuff that will pay for a "mocktail" or two...

Oh here's a lil meme I created earlier...you're welcome to use of course x

She's pregnant so not sure whether there's actual cocktails on tap or just mocktails. They're a husband and wife team and they're really switched on people, I can't understand how they got embroiled in it all, every post on FB is about FL and how fab their life is.

I dread to think how much money they've ploughed into it

#flbotsummit

Ahhh i didnt think alcohol would be allowed at the event as they are all oh so healthy! Plus if someone got too drunk and spilt put secret information. Oooohhhh noooo.

mobius my DD loves that advert

Yup..

These memes are hilarious!

Hah i really need to get on with my work!

I wonder how FL defines 'all expenses paid' I struggle to believe that there is no charge at all, they charge for the success days after all. Maybe there is a charge for 'training' or maybe there will be stuff on sale there, but somehow FL will get some money,

Mnet bot has made a comment about feeling ill and tired a bit "fluey"

"thought you was on day 8 of your Clean9 thing" I asked- innocently......

Defriended me.

Oh Tired. You must be very sad.

AJF, Forever is definitely not about healthy living as its bots are constantly on the booze whilst working. Apparently you can be making megabucks whilst in your back garden with a glass of vino collapso - who knew.