TVI Express, is it a scam?
The simple answer if you do a bit off digging is yes!
I sometimes use this site as a way to alert the readers of scams. Having stumbled on a business card promoting the TVI scheme in Playa Blanca here in Lanzarote very recently and having previously been asked by a friend to check out its credibility this seemed as good a place as any to put this. I won’t embarrass anyone with the name on the card – they’ve just got sucked into a pyramid scam and have lost $275-
What claims do they make?
- they claim it’s a legitimate travel business
- that you can make $10,000 a week from recruiting others
What is it in reality?
It’s a classic pyramid sales scam, (A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, without any product or service being delivered. Pyramid schemes are a form of fraud – Wikipedia)
- the ‘ business’ consists only of recruiting others
- has been banned by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with no doubt more to follow and their offices in London have been vacated and moved to India
If you’re the person who’s name is on the card (nobody I know), I’m very sorry you got ripped off.
Anyone else, please be on your guard. I know times are hard for many here on our little island, as they are elsewhere, it’s a perfect time for the unscrupulous to prey on hopes and dreams. Make no doubt these people will take your last penny off you. Don’t buy dreams – if it looks to good to be true, it probably is. We all know that – but sometimes even good people get caught out when times are tough.
Related posts:
Correction Alan,
TVI is not banned by Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), it’s only 3 individuals who aren’t allowed at the mean time to promote TVI and their in court proving their case.
Thousands of TVI distributors are promoting their business here in Australia and I am one of them and the our government law or ACCC is not stopping us.
So stop promoting lies about TVI.
I thought New Zealand TV a reasonable source…
So, you’re not convinced. How about hearing it from the ACCC themselves – http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/928564/fromItemId/142 (interestigly the site they mention in that article – http://www.tviteamoz.com/ – is now dead). TVI is also featured on their ‘Scam Watch’ website at http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/788265
Who do I believe? It a tough one… Do I believe an Australian Government Department, or some poor individual who has been convinced TVI Express is for real…
For anyone stumbling on this post – here’s some further reading for you viewing pleasure…
http://behindmlm.com/companies/tvi-express/why-did-the-accc-declare-tvi-express-a-pyramid-scheme/
http://damienwillis.com/stop-promoting-tvi-expres-online
http://www.npros.com/2010/5/19/tvi-express-shut-down-by-accc/
http://www.mlmwatchdog.com/IRS_Tax_Relief_for_Victims_of_Ponzi-Type_Schemes.html
http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/articles/articles-news/facebook-pyramid-scheme-tvi-express-accc-1533.html
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/laulhati-jutsen-in-pyramid-scheme-exposed/story-e6frezc0-1225869340089
Still not convinced?
(Apologies for deleting your link – as if you thought I’d ever publish it!)
it’s nothing new with ACCC, they did the same to amway, acn & others, all went to court and fought their case and won. If our government wanted us to stop they would’ve have issued an order for all TVI distributors to stop promoting TVI.
You are seriously deluding yourself here. Whatever the specific legalities may be – it doesn’t stack up. I would strongly advice anyone reading this not to get sucked in by TVI… There’s enough links here to convince anyone of reasonable intelligence not to.
Alan, can you check your IP address log to see if those folks claiming to be from Australia are actually from Australia?
I run a blog pretty much dedicated to tracking this scam called TVI Express, and I get nasty comments all the time from similar people. So much so, I classified them into three categories, each with two variants:
The debater / ranter — the debater actually tried to pick apart your criticism, while a ranter just rant, usually some crazy conspiracy about how the rich wants to destroy TVI Express because it is helping the poor
The denier / liar — the denier simply denies any evidence opinion you give, while liar claim you lied, or lie to deny your evidence
The evangelical / maniac — evangelical preaches “all is great with TVI Express, join us!” while Maniac proclaims “I don’t care if it’s legal as long as I make money!”
(and bonus category)
The weasel coaches — marketing coaches who promote TVI Express, and claim you need their training to succeed
I was rather surprised at the time but it is an AUSTRALIAN ip…
The difference between TVI Express and AMWAY/ACN is very simple… Amway and ACN actually SELL SOMETHING besides membership. TVI Express does NOT.
End of story.
I have been attempting to get in contact with you however I can’t seem to find the right email address ….
Try the contact page!
http://www.lanzarotewebdesign.com/contact/