June 27, 1998

Greetings,

As many of you already know, I'm in a hot war of words with Deaf operators 
of pyramid schemes.

The following business are NOT RECOMMENDED for exploration by Deaf 
individuals seeking MLM or entrepreneurship opportunities.

The Mentor Network, Inc

Credit Development International 

VIP-CLUB

Drivers Seat Network

Fortuna Alliance 

Future Strategies

FutureNet 

AIM ministries

Global Assistance Network for Charities

Tips from the Fair Trade Commission :

1.Avoid any plan that includes commissions for recruiting additional 
  distributors.

2.Beware of plans that ask new distributors to purchase expensive 
  inventory. These plans can collapse quickly -- and also may be 
  thinly-disguised pyramids. 

3.Be cautious of plans that claim you will make money through continued 
  growth of your "downline" -- the commissions on sales made by new 
  distributors you recruit -- rather than through sales of products you 
  make yourself. 

4.Beware of plans that claim to sell miracle products or promise 
  enormous earnings. Just because a promoter of a plan makes a claim 
  doesn't mean it's true! Ask the promoter of the plan to substantiate 
  claims with hard evidence. 

5.Beware of shills -- "decoy" references paid by a plan's promoter to 
  describe their fictional success in earning money through the plan. 

6.Don't pay or sign any contracts in an "opportunity meeting" or any 
  other high-pressure situation. Insist on taking your time to think over 
  a decision to join. Talk it over with your spouse, a knowledgeable 
  friend, an accountant or lawyer. 

7.Do your homework! Check with your local Better Business Bureau and 
  state Attorney General about any plan you're considering -- especially 
  when the claims about the product or your potential earnings seem too 
  good to be true.

Pyramids don't pay. Deaf Watch Newsletter and the Federal Trade Commission 
caution consumers about clubs or programs that promise quick money for 
recruiting new members. Don't bank on the pyramid promise that someone 
else will pay you. For more information on get-rich-quick schemes, visit 
the FTC at www.ftc.gov/pyramid

Pyramid schemes are illegal in all states. If you wish to report a 
pyramid that spams you, or that you find anywhere online, call the 
National Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060, or e-mail the FTC 
at pyramid@ftc.gov. 

Richard Roehm
Deaf@activist.com
Deaf Watch Newsletter

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