Last night I was spammed with an invite to sign up with an opportunity called TVI or Travel Ventures International. This wasn’t the first time I had been invited but after doing some research, I don’t know why any one would want to be involved with this kind of opportunity.
First of all, I’m not a big MLM fan. I tried it back in 2004 and it didn’t work out for me. Not because I’m lazy and a quitter but because it didn’t seem right to go chasing all my friends and coworkers to sign up.
I learned some things from the MLM that I was involved with that helped me succeed in internet marketing so I won’t completely knock it. In fact, as far as MLM goes, I actually think they are one of the best in terms of structure. But that’s another story anyhow.
There’s also a difference between a legitimate network marketing opportunity and a dubious pyramid scheme. Well most people know that but there is always the argument of whether or not any particular company fits the description.
Now, back to the topic at hand, there was no way I was going to join TVI Express but I did some research anyway. I found that even hardcore MLM advocates are calling this thing a scam.
That means people who are even more experienced with MLM that most of the people that will sign up and promote TVI.
Troy Dooley of MLM Help Desk explained what would happen should the company not meet your expectations. What if you don’t get paid?
Here’s a quote from Troy’s review of TVI:
Although, the U.K. has great MLM laws on the books, it is virtually impossible for distributors to get any type of legal help if the company were to cause any type of financial hardship to them.
If you file a law suit in the USA, what are you going to get? They do not at this time have any USA base of operations. It the law suit was to become a Class Action suit, the attorney’s fees would eat up any financial relief ordered form the Courts, due to the International legal representation which would be required to win.
Not distributor friendly at all. Based on the fact the company is located in the U.K., you will be signing and agreeing to policies and procedures which are based on U.K. laws not U.S. laws.
In other words, you’d just have to go hug your pillow and cut your losses.
The other thing that bothered me was the fact that it was a revolving matrix and there isn’t a real product that is being pushed.
What you say about discount travel? Huh?!
Please!
$250 for a 7 night, 6 day vacation might sound like an amazing bargain but what the company really wants you to do is focus on building your downline membership which costs USD $250 to join.
Any legit MLM has an easily identifiable product (or products) that you can sell as a distributor in addition to selling the opportunity. I’ve always stayed away from anything that used the word matrix (except the movies of course).
Here’s what the FAQ on TVI Express website says:
3. Do I need to sell any products?
No. You don’t need to sell any products. TVI Express is a unique e-commerce opportunity allowing you to build the Business around the globe sitting at your home. However, we do support leaders who take initiatives to promote the opportunity offline conducting seminars and workshops about the Opportunity.
Doesn’t sound like they’re too interested in giving away those $250 vacations at all. Seems like what they want you to do is get people to pay $250 so that they can get other people to pay $250.
Sorry, I’m just not interested. Count me out.
Related posts:
I agree it is a scam, Play off the old Airplane games of the 80’s and 90’s
Prior instances of this scam have been called the “Airplane Game” and the four tiers labelled as “captain”, “co-pilot”, “crew”, and “passenger” to denote a person’s level. Another instance was called the “Original Dinner Party” which labelled the tiers as “dessert”, “main course”, “side salad”, and “appetizer”. A person on the “dessert” course is the one at the top of the tree. Another variant “Treasure Traders” variously used gemology terms such as “polishers”, “stone cutters” etc. or gems “rubies”, “sapphires”, “diamonds” etc.
Such schemes may try to downplay their pyramid nature by referring to themselves as “gifting circles” with money being “gifted”. Popular scams such as the “Women Empowering Women”[12] do exactly this. Joiners may even be told that “gifting” is a way to skirt around tax laws.
Whichever euphemism is used, there are 15 total people in four tiers (1 + 2 + 4 + in the scheme – the person at the top of this tree is the “captain”, the two below are “co-pilots”, the four below are “crew” and the bottom eight joiners are the “passengers”.
The eight passengers must each pay (or “gift”) a sum (e.g. $1000) to join the scheme. This sum (e.g. $8000) goes to the captain who leaves, with everyone remaining moving up one tier. There are now two new captains so the group splits in two with each group requiring eight new passengers. A person who joins the scheme as a passenger will not see a return until they exit the scheme as a captain. This requires that 14 others have been persuaded to join underneath them.
Therefore, the bottom 3 tiers of the pyramid always lose their money when the scheme finally collapses. Consider a pyramid consisting of tiers with 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 members. The highlighted section corresponds to the previous diagram.
No matter how large the model becomes before collapse, approximately 88% of all people will lose.
If the scheme collapses at this point, only those in the 1, 2, 4 and 8 got out with a return. The remainder in the 16, 32, and 64 tier lose everything. 112 out of the total 127 members or 88% lost all of their money.
During a wave of pyramid activity, a surge frequently develops once a significant fraction of people know someone personally who exited with a $8000 payout for example. This spurs others to seek to get in on one of the many pyramids before the wave collapses.
The figures also hide the fact that the confidence trickster would make the lion’s share of the money. They would do this by filling in the first 3 tiers (with 1, 2, and 4 people) with phoney names, ensuring they get the first 7 payouts, at 8 times the buy-in sum, without paying a single penny themselves. So if the buy-in were $1000, they would receive $56,000, paid for by the first 56 investors. They would continue to buy in underneath the real investors, and promote and prolong the scheme for as long as possible in order to allow them to skim even more from it before the collapse.
Other cons may also be effective. For example, rather than using fake names, a group of seven people may agree to form the top three layers of a pyramid without investing any money. They then work to recruit eight paying passengers, and pretend to follow the pyramid payout rules, but in reality split any money received. Ironically, though they are being conned, the eight paying passengers are not really getting anything less for their money than if they were buying into a ‘legitimate’ pyramid which had split off from a parent pyramid. They truly are now in a valid pyramid, and have the same opportunity to earn a windfall if they can successfully recruit enough new members and reach captain. This highlights the fact that by ‘buying’ in to a pyramid, passengers are not really obtaining anything of value they couldn’t create themselves other than a vague sense of “legitimacy” or history of the pyramid, which may make it marginally easier to sell passenger seats below them.
Thank you for pasting that wikipedia article in there
A link to the relevant section would have been sufficient but its a good read nevertheless.
I think that is how it works. Also check out how Matrix schemes work.
TVIexpress is an obvious pyramid scheme.
The “company” tries to pretend that the business is about selling travels, but if you read their web pages, in particular the FAQ ( http://www.tviexpress.com/faq.php ), it becomes obvious that the whole thing is about recruiting members who will pay in 250 US dollars, and the members are promised that they will thereafter receive money when other members are recruited; In other words a classic pyramid scheme, and clearly illegal according to the laws in most civilised countries in the world.
The company claims to be “a leading multinational conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom”, but you will not find it in the UK telephone book ( http://www.192.com/businesses/ ), and the company does not exist at the address stated on the web pages (office building Marble Arch Tower, 55 Bryanston Street, London). You can check this by doing an “advanced search” in the UK directory for businesses at 55 Bryanston Street in London.
If you try to call the telephone number given on their web site, +44-2032899918, nobody answers the telephone.
Additionally, you will not find this “company” if you do a search in the UK company register ( http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ ).
So much for a “leading multinational conglomerate headquartered in London”!
One of the persons behind this pyramid scheme is named Ken Russo.
This person Ken Russo has run, or has been pushing, a number of Ponzi- and pyramid schemes, which is easily seen if you google “Ken Russo” + scam.
Conclusion: An illegal pyramid scheme and guaranteed to collapse. STAY AWAY!!!
You have all posted things that obviously you know nothing about.
Get the facts and get things straight before posting stuff on the net. Once on the net it is there forever. If this was my company I would come after you for slandering it.
Just in case you want to know TVI was at the address and phone number listed on their site and because they had way too many people walking into the office off of the street they decided to make some changes and have not updated their web site to reflect their new info.
They have also recently opened new regional offices in several different parts of the world.
Something is considered a ponzi if people are being ripped off. Are you guys on crack or what. I have seen or heard nothing from anyone saying they were not paid immediately when they were supposed to.
Their product is discount travel benefits.
Let’s get real and quit slamming people and things that don’t deserve it.
Glen Rice
Good gracious, mr. pyramid pusher Glen Rice;
Do you realise how absurd and ridiculous your arguments are?
A “leading multinational conglomerate headquartered in London” which is not able, for several weeks, to present its correct address and telephone number on its web site?
A “leading multinational conglomerate headquartered in London” which does not have a functioning telephone number?
A “leading multinational conglomerate headquartered in London” which does not exist on the official UK company register?
(And, if you should claim that it is registered under another company name, it is illegal according to UK law to do business on the internet without clearly stating the company’s registered name on the web site.)
The argument that TVIexpress is not a Ponzi or pyramid because people are being paid, is also utter bull***t; The whole idea of a Ponzi or pyramid is that early members will be paid (from the money paid in by later members), because this is the lure used to recruit new member.
It is when the recruitment of new members slows down (or the scammers decide to run off with the money to some unknown location) that payouts will stop.
Amen, S. Holmes!
I can’t believe how many people are being fooled by this company.
When i was first presented with this opportunity, i asked my friend, ” What does a $250 travel voucher do?” When i book travel with travelocity or any travel agent for that matter… i never heard of the word: ‘Travel voucher’. I just buy a flight or book a hotel and they give me my itinerary.
If im going to spend $250, i want to actually ‘BOOK’ travel…not just get a voucher in the hopes of getting travel.
I used to actually give my prospects free travel vouchers and that service for me to use was only 20 bucks a month, so in my eyes, charging $250 for something you can actually give away for free is Highway Robbery!
Its only a matter of time when this thing will stop bringing in representatives… and what happens then? It WILL crash. And many many people will lose their hard earned money (and reputation). Some distributors will even be found by the feds! Yes, it is illegal to be involved and/or promote schemes.
And so, for many reasons, i couldnt possibly join something knowing I will eventually be taking advantage of people’s losses.
Even if i got 10k right now… How could i live with myself?
I take pride in doing business with integrity and honesty.
Wish more people can say the same…
Oh well.
Jazz, I agree with you. I feel exactly the same way.
To join TVI for a one time fee of $37 contact Donna Lee.
Home: 641-585-4734 Cell: 641-590-4210
donnaleeranheim@hotmail.com
She will help you succeed!
This thing is a scam and venture for either dumb-asses…. or those with a pathologically bent conscience. I know an acquaintance who goes from scam to scam like this… always thinking he will strike it rich and then live the life of luxury. He’s also a pimp… so that kind of goes with the bent conscience thing. He knows I hate this MLM crap… and his shady business… but nonetheless, life goes on. He just got $10k from the TVI Express creeps… and he’s so damn proud; telling everyone how great TVI Express is (LOL). I hope the feds come down on TVI with a vengeance… and that the payees who reap a benefit from the losses of poor suckers… will at least be forced to pay their taxes and dace to the music.
Definitely is a scam 100%! I did my research, but at the time, there really wasn’t anything negative out there. I saw the red flags too, but family convinced me to join anyway. Now, I wish I hadn’t.
Yes, people are getting money, but NOT from TVI! They are getting money from turning their ewallet into vouchers and selling them. Tvi has NOT paid myself and many others and will NOT do wire transfers anymore.
I am no longer a participating member and am determined to get the word out about the truth about tvi! I have created my own blog about my experience and even if I only help one person, it will be worth it.
I never brought anyone else into this as I wanted to be able to experience it for myself before taking it to friends and the public. So glad I didn’t sign up anyone under me! Unfortunately, I also lost money cause I purchased all 3 positions necessary to cycle and earn money. Live and learn, I know.
Feel free to read my story on my blog and learn the truth about tvi. I have many articles.
I wish we COULD have a class action lawsuit! I certainly would join one if it would do any good!
Tvi is a scam! Stay far far far away!
SCAM!!..It`s all about LEADERS! You think they aren`t paying those yahoos,while the rest get crapped on?! I have had it out with 2 TVI kool-aid drinkers this past week. They put together fax-blasts,nice little videos,then try to BS and hype you into skinning your wallet for $250. I had one “Team Leader”,go so far as to promising me $10k in 30 days if I would jump in,LOL.Folks are getting duped and screwed in this. This is NOT about “Vacations”…it`s about getting suckered,then suckering your 2 to cycle out..RUN from this Pyramid Loser,soon to be GONE Time Waster!!
I am a member of TVI Express for almost 2 months with 4 positions purchased. One of my positions has cycled out to Express Board while the rest are stuck in traveler board. My TVI Express ID is “USATVI” so you can look it up IF TVI Express ever comes on. Anyway, I did receive $250 “cash” and $250 voucher. However, I have requested to have $250 cash to be deposited to my bank account in United States on November 14, 2009 under “financial manager”. Guess what, NOTHING HAPPENED for 15 days so far! I have opened tickets three times with TVI Support Center for the past 2 weeks, but I got zero response. I decided to investigate further on the company including interviewing with my upline and downlines. I am starting to believe that TVI Express is a scam. Here are the reasons:
1.) TVI Express website went down far too often. It is also down right now for the past 3 days! No update. No under construction. Just nothing on the screen and kept getting that their site took too long to response. In other word, their server is gone! Disappeared! This should raise a red flag, because today’s technology and business world, this is not how it works!
2.) Based on what I found: We, humans, are TVI’s PRODUCTS! We do not earn money directly from the company! We are actually selling worthless vouchers. The question is how do we earn $250 cash or even $10,000 cash? By believing a lie that we should convert “10,000 cash” into 40 vouchers so we should sell voucher to our people downline. That is how we earn UP TO $10,000! We do NOT receive $10,000 cash directly from TVI, really! What about the so called $5,000 travel voucher? It is not even real anyway. According to TVI website before it went down, it said that they no longer honor travel vouchers until October 31 (that is this Saturday). Yeah, right!
3.) The FREE 6 night, 7 days travel voucher we received upon joining with TVI isn’t even valid! We could not use it right away until we first hear something from TVI on places where we want to go. And when we do, no response! Have anyone here have gone on vacation by redeeming their vouchers yet? Not likely!
4.) TVI Express use the same “generate software” to grab prices for airlines, hotel, ticket sales, from the big boys (expedia, fly.com, Hotwire, etc.). TVI either mark up little or nothing to make it appear attractive. Beside, TVI Express already making so much money from US by doping us into selling their VOUCHERS!
5.) Have anyone got incentives yet? What about new laptops? Cars? Villas?
6.) And most of all, there is no TVI Express office in London, England. I have checked. Have you?
My advice is…. DONT JOIN TVI until you check out the facts. The reason why TVI have 100,000+ people join up is because many claimed that they did CYCLE OUT of Express Board (and they did it many time) but being deceived to CONVERT their “$10,000 cash” rather into VOUCHERS so they must “SELL” it to make $250 dollars or more apeice! They did NOT get money directly from TVI.
HAve Fun @ http://www.FunMoment.com
Let’s take a look at the “Revolving Matrix” Everyone seems to think I have wrong.
1. There is a one-time buy-in of $250.00.
The one-time buy-in give you the ability to earn your original $250.00 back, plus a $250.00 eVoucher for a total of $500.00 in face amount. However, the pure cash payout is $250.00 which is only 7% of the total cash flow to the company, which is a grand total of $3750.0o.
It takes 15 people paying $250.00 each to fill up the Traveller Matrix.
The transition between the Traveller Matrix, and the Expreee Matrix, also earns the TVI Express a rank advancement to Silver Associate.
2. The Express Matrix Cycle
When the Traveller Matrix is filled the first time (15 positions paying a one-time fee of $250.00) the TVI Express distributor cycles to the Express Matrix where they have the opportunity to earn an addtional $15000.00 payout.
However, this is not as easy as it seems. Let’s recap a second. In order to cycle to the Express, you have to attract 15 people paying $250.00. (No not you personally, your upline, downline, everyone in the matrix.) However, keep in mind, to qualify for your $15,000.00 payout, you do have to personally help two people cycle out of the Traveller Matrix.
This means to earn $15,000 form the Express Matrix cycle, you need 15 people, who have each attracted 15 people. In other words you need 15 Travellers Matrix filled. 15×15 = 225 total in order for your to cycle out of the Express Matrix.
Here are how the numbers add up. 15 Traveller Matrix x $3750.00 = $56250.00 in total cash flow into the Express Matrix, with a $15000.00 payout. This equals 26.6% payout of total money taken in.
Now, here is the issue with this compensation plan as it pertains to TVIExpress. So far there has been 225 people recruited into the Traveller and the Express Matrix, A total face amount of $15,500.00 has been paid to the out to one distributor, from pure recruiting only.
No where is personal sales to anyone outside of the compensation plan ever mentioned. At least not until the person qualifies for residual downline commissions. This is a HUGE FTC red flag, and case law has already been set.
3. TVI Express Residual Income.
The issue with the residual income stems from the following phrase as found in the PowerPoint and on the link above.
Pays Till Infinity, No Ceiling, No Cap, No Cuttoffs!
The above as stated is mathematically imposable. You can’t payout more than 100% of every dollar. And the above statement is very clear, there is a huge potential for higher than 100% payouts at the Gold Associate and higher ranks.
4. TVI Express Monthly Power-Pool Bonus
This bonus is 2% of current monthly revenues to the company. Although this is a very standard bonus, 2% of revenues is an ambiguous statement. Are they referring to gross monthly revenues, or net monthly revenues? And, if it is Net Monthly Revenue, what is the definition of “Net Revenues” for this company?
Although, very few of the total field force will reach this position, those who do, should be asking this question.
5. TVI Express Incentive Bonus
TVI Express does offer nice Incentives to their top distributors. The incentives above all start after a didtributor cycles out of the Express Matrix 3 times. So let’s do a little math recap.
225 x 3 cycles = 675 people. These 675 x $3,750.00 (the total buy-in of the Traveller Matrix) = $2,531,250.00 revenue generated to the company. Total payout to the cycling distributor 3 x $15,000 = $45,000.00 (not counting the Traveller Matrix payout.)
Well, the company is making fantastic money, a few top players are making huge incomes, and the rest of the folks are giving it their all.
Folks, to sum things up…
The parent company of TVI Express, from a distance seems to be a legitimate company, with brand named channel partners, which we stated in our first article.
However, I question the privacy, where the company is truly located and who is the real masterminds behind the game.
Based on current case law, I still see the Network marketing Arm, as an MLM Scam, and not a MLM opportunity which will last, based on what we currently see.
At last i have found people who don’t appear to have TVI disease! Every site on the net seems to be full of bloggers/messages who are obviously made by pro-TVI people who are on the relentless case of pushing the scam. it must be one of the biggest scams in history! Well done S.holms for above mentioned comment. My girlfriend bought into it for travel purposes and it seems to be a pile of crap! discounts are worse than what you can find yourself. The problem is that nearly everyone who has bought it is on the mission to sell it to get their money back, maybe not realizing how immoral it is as many people will be left with nothing! Stay clear.
Morality certainly has nothing to do with this SCAM! Cruise through some of the YouTube Videos,made by the Leaders and their Sheep. You will be amazed at how few,actually state any earnings themselves! They know this or that Sucker,who`s supposedly made $100k,etc..lol. However,some of the more “moral”(lol) hypsters have disabled their websites, that used to be clickable for “more info on TVI”.I left negative comments on many of these, but most were NOT removed.That`s indication right there,that this Scam is in trouble. I too have seen posts in other Forums,that say that the Traveller Boards AND these $37 “Feeder’ Programs” are STALLING OUT. The sad facts are this…members will lose their $,BUT they continue to promote this BS in a sad effort to recoup their losses.Even after it becomes an obvious Scam,these unethical yahoos continue to hype,lie,and blow smoke! The result is that many more people blindly join up and lose,never suspecting they`ve been duped and screwed from the get-go!
TVI Express has NOT paid me!
http://www.bizplan4u.com/tvi_scam.htm
I bought myself two positions into this TVI Express business when I did my research and found close nothing bad being said about the company. But right now I’m a little worried because I read that when you do “get paid” the money transfers seem to take too long or actually the money never gets to your bank. The person who convinced me into buying a second position told me I was going to make my first $500.00 within a week and that was prior to December, 2009. Up to this date, I haven’t made my first $500.00. I don’t know what to do. =(
TVI is a scam. All they have is an affiliate program with Travelocity that they are trying to market as travel club. Also, do the math. If start to day and really recruit enough people to make $10,000/month, in 7 months you will not have anyone left on earth to recruit.
If you try to book you 7 / days 6 night vacation they want to know you credit card details and they won’t even tell you where you are going.
They shouldn’t want your credit card details. I thought the $250 you paid when you signed up guarantees that you’ll have your vacation. I have yet to hear someone truthfully admit that they took that vacation.
Isn’t it interesting that once TVI Express’s strongest supporter, CitizenCorp.com has since backpedaled about their endorsement of TVI Express, issued an “alert”, and downgraded it from 5/5 to a mere 3/5?
I’ve documented TVI Express as scam since last October and will continue to do so.
I’ve done my due diligence for over 6 weeks before getting involved with TVI and I’ve brought you the answers your probably asking when it comes to this company.
(If you haven’t heard about TVI express yet take the time to check their video comp. plan http://www.meetplanb.com and their website http://www.tviexpress.com/auraw)
- What is the product?
By investing the small start up cost (one time laughable fee) you are becoming a member of Travel Ventures International meaning you can book flights, hotels, car rentals etc. This company is involved in over 150 countries and its goal is to become the next priceline, orbitz… Better still they have cheaper rates than the aforementioned companies. Travel is a billion dollar industry it never goes out of style and will be a much needed resource for all time
- How are they able to pay out all members $10,000 per cycle? Isn’t that way too much overhead?
Every time a member cycles( completes a board) they receive $10,000, and members are cycling time and time again on average one cycle a month (depending on their determination some once a week!) For every $10,000 a member is payed the company already made $100,000, they do absolutely no marketing/ advertising. Those that sign up and never bother “working” at this great opportunity are called dead legs thereby the company makes money off them. Plus all the amenities (flights, hotels…) booked by their site obviously brings in money.
-How are members payed?
If you’ll search online some people complain about this but its really quite simply if you do your due diligence:
Solid Trust Pay ( a registered canadian company middle man—think paypal)
Liberty Reserve
Bank Withdrawal
Or Voucher selling (is extremely popular -bec. members can bring in others quickly and efficiently into TVI) plus you have none of the fees of the aforementioned payouts.
Bottom line the company is a legitimate buisness opportunity who are helping many members out of this recession with ease. I’ve spoken to numerous members via phone and email who are making their $10,000 payouts
Whenever their is a new system or opp. their are always those that are “trigger happy” to label something a scam. (usually to get people involved in their own venture).
So take the time now to glean more info. about this amazing opportunity and gain access to real financial freedom. Contact me via email realmacbargains@gmail.com or thru this blog and I can help answer all your questions!
Again the website is http://www.tviexpress.com/auraw
Everyone involved in TVI always reports that they “talked to someone on the phone or via email” who is making $10,000 from this opportunity. How come they’re not the ones making the $10,000?
Sorry, for all the reasons I mentioned, I still don’t like MLM and I still don’t like TVI. I never asked anyone to forget TVI and “join my opportunity” but I will say – there are much better and more legit ways to make a living and sleep good at night than this TVI crap.
Any business is associated with risk and really the only question that needs to be asked is, “Is it worth investing $250 and some time to this opportunity?” In my opinion, $250 is a fair gamble and I’ll know within a month whether or not it was all worthwhile… so count me in!
This TVI is here in Brazil too!
Look like Coastal Vacations.
I think that is a Scam and fake!
well,i would like to here from the winners.the company is doing okay in kenya as far as distributorship is concerned
The Botswana Newspaper “The Voice” and Consumer Watchdog of Botswana declared TVI Express a scam.
http://www.thevoicebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2210:dear-consumers-voice&catid=36:business&Itemid=55
Guess Kenyans don’t read newspapers.