From
MTI website in regards to MLM.
2. How do I recognise a pyramid selling scheme?
Many pyramid schemes often disguise themselves as sellers collectors' items, software, training programmes, etc, when all they are interested is to make a quick buck through recruitment. Members of the public who attend sales talks must be vigilant to such schemes. Illegitimate MLM schemes usually share the following characteristics:
* When the promoter hype about how easy it is to earn money, people can get very rich in a very short time and that the way to earn money is by recruiting others to join the scheme;
* The so-called product that you are supposed to sell is not something you would normally buy at its price;
* Participants are required to invest money into the scheme, whether in the form of a joining fee, or buying inventory.
Remember - there is no easy money, you must believe in what you are selling and you should not put your money at unnecessary risk.
4. Why is there a need to have an Exclusion Order?
Not all multi-level marketing techniques are undesirable. There are legitimate businesses using innovative sales tactics, and should not be lumped together with pyramid schemes.
Hence, the Government enacted the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Excluded Schemes and Arrangements) Order (hereafter, referred to as the 'Exclusion Order') in June 2000, to exempt legitimate businesses from the Act. The following categories of businesses were exempted:
(1) Insurance businesses that are registered, approved or licensed under the Insurance Act, the Insurance Intermediaries Act 1999 and the regulations made thereunder;
(2) Master franchise schemes and direct selling schemes which satisfy the following conditions:
* the benefit received by any promoter or participant is as a result of the sale, lease, license or other distribution of a commodity and not as a result of the recruitment of additional participants;
* the promoter of the scheme shall not knowingly make false or misleading representation or omission relating to the scheme or the commodity;
* the promoter shall not make any representation on the benefits other than those allowed;
* there should be a clearly stated policy on refund or buy-back guarantee.
After the Exclusion Order was enacted in 2000, the Government received feedback that the provisions in the Exclusion Order were not sufficiently clear. Some members of the public were also confused by claims of legitimacy by companies and often requested for the Government to clarify if particular schemes were legitimate.
In response to the feedback, the Government reviewed the Exclusion Order, and subsequently amended the Order in 2001.