There's Gold in Them There Shills
"Finally! A program that pays everyone. (
not just the people at the top! )"
That's one of the catch phrases for yet another blatant pyramid
scheme that tries to disguise its true nature behind an offering
of products and objectives that fail to meet the standards established
by authorities to distinguish a viable and legitimate multi-level
marketing system from an outright scam.
Starting off in July of 2001 as Circle Round the World, LLC (
www.circleroundtheworld.com ) this "re-invented network marketing" system
by one Beverly Skinner of Texas claims to provide "marketing
tools & services for online networkers" and help in achieving "financial
independence and wealth."
Your $145 entry fee entitles you to a $10 phone card, 250 free internet
products and services and an opportunity to join a bonus structure
that will "pay out over the next 7 to 10 years." This is
somehow accomplished even after the Circle is closed "once investments
no longer exceed the outgoing bonus money."
Bonus payments for signing up new members are paid back in the form
of "fast start" cash payments of $40 for each qualified
new member and ultimately "collector gold coins" as well
as automatic entry into an unbelievable array of separate, yet linked,
pyramid structures with different names and goals to supposedly better
humanity.
There are also cycle bonuses of $250 for signing up, or having,
14 people in your "sales matrix" or "center" which
consists of a four level pyramid structure with you on top, two under
you, four under them and eight under them.
Only $200 is actually paid out, along with a phone card, with the
$50 going towards "automatic Cycle reentry" into the progressively
more expensive operations which "will take you to the next level
of financial freedom while you help others and our planet."
Whether you join the newly formed company structures that follow
with your potential cycling bonuses or cash from your wallet you
are certainly encouraged to at least bring along the two you signed
up.
Once Circle Round the World closed shop it was time to start
the Texas Gold Rush www.texasgoldrush.com which required an
entry fee of $250. For this you get two 1/10 of an ounce "collector
gold coins worth $100 each" plus a "financial package" worth
the $50 balance. (valued at $350)
Even the attempt at justifying the pyramid enrollment fee as a full
value product purchase is diminished by the $75 "fast start
bonus" you are paid for each person you recruit. A full
cycle of fourteen participants under you gets you another gold coin
and a bonus of $350, half of which is held for the next organizational
structure entry fee yet to come.
The number of new companies to be formed, along with their "products" and "services" is
restricted only by the imagination of the founder. If it is allowed
to progress before government intervention, or ultimate implosion
causes it collapse, it will be interesting to see how creative the
stories will need to become to have people continually redeposit
their bonuses into ever more expensive ventures. To date, they
are following a common vein seen in other such "financial and
educational opportunities."
Next up was the Texas Gold Rush Phase 2 www.tgr2.com which
is to be followed by the Financial Safety Net (www.finsn.com
) and then The Money Tree company which claims to have humanitarian
goals.
Each company enhances your membership with different e-books of
escalating "value" on such different important financial
topics as precious metals and legitimate tax sheltering.
"The financial information
packet offered as our product, is worth its weight in gold! It’s
an e-book packed with information that will show you how to maximize
the value of the Internet. You will be able to build amazing websites,
develop savvy marketing skills and much more. Your e-book will
provide you with valuable information regarding the value of your
gold and cover a variety of additional topics pertaining to business.
This value packed book will be regularly updated with new business
tools and information. The true value of the e-book is based on
your ability and willingness to put it to work, but, if calculated
it is worth in excess of $1,000.00, proving to be a wise investment
for you or your business at only $145.00. The Web-site builder
alone is worth $450.00. Only you can take your destiny in your
own hands. Take these tools and build your financial future! A
bonus included with your product package is an inflation and recession
fighter in the form of a piece of gold. The gold coin or nugget
you receive will be a hedge against currency devaluation, and it
will afford you a way to gain an advantage in today’s markets.
The value of the gold will most certainly rise as constant economy
fluctuations cause the dollar value to be adversely affected."
"The compensation
plan for Texas Gold Rush (phase 1) is based on the sale of the
retail product package for $145.00. Each direct sale earns the
associate $50.00 in fast-start bonus. The first two sales qualify
you for further compensation. The next fourteen sales that follow
your first two will give you additional bonus of $100.00, a bonus
piece of gold, and free re-entry. Each consecutive 16 sales that
follow in your direct line of sales will compensate you with $100.00,
another bonus piece of gold and free re-entry. You will be compensated
for your direct sales and that of your group as well as any company
sales that benefit you. The company does not guarantee future earnings
except through your own efforts. You will earn a bonus for joining
the Texas Gold Rush Ventures, Phase 1. Upon joining you will receive
a 1/10 oz piece of gold and and an additional piece of gold each
time you produce enough sales to cycle again."
"The retail product
offered with Texas Gold Rush Phase II consists of an enhanced version
of the Phase I e-book series...retails for $250. The financial
information packet offered... will help you in your business... help
you on your way to financial success... The true value... based
on your ability and willingness to put it to work, but, if calculated
it is worth in excess of $1,500.00... Only you can take your
destiny in your own hands. Take these tools and build your financial
future. A bonus... gold coin or nugget... hedge against currency
devaluation... value... will most certainly rise..."
If you aren't sure you can convince others to join you on the road
to El Dorado you can pay $25 to have a qualifier sign up people under
you. But with even the Cattleman's Association of Texas supposedly
onboard how hard can it be to convince your friends and family to
join your "business cycle with products and a compensation plan
that are enough to sell this company into the next century." After
all, you don't have to sign up more than your two, though you are
expected to help the two below you get their two each and so on.
The Financial Safety Net is a package of health benefit discounts
(valued at $650) that is to be used at participating licensed health
practitioners and facilities. Also included is a debit card
which pays a residual income, for downline usage, and another e-book
valued at $350. Membership at this level is $500 and pays a
one time cycle bonus of $650.
At this stage you can also start marketing her Miracle 2 line
of five soap products designed for reaching optimal health.
The fourth level company, The Money Tree, involves share-cropping
the cash crop by-products of a miracle tree called the Paulownia. This "fast
growing hardwood is light, does not warp, crack or twist and is fire-resistant
and water-repellant." "The straight grained, light
colored wood is often used for fine furniture, musical instruments,
blind slats, plantation shutters, door and window frames, fiberglass
cores, poles, pulp and paper. The dried leaves, which grow
to 36" across, are to be used as feed for cows, horses, sheep
and hogs while the blossoms attract bees for a sideline of fragrant
and abundant honey."
"The bark peels faster for use as veneer and plywood and the
tree regenerates from the cut stump after reaching a height of 70-80
feet at maturity". This, of course, is only if you don't
have to cut it down beforehand to prevent the giant above from descending
to earth to reek havoc on your humanitarian efforts to "get
farmers back on their feet."
The Energy Company is the fifth in the line with Water
Solutions and The Desalinization Project followed by
yet more which will "help us with Community and Humanitarian
projects in your own community" with the financial structure
of each a doubling of the one before it.
Even with the disclaimers stating that compensation is not for the
mere act of sponsoring but for product sales it is unlikely that
the drawing card for most participants is the training in marketing
and finance or legitimate tax sheltering but the promise of untold
riches just by believing that "it is better for all to make
it than just a chosen few."
Update: The companies claim to be no longer using an MLM or Network
Marketing structure. Like the company name changes they are
now calling it a Direct Sales structure for legal purposes.
Early participants continue to be "grand-fathered" into
the new companies provided they submit an application.
"No one will lose anything! This is a big win-win
gift to us!"
More on Pyramid Schemes
Circle Round The World LLC
P.O. Box 69090
Odessa, TX 79769
or
4572 N. Robin Ave.
Odessa, TX 79764
Tel: 915-385-7313 Fax: 509-691-3190/915-381-0018
Conference calls: Mon/Wed 7:30 p.m. Central 865-362-4350 PIN#1112
If you ask how the companies started or actually work you are either
told "it's all about numbers" or that " it's none
of y our business to know and shouldn't concern you" but apparently
there was a group of millionaires that wanted to do something with
their money and give a helping hand to others less fortunate.
These millionaires laid the groundwork and built the base for the
foundation of this "new" idea where it took the form of
an MLM, but instead of just a few reaping riches, everyone in the
company would help everyone else and everyone would get paid. And
so every time someone joins, these millionaires pay an equal amount
into the company.
I have a problem when people use the word "lucrative" to
describe anything to better your well-being, especially where money
is concerned. This word should be interchangeable with "scam".
Recruitment Attendee 04/02
I am so glad to see you post your comments about Beverly Skinner
and this SCAM she is in. All I can say about Beverly is she is a
person who thinks this sort of thing will someday make her rich. I
believe the only way to make it in this world is to work hard and
watch your finances.
Unwilling Participant 07/28/02
They have now changed the site to www.texasgolddirect.com
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