Thread: I'm a FORMER Pyramid Program Promoter on a Mission to Make Amends

Hi everyone.

As the title says, I used to promote some of the very same types of programs often highlighted on Realscam. And I was very successful at it. But the thing is (and you can choose to believe it or not)...back when I was doing it
I truly never thought of those programs as being bad, wrong, illegitimate, and certainly not illegal. I really got involved in that "industry" very gradually. Sort of how when you put a lobster in cold water and gradually raise it to boil, they don't even realize the situation they're in until it's too late. I'll try not to be long-winded, but I feel I should explain my history more fully.

As a kid and all throughout my school and work life, I was very studious and eager to please....my parents, my teachers, my friends, my co-workers, my bosses....everyone. I graduated college with a 4.0 GPA. For the next 10 years I had various professional-level positions. Then, I had the opportunity to join my family's retail business. We opened several new locations over the next several years, and business was great. Until it wasn't. The recession of the late 2000's and increasing competition forced us to eventually close and sell off whatever assets we could. So I went back to my previous career and thankfully found employment, but I was still heavily in debt, and times were extremely tough.

That's when a friend of mine introduced me to the "online marketing" industry. He showed me all these examples of people making 1000's of dollars a month, supposedly part time. I thought, man I sure could use some extra cash like that. So I dipped my toes in the water and started the same way everyone else does. I failed. And failed. And failed. Over and over. But through the course of my failures I had gradually grown my list of connections. Eventually, I started having a small bit of success. At first I involved myself strictly with product-based programs (these are not actual examples, but think Amway, Rodan & Fields, Avon etc....things like that). I was never ashamed in any way to be involved with those type of programs. Heck, even to this day some of my close personal friends and neighbors are in the same programs.

But then, I guess I got greedy. Since I began doing so well due to my large and growing following, I basically took advantage and exploited that and began getting involved in other types of programs. I won't name them here, but these were mostly involved with selling what I now would call useless "products". Sure, there were products, like online marketing training, tutorials, etc. But in reality, it was the same stuff you could learn through Google. The "product" was really just an afterthought. People weren't interested in obtaining the product, they were interested in recruiting others to join the "business". That's how they got paid, from someone else paying to join in return for "resale rights" of the same useless products. No one could just buy the "products" alone, nor would they, there was no true market for them. Though I was never in it, the most well-known example of this type of program was Empower Network.

Anyway, my involvement in online marketing lasted a total of about 4 years, going from a novice failure to a successful earner. But towards the end of that 4 years, I became acquainted with this site, Realscam.com. And boy was it a real eye-opener! Suddenly, I was jarred from my brainwashed viewpoint of these programs to instead seeing them as "outsiders" saw them....that is for what they are, which are recruiting/pyramid-based schemes. I began to see for the first time how the "products" were irrelevant, and how the process of recruiting just for recruiting's sake was doomed to failure. I also saw posts from Realscam members citing various legal definitions of improper programs, and for the first time I thought to myself that some of the things I'd been involved with could very well have technically been classified as illegal. That had truly never occurred to me...I had never bothered with looking up such laws. So, as someone who always thought of themselves as a responsible, upstanding citizen (I've never even had a speeding ticket!), I was frankly shocked. And humiliated. I just felt dirty. And it was a terrible feeling. So in a very real way, Realscam.com caused me to open my eyes and change my ways.

So one day, I just stopped. I literally quit marketing, of all types, all together. I severed my connection to ALL of my marketing followers AND peers. It's been quite some time now, and since then, I've been able to live with myself again knowing I'm no longer taking advantage of people. And I've never looked back.

So my goal now is to educate and expose. Though I'm no longer connected to any online marketers, I remember who they are And who their friends are There are 30+ marketers I can think of right now with BIG followings, and I plan to begin exposing them here on Realscam. It may take me a little time to reconnect with all of them (under cover of course ), but I'll eventually show off their shenanigans to the world. What I'm hoping to accomplish are several things: to educate potential "customers" of these pimps not to join them, to shine the light of the broader public at large on these pimps' activities, and to get the pimps' attention and perhaps help convince them to change their ways like I did. If all this info also catches the attention of the authorities, so be it. But my hope is the pimps will just stop what they're doing without being "forced" to. But that is probably wishful thinking. Easy money can be quite addictive and intoxicating. Unfortunately I'm the only person I can think of who actually quit on their own. Believe me, I'm not bragging about that. If I were bragging I'd be able to say I was smart enough to have never gotten involved in the first place.

Well, if you're still reading this, I hope I didn't bore you too much. And I also hope you'll see I'm being sincere. I simply want to do the right thing, and I believe everyone deserves a second chance.

Be expecting lots of juicy tidbits from me on some of the biggest ponzi-pyramid promoters out there. Stay tuned.

Welcome to the site. We are looking forward to your contributions. You have had quite a journey.

Thank you for the welcome. Just submitted my first post. See the info (so far) on one Mr. Jeff Ruiz. Scum.

Hiya, Golden Rule and welcome to REALSCAM.com

I wouldn't be embarrassed if I were you. Your story is all too common.

People should remember, they are up against professional fraudsters, many of whom have a long history of fraud and deception.

IOW, they know what works and what doesn't, as you discovered

Originally Posted by Golden_Rule

There are 30+ marketers I can think of right now with BIG followings, and I plan to begin exposing them here on Realscam.

Welcome to the site, really looking forward to this contribution.

Originally Posted by Golden_Rule

Hi everyone.

As the title says, I used to promote some of the very same types of programs often highlighted on Realscam. And I was very successful at it. But the thing is (and you can choose to believe it or not)...back when I was doing it
I truly never thought of those programs as being bad, wrong, illegitimate, and certainly not illegal. I really got involved in that "industry" very gradually. Sort of how when you put a lobster in cold water and gradually raise it to boil, they don't even realize the situation they're in until it's too late. I'll try not to be long-winded, but I feel I should explain my history more fully.

As a kid and all throughout my school and work life, I was very studious and eager to please....my parents, my teachers, my friends, my co-workers, my bosses....everyone. I graduated college with a 4.0 GPA. For the next 10 years I had various professional-level positions. Then, I had the opportunity to join my family's retail business. We opened several new locations over the next several years, and business was great. Until it wasn't. The recession of the late 2000's and increasing competition forced us to eventually close and sell off whatever assets we could. So I went back to my previous career and thankfully found employment, but I was still heavily in debt, and times were extremely tough.

That's when a friend of mine introduced me to the "online marketing" industry. He showed me all these examples of people making 1000's of dollars a month, supposedly part time. I thought, man I sure could use some extra cash like that. So I dipped my toes in the water and started the same way everyone else does. I failed. And failed. And failed. Over and over. But through the course of my failures I had gradually grown my list of connections. Eventually, I started having a small bit of success. At first I involved myself strictly with product-based programs (these are not actual examples, but think Amway, Rodan & Fields, Avon etc....things like that). I was never ashamed in any way to be involved with those type of programs. Heck, even to this day some of my close personal friends and neighbors are in the same programs.

But then, I guess I got greedy. Since I began doing so well due to my large and growing following, I basically took advantage and exploited that and began getting involved in other types of programs. I won't name them here, but these were mostly involved with selling what I now would call useless "products". Sure, there were products, like online marketing training, tutorials, etc. But in reality, it was the same stuff you could learn through Google. The "product" was really just an afterthought. People weren't interested in obtaining the product, they were interested in recruiting others to join the "business". That's how they got paid, from someone else paying to join in return for "resale rights" of the same useless products. No one could just buy the "products" alone, nor would they, there was no true market for them. Though I was never in it, the most well-known example of this type of program was Empower Network.

Anyway, my involvement in online marketing lasted a total of about 4 years, going from a novice failure to a successful earner. But towards the end of that 4 years, I became acquainted with this site, Realscam.com. And boy was it a real eye-opener! Suddenly, I was jarred from my brainwashed viewpoint of these programs to instead seeing them as "outsiders" saw them....that is for what they are, which are recruiting/pyramid-based schemes. I began to see for the first time how the "products" were irrelevant, and how the process of recruiting just for recruiting's sake was doomed to failure. I also saw posts from Realscam members citing various legal definitions of improper programs, and for the first time I thought to myself that some of the things I'd been involved with could very well have technically been classified as illegal. That had truly never occurred to me...I had never bothered with looking up such laws. So, as someone who always thought of themselves as a responsible, upstanding citizen (I've never even had a speeding ticket!), I was frankly shocked. And humiliated. I just felt dirty. And it was a terrible feeling. So in a very real way, Realscam.com caused me to open my eyes and change my ways.

So one day, I just stopped. I literally quit marketing, of all types, all together. I severed my connection to ALL of my marketing followers AND peers. It's been quite some time now, and since then, I've been able to live with myself again knowing I'm no longer taking advantage of people. And I've never looked back.

So my goal now is to educate and expose. Though I'm no longer connected to any online marketers, I remember who they are And who their friends are There are 30+ marketers I can think of right now with BIG followings, and I plan to begin exposing them here on Realscam. It may take me a little time to reconnect with all of them (under cover of course ), but I'll eventually show off their shenanigans to the world. What I'm hoping to accomplish are several things: to educate potential "customers" of these pimps not to join them, to shine the light of the broader public at large on these pimps' activities, and to get the pimps' attention and perhaps help convince them to change their ways like I did. If all this info also catches the attention of the authorities, so be it. But my hope is the pimps will just stop what they're doing without being "forced" to. But that is probably wishful thinking. Easy money can be quite addictive and intoxicating. Unfortunately I'm the only person I can think of who actually quit on their own. Believe me, I'm not bragging about that. If I were bragging I'd be able to say I was smart enough to have never gotten involved in the first place.

Well, if you're still reading this, I hope I didn't bore you too much. And I also hope you'll see I'm being sincere. I simply want to do the right thing, and I believe everyone deserves a second chance.

Be expecting lots of juicy tidbits from me on some of the biggest ponzi-pyramid promoters out there. Stay tuned.

Golden Rule.......

Is Vincent Ortega JR on your list of people to expose? If not you should research him Heres his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ortegajr hes a for sure scammer and con artist

He wasn’t. But he is now :). Thanks.

Originally Posted by Golden_Rule

He wasn’t. But he is now :). Thanks.

Golden Rule....

I created a thread earlier today about him so any information you have you can post about him here :) http://www.realscam.com/f11/vincent-...94/#post124047

Excellent! Welcome aboard.

Golden rule you said your goal is to expose and educate..
Any plans to make amends to your extended downline??..
As in...
Will you be using any of your refferal commissions which came from your downlines pockets to make them whole??...
Or should they just "move on" like you have??..

Originally Posted by okosh

Golden rule you said your goal is to expose and educate..
Any plans to make amends to your extended downline??..
As in...
Will you be using any of your refferal commissions which came from your downlines pockets to make them whole??...
Or should they just "move on" like you have??..

While ideally that would be the proper thing to do, I'm simply not in a financial position to do so. I have not been involved in that world for some time now, and it helped to fund a lifestyle which I no longer lead. I'm simply trying to do what I can now to offer some insight into how that world works coming from the perspective of someone who was involved with it. I'm not proud of it. But everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes good people make bad choices. It doesn't make them bad people, it just means they're human. I believe the focus of this site should be directed toward those who haven't yet realized the error of their ways.

Yep. It's all very true. Scam pimps on social media. Or social media pimps...I have proof.

Originally Posted by Golden_Rule

Hi everyone.

Eventually, I started having a small bit of success. At first I involved myself strictly with product-based programs (these are not actual examples, but think Amway, Rodan & Fields, Avon etc....things like that). I was never ashamed in any way to be involved with those type of programs. Heck, even to this day some of my close personal friends and neighbors are in the same programs.

Are you also exposing your friends and neighbors for pimping product based pyramid schemes? How do you draw a distinction? Why weren't you ashamed?