How to Recognize MLM Recruitment Tactics?

Question

I've been pursued by some folks who appear to belong to multi-level marketing organizations. What are some common schemes used by MLMs in recruiting additional members that I can spot and prevent myself from being drawn in unwittingly?

Answer 1

The way MLM recruiters usually talk gives away their recruitment intentions. They exhibit certain language blocks, highlight the business possibilities on offer and the idea of money making opportunities. It is not uncommon for recruiters to be particularly articulate and show a great interest in selling your motivational aspirations. When you know these red flags, you will be able to spot an MLM recruitment attempt and measure your appetite for involvement.

Comments

This couple approached me in a grocery store out of nowhere. The wife said I have a very nice tie and then asked me what my interests were and they said they have the same interests. We had a great conversation. The husband then gave me his number, he kept in contact with me always checked how I was and sent me smiley faces. We then met one time at chipotle and mentioned he was a drop shipper, I never heard of that and he said we'd discuss it more next time. We then met at Panera and told me about Amway and it's pyramid scheme in detail. He'd often switch the conversation to something I was interested in and whenever I displayed the knowledge on my interest he'd say I was awesome, cool, intelligent, and you're the man. I felt like a god. He said he would send me some information on when a business lecture on Amway would be held at his house. I now know why he was so friendly. The old saying we all know "If something seems to good to be true it probably is" is true.

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"business opportunity" is always the code word for MLM

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She’s right about being able to pick them out. They speak in a very distinctive coded language with certain catchphrases. I’m not sure what’s worse, MLM’s or timeshares.

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My fellow classmate tried to get me into this and they were annoyed when I said it’s a pyramid scheme

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If someone all the sudden nice to you out of blue it means they want something from you

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I can spot them from a mile away. I’ve been approached several times at grocery stores and other places and as soon as I spark up a conversation and hear them talk for 10 seconds I already know what’s coming. I usually stop them and ask them if they’re in Amway and their eyes open wide and they say yes and I just start laughing

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Just got off a one hour zoom call for a “business opportunity” and he literally showed me an image of basically a pyramid and how he’s part of amway. It’s funny how similar my experience is to everyone in the comments, but I’m happy I didn’t get dragged in any further or actually put any money in.

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Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m currently trying to get recruited by two guys and i’ve been debating if it’s worth it all bc it’s not at all what I want to do with my life and pyramid schemes are ALWAYS A RED FLAG. I wanna drop them now but ugh I wish I could just ghost them haha.

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My roommate is in amway and says “my business” like no girl you’re in a MLM

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The issue I have with the Amway process i encountered is/was; this guy randomly contacted me over Facebook (we were in the same group together) and then we got talking about life, my goals and dreams etc.

Then he started telling me that he may be able to speak to his mentor to help me and that he 'can't promise anything' etc. So I just went with it, thinking that maybe this is just one of those opportunities of a lifetime to be mentored at something I'm really interested in (coaching, starting fitness and health retreats etc).

3 meetings in, the guy starts talking about amway, products, how 'what you read online about Amway is crap' etc. THIS HERE IS THE ISSUE. When I initially started speaking to that guy through fb, in no way, shape or form did I mention wanting to sell products and be involved in that shit. So why the hell would you set up all these meetings/get me to read books etc and invest time in me (and me in them), without actually telling me what the hell I'm getting involved in. I thought that maybe he had liked my idea about health/fitness etc and was willing to invest time into it, it's pretty bloody stupid to be honest.

As soon as i found out it was Amway I respectfully declined to both of them..but maybe if they'd been transparent from the start, they would've saved time and energy for both of us (so it confuses me as to why the hell they aren't just upfront, as they're losing out too).

Anyway, I don't necessarily think they were bad dudes, seem pretty intelligent etc but such lack of transparency shows alot about someone, regardless of whether they've been brainwashed or not. I do agree regarding the personal development books though, they definitely mentioned that alot, and that's something I'll take away.

I personally think that Amway is a legit company but the vast majority fall at it. It also seems to reel people in and has cultish vibes to it as well.

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Thanks for you honest opinion. I am amid the recruiting process and I am backing out. I am honestly aware about how you mentioned they treat people differently ooutsidethe MLM. I have noticed how my “mentor” uses certain language to make me feel a certain way. He specifically made me reflect on how leaving might be a bad decision and will have repercussions. In my opinion it can’t be that easy to make passive income. Good luck to anyone who is trying out this but it is honestly not for me.

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Every time someone says financial freedom through so and so business opportunities. I’d just tune out like I can’t understand English anymore

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A former colleague of mine approached me some time ago to have a coffee and to speak about some business opportunity. As I remembered him as a nice guy I agreed and was really happy to see him, although I found some sentences to be weird before our meeting. He worked in IT and I though it was about some startup, but it turned out quite quickly that he was only interested in getting me into amway. I was quite upset, especially when I found out that a big part of his sentences was more or less scripted, starting with having a coffee and that freedom blabla. I felt sorry for him, wishing him all the best and that he'd find what he's looking for in life.

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7 steps to gaining cult members can translate to recruiting MLM members. replace God and faith with financial freedom. follow these steps >

step 1: find an opportunist (someone at a crossroads in life) explain you found the key to financial freedom

step 2: soft sell.  ask about financial and life choices, bring up your "mentor" in convo.  Help them budget their income this will help you determine how much you can really exploit them.

step 3: new reality, invite them to have coffee and say that your time and your mentors time is invaluable (its and honor just to have coffee with me) supply and demand, manipulate the demand for your mentors time

step 4: the dear leader. hype up your "mentor" explain their lavish lifestyle and how they innocently want to help people toward financial freedom

step 5: external enemies. create an Us V.S Them mentality. we're hustlers the rest of society is lazy. this will help with the isolation process.

step 6: peer pressure. invite them to the meeting with mostly MLM members (what an honor ) they'll help reinforce your ideology. Love-bombing is very important here.  Every member has to exaggerate how the recruit is so lucky to be attending and reinforce the false demand for a seat at this meeting.

step 7: introduce the narcissist. invite them to a meeting with your mentor or their mentor (your upline). The job of the charismatic narcissistic leader is to exploit the members for money.

social scientists studied how Jim Jones and other cult leaders gained power. After evaluation they determined these are the 7 steps.  In modern society religious cults are less prolific but you can translate their methods by replacing God with money.

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Recently I've joined this kind of business.And i feel regret after joining the team.What should i do guys?

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i've recently been approached and am just now figuring out it's not for me. the interview 6-step process is so time consuming/intensive that i didn't know what the company was even called until step 3 basically. Amway doesn't have a good reputation so that's probably why they hold off telling you but i'd rather they rip the band aid off

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I’ve been approached with this and when you said you can pick people out who do this easily it hit me hard. They always make it out to be super exclusive, say words like ‘good fit’ and ‘buisness opportunity’ and I can see it from a mile away now

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They are always nice. That's part of the plan. They want something from you

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I’m in the middle of this process of this WORLD WIDE GROUP organization that Amway created and I think I’m gonna ghost them lol! Thank you !!

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I don’t like feeling pressured to do something, and I felt very pressured to DO something. And that didn’t sit well with me. Plus I have an eye for people who are not very genuine. So I cut ties very quickly. The only thing I regret is wasting my time. But I did read a pretty good book they recommended similar to you.

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I am interested to know what are the attributes of an Amway or any MLM person that you can spot?

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Amway, like all MLMs is a cult and uses the same tactics. Beware "love bombing" which is a very common recruitment tactic of cults (as well as sociopaths). Then comes the efforts to make you look negatively on your life before you joined the group and the building of a "them and us" mentality. Recognise when this is happening and you'll avoid a lot of heartache..and money!