Accurate information about multilevel marketing is not easy to get. Few publishers, editors, and broadcasters are willing to examine this topic in depth. Most reports reaching the public express what the companies and individual distributors would like people to believe. Nearly all MLM companies selling health-related products exaggerate their value, and the vast majority of people who become distributors do not make significant income.

About MLM Watch

• Mission Statement
• About Dr. Barrett
• Frequently Asked Questions (updated 7/1/06)
• How to Contact Us
• Publications for Sale (link to Quackwatch)

General Articles

• The Multilevel Mirage (updated 1/21/08) FEATURE
• NCAHF Position Paper on Multilevel Marketing of Health Products (posted 1/22/03)
• The FTC's Consumer Alert Is Not Strong Enough (posted 1/25/08)
• The Origin of Multilevel Marketing (posted 9/5/99)
• A Warning to College Students (posted 7/18/13)
• Appropriate Use of Dietary Supplements (link to Quackwatch)
• Sale of Non-Health-Related Goods from Physicians' Offices (posted 7/14/99)
• MLM Glossary (updated 9/9/14)

Dishonest Promotion

• Both Buyers and Sellers Should Be Wary of Multilevel Marketing (posted 7/2/06)
• Typical MLM Misrepresentations (revised 1/25/08) FEATURE
• Four Lies of MLM (posted 5/28/02)
• Ten Big Lies of Multilevel Marketing (posted 8/6/02) FEATURE
• MLM Pyramid Schemes: A Primer (posted 1/15/15) FEATURE
• How to Identify a Product-Based Pyramid Scheme ("Recruiting MLM") (posted 2/10/03)

Investigative Reports

• MLM Unmasked: Aanalysis of 600+ Companies (posted 4/1/18) FEATURE
• 2Xtreme: Better Business Bureau Warning (posted 7/1/99)
• Cell Tech (link to Quackwatch)
• Coral Calcium and Robert Barefoot (link to Quackwatch)
• cPRIME Magnetic Wristbands (link to another site)
• Don Lapre, Doug Grant, and "The Greatest Vitamin in the World" (link to Quackwatch)
• Energetix Magnetic Jewelry: Can It Help Your Health? (posted 7/1/06)
• Eniva's "PDR" Hype Debunked (updated 3/7/08)
• Herbalife International (updated 4/12/02)
• Ideal Health's Privatest (link to quackwatch)
• Mannatech (updated 8/21/08)
• It Works! Body Wraps (link to another site)
• MXI Corporation (XOÇAI) (link to another site)
• National Safety Associates (Juice Plus+) (updated 1/29/06)
  • Questionable Research by the Juice Plus Children's Research Foundation (posted 4/3/04)
• NuGenix (link to Quackwatch)
• Rexall Showcase International (updated 4/02/01)
• Seasilver (link to Quackwatch)
• Starlight International (link to another site)
• StemTech's Dubious Claims (posted 11/18/05)
• Sunrider and the Law (1992) (posted 12/18/10)
• The Rise and Fall of United Sciences of America (updated 11/14/14)

Victim Reports

• Becoming Wealthy with MLM: A Myth (posted 7/3/06)
• Ripped off by Herbalife (posted 2/14/04)
• Unethical Selling by a Doctor (posted 10/18/99)
• Complaints to FTC about Herbalife (link to FTC report)
• Complaints to FTC about Quixtar (link to FTC report)

Legal Issues

• Amerisciences Sued for Refunds (revised 1/14/08)
• Tennessee Bill Aims to Curb MLM-Based Pyramid Schemes (posted 5/26/10)
• Cell Tech Loses False Advertising Suit (posted 7/25/03)
• Comments Needed on the FTC's Proposed Business Opportunity Rule (posted 6/29/06) FEATURE
• Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: Relevant Portions (to be posted)
• Class Action Suit against FreeLife and Earl Mindell Settled (updated 1/14/15)
• FTC Guide to Dietary Supplement Advertising Claims (posted 5/27/99)
• FTC Petition to Require Full Financial Disclosure [HTML] [PDF] (posted 8/6/02) FEATURE
• Mannatech Pays $750000 to Settle Lawsuit Charging Fraud and Invasion of Privacy (updaed 12/3/10)
• MLM Law Library Web Site
• Omnitrition/Pyramid Scheme Case (link to another site)
• Prominent Shaklee Distributor Accused of Operating Ponzi Scheme (posted 5/14/13)
• Quixtar Sued for Alleged Fraud and Racketeering (posted 2/15/07)
• Rexall Sued for Cellasene Fraud (posted 4/2/01)
• Canadian Police Bring Criminal Charges against MLM, Business in Motion (link to Pyramid Scheme Alert)

Government Rewgulatory Action

• How the FTC Was Persuaded to Exempt MLMs fromIts Business Opportunity Rule (posted 4/1/18)
• FTC Chairwoman Addresses Direct Selling Association (2016) (posted 12/25/17)
• 4Life Research (link to FDA warning letter)
• Advantage Neutraceuticals (FDA warning letter)
• Advocare (link to FTC report)
• Alliance USA (The Chemins Co.) (posted 10/15/02)
• Alpine Industries Ordered to Stop Unsubstantiated Claims for Ozone Generators (updated 5/27/01)
• American Image Marketing (1988)
• Amway Corporation (1979 and 1986) (links to FTC reports)
• Bodywise International (1995) and 2005
• Cell Tech International (link to 2002 FDA courtesy letter)
• Dynamic Essentials (link to FDA news release)
• E Excel (link to 2000 FDA warning letter)
• E'OLA International (link to FDA report)
• Equinox International (posted 8/11/99)
• ForMor International (posted 6/17/01)
• Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (link to FTC reports)
• FutureNet (link to FTC report)
• Gano Excel (link to FDA warning letter)
• Herbalife International
  • California: (1986) (posted 11/12/99)
  • FTC (2016): posted 7/25/16)
• Infinity2 (link to FTC report)
• Kaire International (link to Quackwatch)
• K.C. Laboratories (Blue-Green Manna, 1986) (posted 2/6/02)
• Legacy for Life (link to FDA warning letter)
• Life Enthusiast Co-Op (link to FDA warning letter)
• Mannatech
  • Australian Physician Disciplined for Misrepresenting Mannatech Products to Patients (posted 10/18/00)
  • Mannatech and Founder Agree to Pay $7 Million to Settle Texas Attorney General Charges (posted 12/3/10)
• Market America (link to Casewatch)
• MonaVie (link to 2007 FDA warning letter)
• Morinda (Tahitian Noni) (link to Quackwatch)
• Nanci Corporation (link to FTC report)
• Neora (formerly Nerium International) (link to FTC report)
• Neways International (posted 8/5/04)
• Nu Skin (1993 and 1997) (links to FTC reports)
• Nature's Sunshine (link to 2001 FDA warning letter)
• New Vision International (1998) (posted 3/15/99)
• Oasis Wellness Network (updated 7/1/01)
• Oxyfresh Worldwide (2000) (posted 9/5/00)
• Plexus Worldwide, Inc. (link to 2014 FDA warning letter)
• Quest IV Health Products (1999) (updated 6/20/01)
• Reliv International (1998)
  • FDA warning letter (1998)
  • FDA warning letter (2001)
• Seasilver USA (link to 2002 FDA warning letter)
• Streamline International
  • Link to FTC complaint
  • Settlement with Robert Waitkus
• Sunrider Corporation (1998) (posted 7/21/99)
• Trek Alliance (2003) (link to FTC report)
• TrendMark International (1998) (link to FTC report)
• Trek Alliance (2002) (link to FTC report)
• Unither Pharma (HeartBar) (link to FTC report)
• Vemma Nutrition Company (link to FTC report)
• Venegas, Inc., (1997) (link to FTC report)
• Xango International (link to 2006 warning letter)

Sites Operated by MLM Critics

• All Your Need to Know about MLM: Is MLM a Scam?
• Amway: The Untold Story
• Amway/Quixtar/Alticor Business Analysis
• AMwayQUIXtar.info
• An Insider's Perspective
• Crimebusters Now
• Dean & Laura Van Druff
• Facts about Herbalife
• False Profits
• Herbalife Is a Pyramid
• Merchants of Deception (free book about alleged Amway/Quixtar fraud)
• MLM Survivor
• MLM-the truth: (investigations by Jon M. Taylor, Ph.D.
• Quackwatch
• Ross Institute: Information about Amway, Herbalife, Mannatech, and Trek Alliance
• Skapegoat (Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing facts and news)
• Truth in Advertising Inc (TINA): Reports on many MLMs)

MLM Suppliers

• MLM Suppliers (updated 11/4/03)

Warnings About Pyramid Schemes, Chain Letters, and Other Questionable Plans

• Acid Test: "Make money online" scams and hoaxes
• Donald Watrous's Chain Letters Page
• Federal Trade Commission (brief report)
• Federal Trade Commission (detailed report)
• Global Prosperity Scam
• Industry Canada - Competition Bureau
• Matrix Watch
• Mediamoogle.com: Discusses Pre-Paid Legal
• Pyramid Scheme Alert
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service

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