Two years after their entrapment in a mammoth Ponzi scheme became public, victims of the Zeek Rewards swindle finally may receive some restitution this autumn.
The attorney overseeing what may become one of the largest pyramid schemes in U.S. history — which was run from a small office next to a coin-operated laundromat in Lexington — said the first, initial payments to victims could be made in late September. Receiver Kenneth Bell said last week that the first reimbursements could be for 40 percent of what victims lost in Zeek Rewards, which billed itself as an online multilevel marketing business but turned out to be a classic Ponzi scheme in which early customers were paid with proceeds from later ones.
“Let me emphasize that this is only a first distribution. I am entirely confident that we will make another distribution once we have recovered all assets possible,” Bell said.
Earlier this year, Bell sued former Zeek Rewards insiders, including ringleader Paul Burks of Lexington, and more than 9,000 individuals across the country who took more money out of Zeek Rewards than they contributed.
“This money rightfully belongs to affiliates with allowed claims. Also, I believe we will recover several millions of dollars more from
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Talk Fusion Blue Diamond Yasuko Takakura Of Japan Overcomes With The Power Of Positivity
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
When it comes to life’s unexpected challenges, Blue Diamond Yasuko Takakura of Japan is a shining example of triumph in the face of adversity.
When her husband passed away unexpectedly a few years ago, Yasuko was forced to take over his company, and the massive debt that came along with it. To live within her new means, she sold off nearly everything and moved into a one-bedroom apartment alongside her daughter.
She struggled for months until one day, when her friend Hitomi Shinzato approached her with a business opportunity from a company called Talk Fusion. Hitomi was experiencing newfound personal success as she shared the company’s innovative video communication products and business opportunity around Japan.
“I didn’t even have enough money to start,” Yasuko said. “I borrowed from Hitomi. She believed in me and made it a point to teach me everything about the business. I owe so much of my success to her.”
With Hitomi’s help, Yasuko began sharing Talk Fusion with her family, friends and colleagues. Even as a relationship marketing newcomer, Yasuko began paving a real path to financial freedom while helping other women in situations much like her own to do the same. As her team grew, so did her
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Experts Calls on SEC To Crack Down On MLM’s
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
The Securities and Exchange Commission should ratchet up its scrutiny of Herbalife and other multilevel marketing companies to ensure that their distributors aren’t violating anti-pyramid scheme laws, according to one top industry expert.
Bill Keep, the business dean of the College of New Jersey and a trial expert on pyramid schemes, urged SEC chief Mary Jo White to conduct ongoing reviews of the growing MLM industry and recommended that companies submit their enforcement policies to regulators every five years.
“I urge you to take serious the ongoing threat of unregulated behaviors by hundreds of thousands of MLM distributors affecting the lives of millions of Americans annually,” he wrote in the June 16 letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
Keep fired off the letter in the wake of the recent appellate court decision upholding the Federal Trade Commission’s closure of pyramid scheme BurnLounge, saying it “reinforced the key issues of rewards primarily reliance on recruitment and the need for effective, enforced company policies.”
In his letter to White, Keep called out Herbalife, which is being probed by the SEC and other regulators over pyramid scheme allegations, for its “attempts to distance the company from distributor behaviors.”
The maker of protein shakes and other nutrition supplements
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Dr. Gary Williamson Joins Nutrilite
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
The Nutrilite Health Institute, a worldwide collaboration of experts dedicated to helping people achieve optimal health, welcomes Gary Williamson, Ph.D., to its scientific advisory board. Comprised of leading scientists in the fields of nutrition, health, and genetics, the scientific advisory board provides guidance on new and emerging nutrition science and technology, public health issues, product development and strategic direction for Nutrilite, the world’s number one selling brand of vitamins and dietary supplements.
“We’re honored to welcome Professor Williamson as an esteemed colleague and advisor to our board of scientific leadership,” said Keith Randolph, technology strategist for Nutrilite. “He is one of the premier thought leaders in the field of food science and nutrition. We look forward to his insight to our ongoing research on the benefits of phytonutrients and other components found in plant-based foods that have a positive impact on our long-term health.”
A biochemist and enzymologist, Williamson is professor of Functional Food in the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, UK.
He has published more than 350 refereed scientific publications and book chapters, and is ranked by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) as a highly cited author in Agricultural Sciences.
His scientific discoveries include major advances in understanding dietary
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QNET Introduces Total Home Care Solution
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
With the rise of airborne and water-borne diseases, it is imperative for parents to take extra care and protection in ensuring that their kids live in a safe and clean home.
Global climate change, including rising temperatures, worsening ozone levels in urban areas and expansion of the range of communicable diseases as the planet heats up increases the incidences of asthma, allergies, infectious and cardiovascular diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, preventive health care is a must.
Prominent direct-selling company QNET has come up with a total home care solution to make sure the air that your family breathes is pure, clean and fresh and the water that you and your family drinks has been purified, alkalised and energized, and your home is spotless clean. QNET’s latest range of Home Care products provide a hygienic, healthy home environment for the whole family which includes:
Pure, Clean Air with AirPure2 – a brand new air purification system
The new and improved AirPure2 is a better, upgraded version of the original product. The 4-stage air purification system allows for you to inhale 99.97% pure and energised air.
A new innovation in air purification from Switzerland, the AirPure2 consists of a pre-filter coated with SilverSan® to effectively
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Krystal and Brett Williams – mynt Hit Ruby Executive
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
Krystal and Brett Williams from Corona, California, USA hit the rank of Ruby Executive in mynt.
This inseparable couple gives us a glimpse into what makes them tick.
You can just feel their passion and drive; it’s the kind of vibe that just lets you know they will continue in their success.
They know what they want and have a plan; they just needed the right vehicle to get there, and they found it with mynt.
mynt rewards based on effort
Krystal and I…we both work full-time jobs. We take our daughter to daycare every morning at 7 a.m., prior to pre-school starting. After pre-school, she goes to afterschool care until we can make our way back from work, which is usually around 6 p.m.
This is our current routine, but it is temporary. Our ultimate goal is to take back control of our lives so that we can determine how much money we make, when we take vacations, and how much family time we can spend together.
Once our mynt income exceeds the income from both our full-time jobs, we’ll leave those jobs and focus solely on the mynt lifestyle. And, for us, that means time freedom, financial freedom, and lots of quality time
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Zeek Rewards Receiver Sues MLM Attorney Kevin Grimes And Howard Kaplan For $100 Million
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
Kenneth Bell, the Zeek Rewards Receivership, filed a request for permission to file separate actions against two of Zeek Rewards attorneys, Kevin Grimes and Howard Kaplan.
The Zeek Receivership:
From January 2011 until August 2012, RVG operated a massive Ponzi and pyramid scheme through ZeekRewards, an internet based so-called “MLM” (multi-level marketing) program.
Kevin D. Grimes served as legal counsel to RVG from around January 2012 until August 2012, when RVG was placed into receivership.
By virtue of his knowledge of RVG and ZeekRewards and his legal expertise, Grimes knew or should have known that RVG was perpetrating an unlawful scheme which involved a pyramid scheme, an unregistered investment contract and/or a Ponzi scheme.
Despite this knowledge, Grimes actively encouraged investors to participate in the scheme by creating a so-called “compliance” program that provided a false façade of legality and legitimacy and knowingly allowed his name to be used to promote the scheme.
Grimes knew or should have known that insufficient income from the penny auction business was being made to pay the daily “profit share” promised by ZeekRewards.
Grimes knew or should have known that the money used to fund ZeekRewards’ distributions to Affiliates came almost entirely from new participants rather than income from the Zeekler penny
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Zija Hosts First Black Diamond Club Retreat
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
Zija International located in Lehi, Utah, develops natural, earth-friendly health, wellness, nutrition and fitness products. Zija currently operates in 50+ countries worldwide through its global family of Independent Distributors.
Although the company has been in business for only a few short years, it has experienced impressive growth year after year and been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and top-revenue companies by Inc. Magazine, Direct Selling News, and Utah Valley Magazine, to name a few.
Members of the Zija Black Diamond Club were recently treated to a luxurious and exotic retreat on the beautiful island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.
They were flown in, given a convertible rental car, and stayed at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort.
They were also given a sneak peek of Zija’s new product divisions—including essential oils—which will officially launch at the upcoming Zija Summit 2014 in Salt Lake City. Other highlights of the retreat Included:
A group snorkeling adventure aboard the 65-foot Alii Nui catamaran
3 separate leadership training opportunities with world-renowned trainer Dan Clark
An authentic group Luau dinner
Distributors Tom and Diana Waggoner were invited to participate in the Zija Profit Participation Plan (PPP)
Plenty of free time to explore the island at their leisure, including
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TelexFree Inches Closer To Chapter 7
by Tina Williams • • 0 Comments
Yesterday saw a hearing for TelexFree Trustee Stephen Darr’s request for permission to subpoena several companies associated with TelexFree. Darr had also requested permission to conduct depositions with individuals from said companies, with the court granting him permission to proceed.
Five such motions were filed by Darr, with three of them granted as proposed. Alvares and Marsal (financial consultants to TelexFree) objected only to having to share emails between the firm and its legal counsel.
Darr agreed to this on condition that he reserves the right to request the emails, if needed, at a later date. A & M consented on condition they retain the right to appeal any such requests.
At the time of publication, no order has been made public regarding Darr’s request to subpoena TelexFree’s law firm Greenberg Traurig, however news reports suggest permission was granted on all five subpoena requests.
Speaking to the Worcester Telegram about why he had to file the requests, Darr remarked
There are no employees left. There’s no insurance. There never was insurance.
I have no money to start up the business. I just don’t know if there ever was a business. I’m hampered by a lack of records.
Following a raid on TelexFree’s headquarters, HSI and FBI agents seized a host of TelexFree’s onsite
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Tissa Godavitarne – Top Internet Marketer Interview
by Ted Nuyten • • 0 Comments
Tissa Godavitarne is a highly successful network marketer and product developer. He’s widely known as the “Non-guru” for his no-hype approach to training and building teams.
While others update their Facebook status on Fridays with ‘TGIF’, Tissa is known for his ‘TGIM’ status updates on Mondays. It’s a reflection of the work-from-home lifestyle he has built for himself. He never has to dread Mondays
Tissa is involved in several Internet-based business opportunities. He uses a Multiple Streams of Income strategy and is one the top earners in both Empower Network and GVO’s Pure Leverage.
He lives in Haymarket, Virginia, U.S.A. , just outside Washington DC, and is married to Carolyn. They have two children, and a cat named Apple.
Ted Nuyten had the honor of interviewing Tissa recently.
Tissa, how did you got involved into the Network Marketing business? Who invited you?
My first foray into network marketing was back in 2008 when I joined Global Domains International (GDI). Prior to that I’d been strictly an affiliate marketer, selling Clickbank products for example. When I built ACME People Search in 2007, GDI was where most of my affiliates hosted their people search engines.
No one really invited me to the business; I came across