The latest email coming out of Local City Places definitely raises red flags and sounds a lot like a pyramid scheme. Here are a few key points that suggest this:
Unclear Product or Service: The description focuses heavily on commissions, bonuses, and rewards for bringing in new people, rather than explaining a clear, valuable product or service that the merchant would be offering. This is a hallmark of pyramid schemes, where the main incentive is recruiting new participants, not the sale of a tangible product or service.
High Focus on Recruitment: The primary way to earn money seems to be by getting other people (merchants and individuals) to join the program and pay to be part of it. You earn commissions from people you refer, and then those people can also earn by referring others. This is the classic structure of a pyramid scheme, where the money earned is based more on the recruitment of new people rather than the actual sale of a product or service.
Big Upfront Costs: To participate, you’re asked to pay a fairly large amount of money upfront ($247.50 for the first merchant, with the option to pay more to get more cards and bonuses). This type of upfront cost can be a major red flag, especially when the focus seems to be more on getting you to spend money rather than explaining the actual value you’re getting in return.
Ongoing Payments: After the initial payment, there’s a recurring $495 per month fee. In some legitimate businesses, recurring costs like this would be tied to ongoing services or products. However, in this case, the recurring payment seems more tied to the idea of keeping your spot in the program or maintaining your ability to earn commissions from your recruits.
The “CASHBATE” Concept: The idea of a “CASH$BATE$” program, with its focus on generating income through referrals rather than product sales, gives off a vibe that’s very typical of schemes where the product or service isn’t as important as getting new people to buy in.
In summary, based on the structure of this program, it seems like a classic case of a pyramid scheme, where the money comes primarily from new recruits paying to join rather than from a sustainable, legitimate product or service. I would be very cautious about participating, and it’s advisable to avoid programs that seem to prioritize recruitment over actual business value. Over the past 18 months Troy Warren has constantly moved the goal post on everyone that has invested or is hanging in to see what happens.
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