TVI Express News

TVI Express Distributor Accused in Pyramid Scheme Debacle

Npros.com | 5/21/2010

A typical pyramid scheme involves a member whom pays to join, who may then only be able to produce money by convincing others to join and pay a fee as well. In most legitimate MLM programs, individuals earn money by selling genuine products to consumers, not via the recruiting process.

Court orders were obtained by the ACCC that temporarily stop Ms Jutsen, Tina Aroha Brownlee and David Graeme Scanlon from promoting, or taking payments for membership.

It has been reported that TVI Express recruited over 600,000 members worldwide since November of last year. Federal Court Documents indicated that the ACCC was notified on April 6 that TVI was a pyramid scheme and was being promoted by Ms Jutsen through the web sites vortexmom and tedditudes.

After an investigation by two members of the ACCC, it was reveled that the travel vouchers issued by TVI Express as part of the $330 membership could be bought for $US2.99. Upon attempting to use the TVI voucher, an investigator found that it didn't work.

In regard to various claims made on the TVI Express marketing videos, the UK Office of Fair Trading notified the ACCC that TVI Expressisn't there and that companies TVI Express claims to affiliated with deny any relationship.

TVI Express Shut Down By ACCC

Press Release | 5/19/2010

On Friday 14 May 2010, in the Federal Court, Sydney, the ACCC obtained ex-parte injunctions restraining Laulhati Jutsen (also known as Teddi Jutsen), Tina Aroha Brownlee and David Graeme Scanlon from promoting the alleged pyramid selling scheme.

Pyramid selling schemes are deliberate scams designed to benefit the originators while taking advantage of later recruits. They operate on the basis that members receive commissions for recruiting new members. However, they inevitably collapse leaving most participants out of pocket.

The TVI Express scheme is promoted by the respondents through various websites including the site www.tviteamoz.com and the TVI Express Oz group on the site www.facebook.com. People who wish to participate in the scheme are required to pay a membership fee of $330. Once an individual has paid the $330, they receive a ‘travel voucher’ and the opportunity to receive commission payments for recruiting other people into the scheme.

The ACCC understands that Ms Jutsen, Ms Brownlee and Mr Scanlon had planned to hold presentations across Australia and New Zealand this week to promote the scheme. The orders obtained by the ACCC will prevent these presentations from going ahead. If the individuals ignore these orders, they risk being in contempt of court.

The court orders also restrain the individuals from knowingly accepting payments from, or making payments to other participants in the scheme. The individuals are also required to place notices on various websites alerting members of the public to the ACCC’s court action.

The TVI Express website hosts YouTube video’s from the groups Indonesian arm, with participants in the scheme with glowing reports of the quick riches they made by participating in the scheme and is embedded below. As always, when investment schemes/clubs seem to good to be true, they often are.