Is Lyoness a scam?

[IMHO]

I searched the forum, but no hits, so I take it that they were not discussed before.

When you Google Lyoness, "scam" is under the top 3 results. When looking at the 'scam' article, it does not say anything about scam and it seems like a way to attract attention.

It sounds to me that the whole loyalty thing is based on networking and finding new entrants, kind of like Amway. Does anyone have more first hand info? Pressure is put on me to attend a meeting tomorrow and I do not feel like wasting my time. I am currently very busy with a building project.

I have experience of Amway and know I am not into finding new clients all the time.

[IMHO]

Hello Peter.

Apparently Dischem came online today. Anybody that knows about it?

During a recent visit to Cape Town, I was invited by friends to a Lyoness presentation [URL Removed] The prospects sounded good and I decided to join, which was cost-free.

The reality is less than what was presented.

I ordered flyers in order to subscribe new members and I ordered a Pick & Pay voucher (total R800.00) to shop through Lyoness. The voucher is necessary since very few stores support Lyoness at present.

However, the items cannot be delivered to my address in Kroonstad because Lyoness uses a courier company that does not cover the whole of South Africa. And the Post Office is on strike at the Wits sorting center so nothing can be posted to me.

I did purchase a Pick & Pay gift voucher as instructed by Mphile at the Lyoness office and forwarded the number thereof.

But still nothing.

I am badly disappointed by the rosy sales presentation of Lyoness and the very opposite reality once registered. Let this be a warning to other prospective members. Using a courier company with national coverage is surely not rocket science?

[Tokoloshe]

A family member was approached to sign up for this - R3000 'investment' and then add to your network for a share of the loyalty income generated from the use of loyalty cards (basically). I looked up Lyoness too and it doesn't have good press in, say, Austria ... What gives?

[IMHO]

I was not even told about the 'investment'. Suppose that comes out in the meeting.

[Mitos]

Personal opinion....I would steer away from any "get rich quick" scheme......

[mvubu]

Hi
I have looked pretty deep into this and concluded that the shopping portion, although legitimate, is pretty poor when compared to normal store discount/ loyalty cards. The shopping however is not where the money is made - this is generated from their "premium member" signups which sells for at least R20,000. This back end is a clear and deliberate ponzi/ pyramid scheme and is very well explained in this detailed analysis.

http://behindmlm.com/companies/lyoness-us-review-cashback-and-investment-returns/#comment-76424

AND

http://behindmlm.com/companies/lyoness/lyoness-corporate-webinar-spells-out-ponzi-scheme/

Woolworths is seems will no longer deal with them.

[rom828]

I have to concur mvubu...I went to one of their intro's......hmmm suspect. Yup the shopping portion seems ok

[rom828]

and there goes Pick N Pay too..... only be able to go and shop at Pick n Pay, through Lyoness until 15 September 2013.

[OnePilot]

Lyoness Scam Review

One thing that is great about Google is that it WILL find what you are asking it to find

e.g. Microsoft scam or ABSA scam will find scam stories about the relevant topic

We as humans also tend to always look for and thrive on the negative!

Here is an interesting website www.lyonessscamreview.info to give what I think is a balanced view of this company

YES I AM a member of Lyoness and welcome any questions which I will do my best to answer!

[mvubu]

Is that your attempt at a defense? I heard the same pathetic attempt at the song and dance show and read it in the sales printout.

Lyoness launched on the back of the great names in SA retail... lets see what has happened..

Pick n Pay vetted - proven lie, no longer doing any business with Lyoness
Woolworths - vetted our program = proven lie - no longer doing business with Lyoness
Edgars - vetted our program =proven lie no longer doing business with Lyoness
Dischem - vetted our program = proven lie - no longer doing business

Every single reputable store was duped into trading with Lyoness. The secondary motive was never disclosed, yet the moment the pyramid scheme was exposed, they ALL kicked out out.

If you have made any money out of this and have sold "business opportunities and board positions" to ANYONE underyou... you are part of a pyramid scheme and I hope you get what will eventually come your way.

[OnePilot]

Strong words mvubu

Did you read the information I offered - all 20 odd pages?

I thought it gave a very good and balanced view of what the business is about!

Fortunately I do not have to convince you or anyone else - nor defend the company -
Lyoness is old enough = 10 years plus and big enough = more than 1000 staff members, over 3,2 million members, 45 offices world wide.

I do encourage people to do their own due diligence in whatever business they become involved in whether it be this one or any of the other thousands available and there is always a lot to be said about all of them - good and bad.

So .......... are you a member and do you know what is happening? or are you quoting others?

Not sure what you are referring to as a proven lie?

I suggest that you check your source of information, because as a member of Lyoness you would know what the truth is

Edcon group and Dischem are very much doing business with Lyoness!

As are companies such as Boots, Harrods and Marks & Spencers in the UK, The Walmart Group, Sears, Macy's in USA, the whole (i.e. all the stores) in the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, Coles in Australia to name a few of the larger chain stores world wide!

As I said I do not need to "defend" any company nor my reasons for being a member of any company or group, that is the right each individual and I respect that right.

I do however prefer to consider the facts available rather than quote others!
Do you have the facts?

[mvubu]

I notice you ignored the PnP, Woolies points. You also ignored the "business op" side of things. The shopping might even be legit, but the discounts are rubbish and the general dealers signed up are even worse.

The numbers speak for themselves. A board position costs R500. at 1% that means you need R50,000 of shopping for 1 position.
But wait, you can skip that and pay R20k and buy up all the R500 positions on the board. You can then get your mates to do the same and you can earn huge sums of money doing it.
Forget the shopping - it is ruse to deflect the true purpose here, which is a plain garden variety pyramid scheme.
Follow the money... it isn't difficult, for those who were not born yesterday and have witnessed hundreds of similar scams fail in the past.

[mvubu]

That website is just another Lyoness shill site list at the address of know scammers and fraud hosting service.
Have a google: 14747 N Northsight Blvd Suite 111, PMB 309, Arizona

And how big do things need to get before they fall over? Here is only ONE of the latest:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/halahtouryalai/2012/09/14/zeekrewards-receiver-recovers-300m-asks-affiliates-to-surrender-gains/

In SA the proceeds of pyramid schemes are fully recoverable from ALL beneficiaries in the pipeline and this has been confirmed by the SCA in 2 cases.

You would do well to read more than the marketing bumf feed to you by the company.

[OnePilot]

mvubu

Did you read the review? here is the link again www.lyonessscamreview.info

You obviously have not studied the Lyoness program at all! because the figures you are quoting are absolute nonsense

Regarding PnP and Woolies - yes they are no longer part of Lyoness
Do you recall when Discovery launched their credit card - they were affiliated to Woolworths?
Then they parted company! Now after a number of years they are back again
Business partners come and go - as all business owners know.

Judging by your comments you clearly have a lot of experience of witnessing these "scams" - first hand or via the internet?

[OnePilot]

Interesting that you choose to compare Zeekrewards a less than 1 year old company

With Lyoness a 10 year plus company that has ISO 9001 Accreditation, is registered with SARS, the South African Reserve bank, and South African Consumer Protection Act as well as having a physical presence in every one of the 45 countries that they trade in!

I did do my due diligence as I always do not just the bumf