What shocks me most as thousands of IBO victim testimonials pour in from around the world is the nearly identical fashion the were defrauded in - with almost franchised precision. This one just came in from an Amway IBO in Australia.

Brave man Eric,

I need time to digest your information but in my heart I know I've been a victim of this deception and almost dare not reflect on what it cost me because facing that reality could prove too painful to deal with. As a solo mother of two, struggling for a better life for my children I was so vulnerable to the 'opportunity'. Educated, a professional with a college degree, I am amazed how gullible I was.

The money I spent on tapes, videos, seminars, lunches, training materials, tickets purchased for my group that 40 percent went unsold, the babysitters night after night, the fuel, sponsoring every week, phone bills. Then 3 of my group flying with my upline to Indonesia
at their own expense with so many promises that blew up in my face with the hurt and blatant abuse of their time, trust and investment.

Oh I was loyal, diligent, committed but never climbed past 12 percent. I lost focus on my traditional business, I fell behind in my mortgage, which all lead to having to sell my home, relocate and lick some very open wounds. I quit the Amway 'dream' and went back to my old life. Literally from that day forward I've rebuilt my securities and never looked back.

If there is good in any story I'd have to declare I met some beautiful people along the way. People I would never have met and made time to know in my professional career. I made new friends that remain in my heart and I saw another side of my fellow man that perhaps opened my eyes to the struggle and love that exists all around us. I touched it and it touched me, that changed me forever.

If only I could have had that experience without inflicting pain on anyone because now I realise I was so selfish in my own desire I deliberately didn't look at what it was costing these beautiful, innocent people and families. In my defense all I can say is I did believe, blindly I followed their instructions like some kind of excited child and for a long time I truly did believe I was helping others, or at least those who were prepared to help themselves. Yes I was blinded by the light so I took the hand of my leaders and simply followed like a sheep - right over the cliff.

Over a two year period - 'skills, motivation tapes, video's, seminars, beauty lunches and classes, business building workshops and regular weekly meetings donations at the door' probably around $AU7,000. Business expenses - phone, fuel, babysitters etc probably another $AU5,000 or more. Then there is all the direct Amway materials - miscellaneous goods like demonstration items from CMS to beauty products, water filter to shower heads, and all the spare parts to keep my downline well serviced (as advised by my upline).

Let's not forget the packets and packets of ACTUAL product brochures, demonstration video's on cookware to positrim weight loss. At least another $AU2000. Let's not forget the interest on credit cards that I used CONSTANTLY to purchase everything I was 'advised'
to - probably $AU500 in interest and late payment fees.

And how do you measure the cost of losing your home because you're so convinced that next month you'll go 21 and from there on you're in a jet stream and all your financial worries will be over forever more?

How do you measure the loss of revenue in your day job business because you've taken both eyes off the game? One client withdrew their business because I was simply never available anymore, their projects were late every month and I seem to have no reasonable
explanation. The annual revenue return from that client was around $AU25,000. Instead of working 8 hours a day on my day job business I was working at least 8 hours a day on my Amway business, promoting meetings, showing the plan (pushing tapes, books, videos - "make sure you have enough in the boot of the car so you NEVER miss an opportunity to sponsor"); seminars, tapes (which most of the time I gave away free to the recipient while
prospecting, or motivating).

Every chance you have you find yourself selling the tapes, video's, books. Even organizing meetings, follow-ups - still more tapes and books flow right down to motivating weight loss clients more tapes and books), counseling new and old downline (more tapes, videos and books), all the time reporting upline craving their praise and respect. I was one sick little puppy. And all I have to show for it is a little box full of .25 cent achievement pins that to
me, today, are proof of my stupidity.

Return, earnings for all of that investment: around $AU2000 over two years (includes the retail markup on customers who didn't want to join but liked the products).

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