I was invited to attend a presentation for Millenium Leisure International. I wasn’t given much in the line of details, just “It’s not a pyramid scheme, go see the presentation”. Initially, I was game, until I heard some of the word on the street, about fraud, investigation, etc.
A quick SA google retrieved the following results:
If ABSA has frozen their bank account, and the Reserve Bank and the SAPS are investigating them, then I don’t want anything to do with it. From what I can tell from the IOL reports (I haven’t seen the presentation, so I can’t say for sure), whether it’s classified as a pyramid scheme or not, your return on investment is based on how many of your friends you can drag along and sign up.
I don’t do that to my friends.
07/08/2006 at 6:18 pm Permalink
I attended a MLI presentation yesterday. I was not given any information as to what to expect. (the only reason why I went was to “help a friend”) It was TERRIBLE!! Had I known, I most certainly would not have attended. I will strongly discourage anybody I know from attending such a presentation. Words can not describe it: Brainwashing? Cultish? Intimidating? The moment I entered I realised something was very wrong: Black Suits with earpieces at the door, deafeningly loud thumping noises, charismatic presenters….FISHY is not the word.
08/08/2006 at 8:20 am Permalink
I love the ‘net
When I posted this entry, hardly anything showed up on a Google search for “Millenium Leisure International”. Now, suspicions abound…
http://www.crimeshare.net/77.html
http://blogspace.mweb.co.za/De.....;mid=31560
http://www.google.co.za/search.....S:official
http://www.google.co.za/search.....S:official
08/08/2006 at 12:04 pm Permalink
Hi, I was taken along to a presentation by MLI on saturday. Nothing impresses me much but all I can say that these guys got everything worked out. I was nearly taken in by their gimmic and was overwhelmed emotionally by their presentation (thinking that if I do not join I am missing out on a real opportunity), brilliant marketing on their part. But I thank the lord almighty that I my senses kicked in and I did not. When I declined the offer, the so called marketing manager told me “Well its your life, no hard feelings”. Well my friend, my life does not involve taking my friends down with me. All I can say is that people beware. Unfortunately my friend who took me along says that they are fine, he even did an ITC check with them and they have no record. But I am still very suspicious and those that join must watch their backs. Cult, Pyramid scheme, yeah it applies to these guys.
01/09/2006 at 10:32 am Permalink
I need to know if there’s been any proof that these people are doing something illegal? So far the company is still running? I have a friend of mine who says he has made +- R20 000 in one month with this even though he does not elaborate how this money is really done. I have been invited to attend the presentation. If anyone has any information proving that this company is defrauding people or doing anything illegal - i would appreciate such info.
21/11/2006 at 5:04 pm Permalink
Well The same thing happen to me,I was invited by my cuz, the presentation sure its something but if you got logic like me. You will have question as this is VERY questionable
1. I work with stats so I need numbers, they statistics and others how have join what age, what background, what are guarentees
2. How they make their money, that is based on investment, nothing wrong with that
3. How they get you to join: They asked for credit limit of mastercard, Yes I said 15grand, they said I can swipe it now immediately with +- 11grand I would have joined. Thanx I did not
4. They work on your psychology and it works, immediately they say its your loss and never say you never knew about it, You are left question in mind.
Would I join possibly BUt to swipe my mastercard No I wont.
It is a good scam for those who are benefiting
22/11/2006 at 8:00 am Permalink
All i want to know is why has the police not come to people’s rescue if what this company is doing is legally wrong? I have done my little research only to find they are registered with DTI and their TAX affairs are in order. What is the worst case scenario? Could they just up and leave the country one day? I am trying to be open minded about this….since some people have made their money in not so conventional but legal ways. I am also trying to find out how safe it would be to invest in such a thing.
28/11/2006 at 7:21 am Permalink
November 26,2006
I went to the presentation in Pretoria last Sunday,well was it something?
The presentation remindede me of a pyramid scheme that was known as Miracle 2000 operated from Spruitview
The insistance on quick cash deposit or lose out? and the fact that there was no quention session were tell tale sign.
The reserve bank is doing this country a great dis-service by allowing foreigners to con locals like this,I mean they should have at least suspended the scheme during investigation. What a lousy constitution we have in this country.
04/12/2006 at 9:22 am Permalink
Hi Guys
I actually went to a presentation yesterday and they want me to sign up today. I have actually spokec to a guy with an MBA and he has done ALOT of research and suggests that this is a good thing!He has made +-R670000 in 6 months and left his job in corporate banking??!
Please help…what should I do? You guys think this is possible and a good thing! I think theonly problem we face is maybe it is that there are not selling anything tangible?!
Would like your comments
04/12/2006 at 11:43 am Permalink
Ash,
Maybe it is a quick way to make lots of money, but in my experience, when you enter into deals / relationships where your intuition is screaming “Nooo!” even though your greed / ambition / body is screaming “Yeees!”, you end up regretting it. Maybe not for the reason you think (won’t make money), but for other related reasons.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
- David
05/12/2006 at 4:56 pm Permalink
you can make lots of money with this busines! but you will have to be able to take hard earned money away from honest people, knowing full well that most of them will never see a single cent return on their investment. If you can look yourself in the mirror after that, than this is the job for you.
This system preys on people in need of money, the very people who don’t have spare cash to invest. They use very well developed psychological manipulation to convince you that it is the right thing to do and if you don’t sign up right away (before that little voice in the back of you head gets a chance to get a word in edgewise) you are going to miss out on a life changing opportunity. It will be life changing, but for the worse.
The people at the top do earn mega bucks, because 95% of the new recruits never make a cent. remember the money has to come from somewhere!
read what government have to say at:
http://www.thedti.gov.za/ccrd/.....chemes.htm
07/12/2006 at 11:11 pm Permalink
Hi guys,
It is so sad to know that there are so many NEGATRONS out there and on the other hand there are so many POSITRONS out there making money that there is simply no time to comment.
I signed up and i am more than excited.The call centre is EXECELLENT.
i am sure i will be successfull.Millenium is NOT FISHY.
THE FISHY PART IS IN THE MIND.
08/12/2006 at 11:36 am Permalink
Hi guys, reading through your comments, I do understand your suspicions, I had them myself, unforunately, or should I rather say, fortunately, I signed up wih thme. The day I signed a million and one questions ran through my mind, “is this for me? Am I doing the right thing? etc” Then I thought, hey, to pay R11k wont kill me and i’m not dependant on that R11k and I decided to run with the concept. I made that money back in my first 2 weeks there. I average between R10k and R20k per week. MLI really works, not just for me but for the people that signed up under me too. everyone is making money, my membership fee has been paid back to me 10 fold already. the company is legit, they worldwide, you get an IRP5 form annually, you get a crap load of benefits (something a pyramid scheme doen’t offer), the call cenre service is fantasic. I really have no complaints, to me, its R11k well spent.
The seminar is somewhat persistant, I do agree, but there is no pressure on you to sign up and join, its 100% your decision. Like they say, the masses will join, with or without you.
Decision is yours.
08/12/2006 at 11:12 pm Permalink
Dearest readers,if u guys are doing your homework checking up on MILLENIUM,there is “NO HAIR IN THE SOUP”unless U make your own CREATION.MLI is working for me and the call centre is my P.A since ive joined.THIS IS NOT A PYRAMID SCHEME and NO other scheme will get CLOSER.
IM COINING IT!!!!
MLI ROCKS !!!!
13/12/2006 at 10:19 am Permalink
Pat G you sound like one of the so called marketing managers. This is a pyramid scheme and i have got the confirmation from South African Fraud Prevention Service. This company is a fraud. unfortunately i was ropped into this. The call centre service is horrible, and consists of a bunch of unprofessional idiots unwilling to help. the so called discount…. i can only say “what discount?”. my so called marketing manager has dissapeared from the face of the earth and refuses to answer any of my questions. Please i beg you do not be fooled by the music and the suits and the promises of money. your friends and family that invites you were fooled just like i was.
14/12/2006 at 1:33 am Permalink
i am so pleased with my millenium business and the call centre.
No long stories.
21/12/2006 at 12:50 pm Permalink
Cumon guys. if these guys are being investigated by the reserve bank, SAPS, and not registered with the Financial Services Board, then how authentic is this?
It doesent require a huge amount of intelligence!
Secondly, why are we not allowed to ask questions during the presentation?
Lets not give our sense away, Its not the right thing to do.
Regards.
04/01/2007 at 4:43 pm Permalink
i am a very pleased member of mli!not only do they change ones life but you start seeing who you really are and what you can really achieve.the reserve bank,sap,sars…etc did investigate them,and if youhavent noticed,that was months ago…SO WHAT THE ^&%$# happend?wheres the results.as far as im concerned,south africans have that culture that nothing can ever b good for them,thats why we will always be a 3rd world country,SO GO AHEAD,ENJOY DRINKING YOUR OWN HAIR(HAHA).as long as my family,friends and i are successfull you laggards can go on bad mouthing mli. we will b successful WITH OR WITHOUT YOU!
11/01/2007 at 9:07 am Permalink
I have joined MLI in November, but I have some doubts about the company. Can anyone confirm if they are registered with the Financial Services Board and are a legit company in SA. I found some flaws in the Call Centre as well. I cannot introduce family & friends if I have doubts. I need some real proof. The company lacks transparency….If they claim to be so successful then surely there shouls be some report released by themselves that includes a statement by a reputable audit company indicating that MLI is legit??
11/01/2007 at 9:39 am Permalink
i’v been invited to a meeting this evening. i won’t be signing up immediately as i want to hear the presentation first.does this only owrk if you can drag somebody into signing as well. or is it just your money growing for you. ask yourself, which one is easier?
15/01/2007 at 8:42 am Permalink
I attended an MLI presentation on the weekend, was totally sold but decided to seek some Godly counsel before making any decisions. Praise the Lord I did! This system is just a glorified pyrimid scheme. Thier psychological manipulation (marketing) is excellent but there is zero transparency and there are definately better ways to make money. One makes money by pulling friends and family in and somewhere along the line someone is not going to get a return on the initial investment. There is no tangible product in return for your cash. If you feel comfortable taking hard earned money away from the people you love- with no garuntees, its your conscience.
15/01/2007 at 10:07 am Permalink
Hi all
I went to a presentation this weekend and thought it was a great opportunity to make quick money. I have tonnes of friends who I could convince to join, the only thing is will they in turn get enough friends to join? That means without enough friends joining, someone will definitely loose out. maybe not me but defintely someone close to me, they need the money more than I do.
Also has anyone actually seen all these Lamboginis and Ferraris that the Marketing Managers claim to be driving.
Also why do they not have an office based at one particular place, we get to meet the Managers for a 45 minute introduction at hotels or restaurants?
Personally I think it is a good scheme to make money quick, but those that joined when the scheme first started out will definitely have made tonnes of money, those of us who are joining in the now or perhaps later this year, well I doubt we will get a return from our 11k. The decision is really your own, mine is not to join, I could invest 11k somewhere else with a very slow interest and be more comfortable knowing that the investment is growing at a normal rate and not at a steroid rate. Call me a NEGATRON, but I really like being in charge of my own life.
16/01/2007 at 9:15 am Permalink
Hey guys,
Im a member of MLI for about 3 months now, and its still going strong!!
The thing with MLI is that you should not see it as a money making scheme, but rather than a organization helping people reach their goals, their dreams. Yes you do get money out of it but thats to help u.
So, some of you say that maybe they can just pack-up and leave… then tell me something, the guy who started MlI in SA had an open ticket back to London when the Reserve bank started their investigation, if you were illigal in a country would you have stayed in the country??? My guess is that you would have taken the first flight out… And he didnt, he stayed and stood by MLI because he knows that there is nothing illegal about MLI, he is still presenting presentations to date!!!!! I guess everybody knows Scotland yard?? Well MLI’s head office is across the street from it in London.
But never mind that, have you ever noticed that when a new organization/company/or anything else is released in SA there is always critizim. And who is keeping our country from suceeding??? U the one always being negative, always being scared to try…
MLI is legit, no doubt about that, so ok maybe you dont believe in it, thats your choice, but dont bring MLI down (if you even succeed, which i strongly doubt) just because you dont aprove. I am living proof that this works, and are honoured to introduce this amazing opportunaty to all my friends and fam!!!!!!!
1 more thing, Mac, if you have joined you would know that the MM comes and see you every week in your home town and answers all the questions that you have!!!! I call mine at least once a day.
And there is nothing wrong with the call centre!!! Remember the people who work there are not machines but humans just like u and me, they can also make mistakes.
Enough said.
(*nothing against anyone, you have the right to lift your opinion and share your comments!!!!)
16/01/2007 at 9:33 am Permalink
Hi Sara
To me this is not about it being legit or not. The issue is R11000 is a lot of money. Do you love your friends and family? There is no guarantee that everyone you bring will be able to get someone to join in so they can at the least, get their R11 000 back. I am a member of MLI, i managed to join 2 of my friends who have not even managed to join 1 person thus far. I do not sleep well at night because of this. They have lost R11 000 and it is not money that was just lying in their bank accounts. They had to make some means of obtaining this lump sum in a very short space of time to join in. They didn’t have that money that they’ve now lost. THE JOINING FEE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH FOR THE MASSES TO AFFORD. MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO PAY THAT MONEY IN SMALL AMOUNTS AT YOUR OWN PACE. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY THAT MONEY WITH NO COME BACKS TO YOU….THINK AGAIN! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS EASY MONEY!
16/01/2007 at 10:08 am Permalink
Dear Sara
I’m glad you managed to get your money back from the scheme. I unfortunately will not be participating in the MLI project as I will not put my family or friends through the stress of finding agents to ensure they can get their monies back. Like Harmony has advised that there is no easy money. This to me definitely sounds like a money pyramid, those at the top will always gain, those of us that are joining at a later stage see very little gain. I will certainly not discourage people to join, infact if one has the “spare” cash, with friends who also have “spare cash” then they should certainly join as this is a good and fast investment plan. Like Harmony advised, “NO PAIN NO GAIN”, I’m a true believer of that statement.
All the best with your investment, hope you manage to reach the 500k goal in the 10 months.
16/01/2007 at 11:45 am Permalink
Hey Harmony /Mac
Its true 11k is alot of money when u don’t have it, but even trough the savings plan u can make ur money back if u dont get people to join. one of my agents did, he didnt even take sum1 to the presentation, and if you really can’t afford to pay all at once, there is ways…. just speak to your MM. WHAT U PUT IN IS WHAT U’LL GET OUT.. thats my motto…
So thank u Mac, im sure ill reach MY goal, 500k doesnt matter to me that is THEIR goal for me, not my own.. what matters is that i reach MY DREAMS, and they are just a company helping me make it a reality.
16/01/2007 at 2:36 pm Permalink
Hi Sara,
All i have to say is that is the most nieve and selfish thing i have ever heard “What matters is that i reach MY DREAMS” So in otherwords it does’nt matter who you have to screw over to get there !!! Pathetic. I joined MLI when there was 60 people in the room and yes i made money enough to get all the things i really WANTED With all the help from my MM, i was pushed to the point where i realised not everyone i bring in, ( being my close family and friends, like they kept telling me, bring people who “trust ” you), would be able to do what i have done and some people have even done more then that and they are still 11k short along the way i realised the only way to make clean money is to work for it, not forcing people to spend there hard earned cash to benifit myself !!!!
At the end of the day it’s a moral decission clearly YOU don’t have them!!!!!!!
Good luck though atleast some of us will sleep with a clear conscience at night!
16/01/2007 at 3:28 pm Permalink
Bubbles
I would never step on someone to reach my own goals, Im not that kinda person. But yes if you are sum1 that is gready of cause your friends and fam wont benifit, but if u support them and follow the system as it should be followed then you wont have a problem, and they wont have the problem.
16/01/2007 at 3:50 pm Permalink
Hi Bubbles
Just want to say, how do you know what Sara’s dreams are, maybe it is to see her family and friends do well in life!!!!!
Not everybody’s goal/dream is to be rich. No need to be rude.
And if MLI can help her achieve that all power to them.
Sara im with u!!
17/01/2007 at 7:12 am Permalink
Hi Sara and Dan
Firsly the main reason for joining MLI is to make money you invest and and the more people you bring the more you make, so the only “dreams” Sara would have would be linked to money.I’m not sure if you are aware of this Dan, have you ever been to a presentation??Everyone wants to see there family and friends do well It’s how you go about it that makes the difference! Secondaly Sara if everyone followed the system then all those people in the presentations you see every weekend would be rich,”following there dreams” and making there 500k a year, i have yet to see that.NOTHING is guaranteed and you know this, it’s in the fine print when you sign the documents.
And in reply to being rude, this is a web site where we can all view our opinions I’m voicing mine on all the comments regarding the subject if you can’t handle the critisism then keep your opinions to yourself.
17/01/2007 at 8:28 am Permalink
Bubbles, firstly i just want to say that i dont care what u think of me, i can handle it, critisism makes me stronger by pushing me to be better, so bring it on!!!!
You have to have money to make money right? Jioning MLI doesnt mean that im not working my ass off every day!!!! I used to work even harder just to put food on my family’s table, have you experience that??? Not knowing if your even going to have money at the end of the month for food… im tired of that >>>> dont get me wrong i DONT NEED your sympathy i just want you to realise that MLI HAS CHANGED MY LIFE drastically, and my friends and fam life, we dont want to be rich, so that 500k is as i said before not my goal, we just want to get of living on the bread line each month!!!!!!! Im still working and earning my usual salary every month, like the rest.
17/01/2007 at 8:58 am Permalink
Hi Sara,
I never once implied you could not handle the critisism i was simply replying to what dan said in regards to me being rude.
Yes we all know the saying money makes money. But in this case like i said previously it does not work for everyone, or else everyone would be stinking rich making money off each other.I wish life was that simple. Don’t paint eveyone with the same brush we all different and certain people won’t make it . I hope for your sake they ALL do.I for one felt responsible for all the people i brought in and you will see not all of them are going to do as well as you have. The fact remains you still have to work hard for this the difference is the ones closeset to you are affected.Don’t be fooled by their stratagy.
just remeber i too was in your shoes!!! I just want to make a statement that only you can change your life you don’t need MLI to make the change!
17/01/2007 at 9:22 am Permalink
Bubbles
You dont have to feel responsible, they made the decision by them selves, u didnt force them, so things didnt work as you thought it would, it never does…that doesnt mean is doesnt work at all!!! Life is all about taking risks making decisions, grabing opportunities, letting them go, winning/ losing, failing succeeding… Getting my piont?? Im not trying to defend MLI or even representing them, Im jusyt trying to say, yes they may have their faults, but show me any company/organization that hasnt got faults…
They handed all of us the golden opportunity its now up to us what to make of it.
Reaching your goals is not nearly as important as what u become by achieving them!!!!!
17/01/2007 at 9:41 am Permalink
To Sara
You right you shouldn’t feel responsible but i did becuase i have a conscience, You telling me if one of your friends or family members don’t make one sale and they have put so much into it that you not going to feel responsible???
No matter what we say only time will tell and i hope one day you realise.
17/01/2007 at 9:43 am Permalink
Hi Sara
Good luck - enjoying the fruits of other people’s pain and suffering has never brought anyone everlasting happiness. I choose not to put myself through that. It may take seconds, weeks, months and even years for us to reap rewards of our doing but one thing is for sure. Those who make it with MLI do so through other people’s tears, no matter how you look at it this is a fact! R11000 is not an amount you can just forget you paid without feeling any pain.
17/01/2007 at 9:55 am Permalink
Hi Harmony,
Thank you.
I think you just summed it up.
In the long run it’s not worth it! :0)
17/01/2007 at 10:48 am Permalink
Hi Harmony/Bubbles
Bubbles im not saying that im not going to feel responsible, but rather than thinking the worst of the situation ill try and make the best of it, by helping them get people to bring to a presentation.
And Harmony im not enjoying it when sum1 in my fam or my friends get hurt,if that is what ur implying… but once again its what u make of MLI that will depend on your outcome, if u know that your not going to find people or that it is too big of a risk to loose 11k you dont have to do it, i signed up 3 weeks after the presentation i went to, cause i had to make that decision with no presure.
If sum1 is not from 5-10 on ur tom list then how can you take that person if u know he wont succeed?????
17/01/2007 at 10:57 am Permalink
sara
stop defending yourself to these blinded and jealous people.they trying to justify to themselves as to why they not a part of mli.leave them alone and go on reaching for your dreams,as well as helping out your friends and family.they will just upset you …
17/01/2007 at 11:11 am Permalink
dawa
Ur right, thank u!!!
17/01/2007 at 11:11 am Permalink
Im so glad to find out that you guys you’re dicussing about the scheme, this morning i did my own research over the net and guess what apparently last year around June 2006 their ABSA account (MLI) was frozen after some serious invistigation and also they’re not registerd with FSB (financial services board), apparently any institution giving or borowing money needs ot be registerd with this institution etc. I mean a simply question would be; where are they based (offices) no one will tell you or give you their physical addresss, whats their landline number? even though there’s a customer care line but every business has some kind of base, thats my take. Search for this article on the net (a.Reserve Bank probes alleged pyramid scheme b.Plan dupes investors, quick returns promised) and see for yourself.
17/01/2007 at 11:27 am Permalink
Mpho
Yes they were investigated because ABSA said MLI were braking the deed of banks, wich wasnt true, and the investigation was trough after about a week, hte reserve bank didnt find anything on them to close them down!!!
And they are registered for VAT, u have to give them your personal VAT number when you receive money!!!!!!!!!
Did u even whent for a presentation???????
17/01/2007 at 11:28 am Permalink
Mpho
Yes they were investigated because ABSA said MLI were braking the deed of banks, wich wasnt true, and the investigation was trough after about a week, hte reserve bank didnt find anything on them to close them down!!!
And they are registered for VAT, u have to give them your personal VAT number when you receive money!!!!!!!!!
Did u even went for a presentation???????
17/01/2007 at 11:41 am Permalink
Dawa/Mpho
I had been part of MLI for 6 months before i realised the moral injustice i was causing, so please don’t assume what i am trying to do!! and jelousy has nothing to do with the fact that people are robbing her friends and family of there hard earned cash! We trying to make Sara see that in the long run things are not what they seem!
Have you even been to a presentation?
Mpho I agree with you the call centre is not help fill at all.Facts is what count not idealistic talk.
17/01/2007 at 12:01 pm Permalink
Sara whats their phyiscal address or their landline or do they comply with FSB conditions? (no) Yes i was in a presentation this previous weekend on Saturday and Roberta was doing her talk etc and other guys.. so i know what im takling about.
17/01/2007 at 12:02 pm Permalink
Sara whats their phyiscal address or their landline or do they comply with FSB conditions? (no) Yes i was in a presentation this previous weekend on Saturday and Roberta was doing her talk etc and other guys.. so i know what im takling about, and further do they have up and running website since they’re an established company this is very fishy Sarah (run nigga run)
17/01/2007 at 12:15 pm Permalink
GUYS THIS IS AN EMAIL FROM MY FRIEND IN THE UK. hear what she has to say about this scam:
Otherwise, I just googled Millennium Leisure International. Their web page doesn’t seem to exist but there are a couple of newspaper articles about them (from the UK and SA - see attached) which indicate that they are probably a scam. Being investigated for pyramid scheme type stuff - so I’d steer clear if I were you. Looks like they tried to operate in the UK but were shut down and are now trying SA (which makes me very angry). They are registered in Belize, which is another warning bell - one of those dodgy tax havens.
17/01/2007 at 12:16 pm Permalink
Mpho / Sara
If you like me and take the small things into account, I did notice their VAT and Company reg number and company address at the bottom of their form, but the address looked like a US or Canadian address. It was not a SA address. That to me too sounded funny as I would expect a company registered in SA to have an SA address. There was no postcode that I could follow either. Why do we get to meet our MM at hotels and restaurants?? It might just have been mine. For those who joined at the top of the pyramid, they will definitely meet their goals, those of us who join at the bottom of the pyramid will defintely not gain. For those who have gained, I congratulate you, for those who are still to join, I certainly hope you too manage to achieve your goals. Like Sara said, you only reap what you sow.
Good luck all.
17/01/2007 at 12:21 pm Permalink
Mpho
You are right, they started in the UK, but MLI registered in SA as a consulting company that will supply management services for flights / hotels / (any leisure) areas. I think those who joined in the initial stages will definitely have gained, those of use that will be joining now will have to work twice as hard to achieve the said 500k in 10 months.
Good Luck those that join now.
Yes I too was at the presentation on Saturday, there was a lot of hype, that didn’t impress me at all. I would have preferred a calm presentation where all questions can be asked and answered from the floor and not individually.
17/01/2007 at 12:27 pm Permalink
CHECK THIS-this an article from London (2006 August)
OMIGOD, Ketan Hirani’s at it again. His vicious pyramid scam is back on the prowl after we helped run them out of the UK.
When we found them in July 2005 they were OMI Club. Three months later they’d become VIP and banked around £17million before the High Court slapped an injunction on one of the ringleaders, Gurdeep Singh in January 2006.
By March his cronies, now called LMI, were back in business, poncing around top London hotels conning people out of thousands of pounds with promises of untold riches they couldn’t possibly keep.
That is… until we turned up handing out copies of our past articles to would-be victims.
And that was the last we heard of these crooks - until they resurfaced in South Africa.
Ridwaan Paruk was worried his gullible friends were “signing their lives away” to an organisation calling itself MLI and asked if the same people could be behind the scam.
It certainly sounded familiar with high-pressure invitationonly “presentations” at fivestar hotels - think 1980s disco meets religious cult.
A succession of suits took to the stage in Johannesburg to smarm their guests into paying 11,394 rand (around £900) to join their exclusive “club”.
We’d heard their patter before, including “get the lifestyle you deserve” and “don’t worry, this isn’t a cult”.
To the strains of Tina Turner’s Simply The Best, victims were told they could earn up to £42,000 in 10 months.
They won’t - because like all pyramid schemes, this one will collapse with most losing all their money. The only guaranteed winners are the crooks who set the ball rolling.
Or as one ex-marketing manager warned: “It’s a huge illegal money game and it will take only a few months in South Africa until it all crashes and people get hurt again. Thank God I quit.”
MLI turned out to be yet another front for Millennium Leisure International, which is based in the tax haven of Belize, Central America.
We tipped off our friends in the South African press and now MLI’s back in hot water.
Pyramid schemes are illegal in South Africa so police raided its premises in Gauteng, seized documents and launched a money-laundering probe.
Absa Bank has frozen MLI’s account while police find what has happened to money taken from up to 30,000 victims - perhaps as much as £28m.
Meanwhile, MLI has instructed a lawyer to defend the claims. And guess who’s signing the contracts? Our old friend rat-faced Hirani.
We popped round to his parents’ house in North London to see what they made of it.
Dad Vijaykumar Hirani confirmed that his 28-year-old son was in South Africa peddling the same scam.
“I tried to get him to stop but he won’t listen to me,” he said.
“I’ve washed my hands of him, I don’t even speak to him any more,” he said.
“I know he has plans to go round the world. He wants to go to Spain next, and then Dubai.”
Mugs of the world, you have been warned.
17/01/2007 at 12:29 pm Permalink
Mpho
(run nigga run)????? Whats that all about?
17/01/2007 at 12:43 pm Permalink
Sarah this is a scam-run away, you have made your money, dont recruit more people cause you;ll be creating enemies for youself!
17/01/2007 at 12:45 pm Permalink
Hi Mac
There are 2 parts to this business the first being the “affiliations ” with all these companies that will give you these huge discounts on any product you want. Try calling anyone of those so called affiliates non of them have even heard of MLI. then the second part is if you get a certain amount of people there you will make money.But they forget to mention the first people to join did not have to give any tax details and they were not taxed on any cheques they recieved, only once it was investigated they realised they had to. Too many facts against it.
Please guys from someone who was there from the beginning it’s not what it seems.
17/01/2007 at 1:06 pm Permalink
Thanks Bubbles, I have no intention of joining, I tend to do loads of homework before commiting to anything, I have been caught short on several occassions, and even though I have a face that one thinks they can con, it is actually very difficult to con me of anything. I smelt a rat at the presentation, all the hype made me feel unconfortable. The presentation showed pictures of Directors but their true identities were not revealed. Roberta who gave a presentation and advise that a Lambogini is her favourite car, and I beleive she drives one, well I did not see her in one either driving or sitting in the passenger seats. The designer outfits that the MM were wearing, well lets not go down that street!! I feel for my good friend who introduced me to the scheme without doing any research. I feel I have let her down as I will not be one of her 3 pax needed to get her investment back.
17/01/2007 at 1:08 pm Permalink
Hi all
I know u all are trying to help /prevent people to hurt themselves and their loved ones, but in the end its for them to decide…
May they seek answers like me from our Father up above to decide whether its the right way to go or not. For He is the only 1 who knows what is best for us!!!
Thanks for your coomments keep em commin…
17/01/2007 at 1:44 pm Permalink
dear bubbles
its a shame that you feel the way u do.hevent you noticed that all these orgs amway,herbalife,etc work like this…but i will respect your feelings as you should respect mine and everyone elses.if we decide that mli is for us let it b.its like religion you know,you may be christian,and hate jews or feel that the religion is a mess up,but you shouldnt go around bad mouthing the religion or its people.so i respect your stand,but you should do the same and keep your bad negative opinions to yourself.
17/01/2007 at 2:24 pm Permalink
dawa,
Yes and all the organisations you are refering to are pyramid schemes where people too have lost thousands of rands because of it!I do respect the way you feel and it’s your choice, but just like you have a choice so do i and my choice is to give you my opinion in something i know and have experianced.from the time i started commenting i advised everyone on my point and never once did i tell anyone to leave MLI. No i have to disagree religion has nothing to do with this and to compare it would be blasphemy because this is a internet site we all get to give our oppinions about a scheme that is costing people there hard earned money, no church, Mosque or Shule would ever do the same.I respect all religions and would never bad mouth or judge any!
I see you have not answered my question regarding if you have been to a presentation I assume not or else you would not be comparing it to religion an untouchable topic.
hahah! That’s the whole point of this web site is to give a comment i’m not going to hold back if i feel someone is commenting on something i disagree with.So NO i won’t keep it to myself! I think you the one that can’t handle all this!
So if you have something constructive to say about MLI like we ALL talking about then please say what you have to!
17/01/2007 at 2:51 pm Permalink
bubbles
for your info im a senior agent,i love being a part of mli,all my family an friends are successfull in it,and now i understand why you cant grasp anyones point….
haha theres no harmony in your life is there…makes alot of sense now
17/01/2007 at 2:54 pm Permalink
another thing bubbles,
you seem to b all clued up with everything…
did you know amway was accused of being a pyramed as well?
17/01/2007 at 3:24 pm Permalink
dawa
I too was a senior agent and i’m glad your friends and family are doing well, No please explain why i can’t grasp anyones point???? for someone who had alot to say about my negative opinions seems you too are just like me, the difference is i don’t get personal. have you realised you just contradicted yourself ! and before you point fingers look at your own life.
And if you read my comments prevously i told you amway is a pyramed scheme. People lost a great deal of money joining that scheme.
Oh and Please stay original!
17/01/2007 at 3:36 pm Permalink
bubbles
ok…
17/01/2007 at 3:42 pm Permalink
bubbles
dude,you obviously angry,and im sorry you couldnt see mli through…
im happy to b a part of it,and unfortunately it will grow to be more and more succesfull.i hope some how you can be happy with the decisions you make as well as be succesfull.but obviously there’s no getting through to you and its pointless debating this out with you.this whole process is unproductive and mindless and right now i have better things to do.i hope you achieve whatever you out to achieve…
chow
17/01/2007 at 3:51 pm Permalink
Hey guys
Do u know anything about the second faze mli is going through???
Just heard about it from my MM..???
17/01/2007 at 4:00 pm Permalink
hi dan
i will find out for u.
17/01/2007 at 4:01 pm Permalink
dawa,
There is no anger in this i think your assumpions are misguiding you. Like i said i’m glad you happy in the decision you made, and noone is taking you away from it. We discussing a point that everyone will have a different opinion about. And when you entered this site you should have known that,So i agree to disagree.
just so you know this has never been a personal attack against you, just an opinion that you seem to have misinterpreted.
17/01/2007 at 4:03 pm Permalink
dan
its a relaunch of mli,
they introducing new products etc,at the training tonight,so b there
17/01/2007 at 4:06 pm Permalink
Dawa
Sorry cant make it… Not close to pta right now.Keep me posted?
17/01/2007 at 4:06 pm Permalink
Greetings Dawa pleae dont keep us in suspense i have joined the MLI whats the next guys please let us. ta
17/01/2007 at 4:10 pm Permalink
dan
well then,if ur in jhb region,attend the training this side.but i will keep you posted…
17/01/2007 at 4:13 pm Permalink
hey david
attend training tonight!its gonna be exciting
18/01/2007 at 8:20 am Permalink
So dawa what happened i hear there were big changes….
18/01/2007 at 10:56 am Permalink
dan
massive changes!more benefits to members and our name has changed to leisure membership management…
18/01/2007 at 11:16 am Permalink
DAWA
Thats gr8, im going to a presentaion on Sat in pta, u going?
18/01/2007 at 11:19 am Permalink
dan
yes i am but in jhb.did you hear about the increased commission structures?be prepared to b blown away dan!!
18/01/2007 at 11:36 am Permalink
heard about it its amazing
18/01/2007 at 11:47 am Permalink
DAWA
Thanks chom well talk again!!!
So good luck!!!
Hav to say adios now…
18/01/2007 at 12:25 pm Permalink
I see MLI as a club - you pay fees for a gholf club - right? So, what’s the big issue here? And you get commission if you can bring more members. I really don’t see what the issue is.
I’m glad for the opportunity to change my lifestyle as well as my families. What amount of effort you put in, is what you’ll get out.
18/01/2007 at 12:29 pm Permalink
I agree!!
18/01/2007 at 2:51 pm Permalink
I need advise as I “joined” MLI last Sunday and I paid a deposit of R10 000 cash with an intention of paying the remainder on Tuesday. Subsequently I conducted my research about the scheme and I accessed this website which created doubts for me. On Monday I decided to contact them to inform them of my withdrawal as a member. Now I have been informed that I have forfeited my R10 000, notwithstanding the fact that I do not have a membership number and I did not complete the transaction as I did not paay the whole amount. Is there anyone who can give a sound advise on how I can recoup my money?
18/01/2007 at 3:47 pm Permalink
well said karin
18/01/2007 at 3:49 pm Permalink
Hi Jack,
I’m so sorry to say, unfortunatly not there is a clause in the contract you signed stating no refunds.
I really hope there is something someone can do for you.
18/01/2007 at 3:58 pm Permalink
Way do u want to withdraw, way not just sign up and get your money back trough the benefits/savings?
18/01/2007 at 4:03 pm Permalink
hi jack
its a pitty what u going thru,its an even bigger pitty that u wanna withdraw.stay a member,its fun and exciting,and there’s lotsa benefits now…dont worry bout the negativity,we all here for you specially when you feeling doubtfull.trust me there are loads of people that’s gonna have u for breakfast now that you displayed some doubt.just relax and b successfull…
18/01/2007 at 4:51 pm Permalink
hi jack,log onto http://www.cipro.co.za type in this number(2006/015127/07) all the info on mli will appear…see they are registered with the dti…
18/01/2007 at 6:31 pm Permalink
hi all. i joined millenium two weeks back and have doubled my money already. and have helped all my friends to do the same. i have seen it with my own eyes,that there is big money to be made. i did all the research,this company is legal. and no bank has froze there account. this is not a pyramid scheme and it isint even about joining more and more people. its about working together. yes 10 thousand is alot of money but i wont let an opertunity pass me by. your first is your last. i know and have seen people making hundreds of thousands. we all get a gap in life. this is definitly a big gap for me. so all you negative people out there please do us a favour and take your negativity somewhere else. we dont want you or need you to be apart of mil. guts and glory
19/01/2007 at 9:13 am Permalink
What an arrogant respond from jj about shuting people out or their opinions, i mean can someone give me these guys physical address and and their FSB authority number-(FinancaiL Services Board), yes any company can be registerd with CIPRO or SARS that doesnt mean they’re legal. and for some fishy reason why the change of name now? further more there was pyramid scheme 2years ago of some similar opperation it was called Millenium 2000 who knows may be its the same guys and they just changed their name like they’re doing now!
And Jack i also joined on Saturday and i paid R6 300 and i decided not to proceed with this, so atleast we have lost the money but the friendship and relatuonships we have with our beloved ones!
19/01/2007 at 9:14 am Permalink
well done jj!!
19/01/2007 at 9:20 am Permalink
david
all companies may b able to register with sars etc but for how long can they operate under illegal conditions without getting caught.now many have been anticipating the crashing of mli and after months of anticipating still nothing has happened.either our goverment is stroppy or mli is legit…how can they b a scam if they registerd with the dti?now people will try to make you unhappy if they’re unhappy,and the reason for the bame change is due to people using our name,for their own benefit and for debt…
so enjoy being a member its really nice
19/01/2007 at 9:29 am Permalink
dawa-
can you answer these simple questions - give me these guys physical address / landline number and their FSB authority number-(FinancaiL Services Board)
tahnks
19/01/2007 at 9:41 am Permalink
My brother in-aw works for BMW headoffice in Sandton and i have asked him whether do they have any affiliation with MLI and he didn’t know and heard anything of any comany of some sort and you guys claim to be known or claim to get discounts for individual who wants to buy anything from anybrand-
19/01/2007 at 9:42 am Permalink
My brother in-law works for BMW headoffice in Sandton and i have asked him whether do they have any affiliation with MLI and he didn’t know and heard anything of any comany of some sort and you guys claim to be known or claim to get discounts for individual who wants to buy anything from anybrand-
19/01/2007 at 9:45 am Permalink
Hi David,
I agree i think there is just too many facts pointing againts them. And you right why would they keep changing there name ???? In the UK there names changed from OMI to Ignite Leisure and now they doing the same here.
But you know what happens to people they see the cash and feel it must be ok!!
WHY??????
19/01/2007 at 10:15 am Permalink
Hello everyone, I am an ex marketing manager of Millennium Leisure International (MLI) or VIP as its known in the UK. I am from the UK and used to work for VIP as one of their marketing managers in London. I want to clarify who the big shot is of this company who people never get to see, only in London people and managers have seen him grabbing his money and running off. Its not the people who do the presentation, or the Marketing Directors who are just there acting like the big shots, in fact the main person is Robert Fitzpatrick and his sidekick Gurdeep “George” Singh both from the UK. They are the ones cheating people from their hard earned money to provide a fake service which doesn’t even exist. Their product is worth nothing, try getting a holiday, or a good deal……….. nothing there. They don’t even pay for their products, they are for free…. its a huge illegal money game and it will take only a few months in SA until it all crashes and people get hurt….again. Just wanted to mention that Rob Fitzpatrick is the only person making the big money, I remember him showing off on Wed. night trainings walking in with his 80’s hair cut and at the end of the night running away with his cash and 4 security guards. This guy is bad news, type his name in google and see what appears, nothing but bad news. I hope everyone now knows who the leader is, the only person making millions is that man an no one else, he is the reason for all of these problems and if you want to point fingers, go after him, Robert Fitzpatrick go to hell. Pissed off ex ex manager. Thank god I quit after 3 months in management….
19/01/2007 at 10:18 am Permalink
Look at all this informaition on MLM (Multi level marketing)
http://www.pyramidschemealert......eport.html
19/01/2007 at 12:14 pm Permalink
david
i can get it 4 u..give me a while
19/01/2007 at 12:24 pm Permalink
My 5 possibly 15c. u can make money from MLI ..but it will be at the expensive of your friends and family. They sell you their benefits package as the core product and the core structure of their business but lets be honest with each other ..this is just a cover for the money making side of it.
MLI brainwashes you into thinking you can justify approching your loved ones with this because hey, u get a membership and fantastic discounts and with the savings you an recoup your initial outlay in 3 years. This is all a load of shite. MLI have no legitimate affiliates. The call centre is basically a glorified phone book. you’ve paid 11k for someone to phone around for quotes for you ..but thats about it …sure if they ask every vendor they call for a discount they may very well get one (on the odd occasion)..but this is something you could do yourself and not worth the 11k that most people pay and most cannot afford to be without.
What irritates me most is, back then all these promises where made ….this product was coming that product was coming …cheap self phone roaming ….. to date not one promise has been delivered. I was told “We will have website that you track all your juniours on”, we have this company on board and that…….news flash… Its all cloak and a dagger lies and bullsh1t. I told my marketing manager for 6 months that the website that was up not only had false information on it, but that it was incomplete some pages didnt load and contained error but It fell on def ears and the standard, “I’ts coming, things just take a while to happen in this company but they do happen” excuse was given.
This is a money making scheme, you must sucker more people into it, in order to make your money …but the promise that you are getting a tangible benefits package is just a lie.
You see …when you are the one making the money its easy to turn a blind eye to how unprofessional and questionable this company truly is. For those of you that have givin up your day jobs to work in managment of this company ….i can understand why you would so fervently defend MLI …it is after all, all you have left and your meal ticket, so its more than just a secondary income motive that is driving you. I offer my sympathy’s as you have been duped, and are now probably so far in the thick of things that its hard to turn back.
19/01/2007 at 12:31 pm Permalink
Verisimilitude
YOU ROCK!!!
19/01/2007 at 12:51 pm Permalink
Verisimilitude
I wouldnt have said it better!
Youre de man>…….big up to you!
20/01/2007 at 2:07 am Permalink
guys im not arrogant. i saw an opertunity and i went for it and i wont look back. mil helpe