TVI Express Review: By ExpertMLMReview
TVI Express scam… is it a pyramid?
We’ve had a lot of requests lately to do a review of TVI Express because it is growing like a weed all around the globe. Travel based network marketing companies come with an inherent degree of skepticism in my book because there has been so much abuse in the past. There are 5 areas that we look at in reviewing every company but none more important than the product because if the product does not check out everything else is null and void.
Does TVI Express have a legit product? There are some immediate concerns when it comes to the product. First and foremost the corporate website at http://www.tviexpress.com does not even have a tab for their travel products. The website is primarily focused on the opportunity which is not a bad thing by itself as long as there is a clear understanding about the product somewhere… the problem is we can’t find much that resembles a product… ANYWHERE.
We found some product crumbs…
In the downloadable PowerPoint presentation from the corporate site (which is 75 slides long, only 4 of which reference any kind of product) and in the company’s video presentation at www.getinandhangon.com they refer to a “Travel & Earn Package” priced at $250. Apparently this package is also synonymous with becoming a distributor, which is a big problem right off the bat. There must be a clear demarcation between product purchase and distributor enrollment. When the two get thrown together there is an automatic assumption that distributors are getting paid to recruit (which is of course what qualifies an opportunity as illegal) because in fact there is no other way to get paid if there is not an option to purchase the product without joining the business. The package is supposedly valued at thousands of dollars, yet there is no explanation of how this valuation is derived. The really ironic thing is that in the slide titled “What Do You Receive when you become a Distributor” refers to perks resembling a product like a “6 nights/7days Vacation in one of the 5 star Hotels/Resorts across the world” and a “Free return flight ticket*” yet the slide talking about the “Travel & Earn Package” talks about perks that are only relevant to a distributor looking to make money. In reality the two slides are referring to the same thing, making it clear that there is no separation between product and opportunity which spells T.R.O.U.B.L.E. for TVI Express should they ever run into regulators which is likely to happen soon at their current rate of growth.
Benefit of the doubt…
Let’s assume for a moment that this was not a problem and look further to see if there is a real product contained in the distributor enrollment kit or “Travel & Earn Package”. The 6 night/7 day vacation and free return flight are both fulfilled in the form of vouchers. Do yourself a favor and Google the term “travel incentive vouchers.. One company offering strikingly similar vouchers to those described in the “Travel & Earn Package” is http://www.incentivelounge.com. In fact since Incentive Lounge is based out of the UK and TVI Express is also based out of the UK, our guess is that this is the exact company that TVI Express is using.
Loading ...The problem with the TVI Express travel incentive vouchers…
They are not a retail product. They were never meant to be products. They are meant as incentive giveaways for promotional purposes. Direct mail companies use them to boost response. Large corporations use them as value added perks to create customer loyalty. Websites use vouchers to bait visitors into responding or registering on their site. Vouchers are sold by the thousands for pennies on the dollar with the assumption that most people will not use them. Very often there are “black out” restrictions and “booking fees” that make these vouchers more trouble than they are worth, but we’re not saying that vouchers are a scam, there are some legit voucher programs out there. The problem is that if these vouchers are the only thing resembling a product TVI Express is digging a hole they won’t soon be able to get out of for two reasons.
First off, when vouchers are promoted as an actual product and people are buying to actually use them, TVI Express is going to experience a much higher fulfillment of their vouchers than the industry average at which time whoever is TVI Express’ voucher supplier is going to either going to go out of business (which has happened on many occasions as the voucher business tends to attract scams artists to begin with), cut them off or massively jack up the price of the vouchers beyond the pennies on the dollar that allowed their comp plan to work in the first place.
Secondly, there is no way on God’s green earth that TVI Express is going to be able to show an attorney general or the FTC that their vouchers are actual retail products, and yet the vouchers are the only thing resembling a product in the entire TVI Express program.
The reality is that vouchers are the only way that TVI Express could possibly fulfill the 6 night/7 day vacation and free return flight perks because even with massive buying power no company on the planet could fulfill this by actually purchasing the travel.
At this point we are already comfortable saying that TVI Express is a nicely disguised illegal pyramid scheme. There is really no need to look any further but I will comment quickly on two additional points of my traditional analysis.
Is there anybody real behind the TVI Express veil?
Ummmmm… humphhhh… weelllllll… NOPE! The fact that the TVI Express chooses to hide who is behind the company and their heavily touted “solid investor group” is a good indication that something is not right. By itself this does not necessarily mean TVI Express is a scam but when combined with all the other red flags you can begin to see that things don’t add up.
The TVI Express scam website spend a lot of time selling the industry of network marketing and the legitimate names behind the industry like Warren Buffet, Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump. They even mention Bill Clinton which I’ve never seen done before. Why so much time talking about these people and not the actually principles of the company or the famous investor group?
I could go on and on with this section but with such a black and white verdict, I don’t see the need.
TVI Express compensation plan comments…
I’m not a big fan of matrix plans and TVI Express is a perfect example of why. The matrix comp plan can be done legit (Melaleuca is a matrix and is one of the most solid and legal network marketing companies of all time) but most often they are used by companies only wishing to look legit. The whole matrix spillover concept attracts MLM junkies and scam artists who are really good at playing on the “quick buck” and “easy money” emotions. This type of comp plan is just too easy to abuse.
It would be a complete waste of my time to break down the TVI Express comp plan so I won’t bother…
Final thoughts & serious word of caution on the TVI Express scam…
The MLM based travel industry has traditionally been full of schemes looking to make a quick buck by touting big numbers and checks. After reviewing and analyzing TVI Express I have found that they are no exception. The old “too good to be true” line very much applies here. This review could have been the length of a novel but I do have a life and other companies to look at so I went only so far as to provide solid factual evidence that TVI Express is not where you want to invest your time and effort.
For those of you residing in the United States and/or Canada, and possibly other countries but I only speak on what I’m certain of, there is a well documented history of distributors being held legally liable for involvement in an illegal pyramid. Even if you had the best of intentions, realize that TVI Express resides in the UK so if the powers that be are going to go after anybody, it will be the top income earners here domestically.
Click here to read a very revealing German (translated to English) newspaper article that really cuts into TVI Express and does so with solid journalism, not the common MLM bashing you often find.
Yours in Success,
Shawn Cornett
Please share your thoughts about TVI Express and add to our review by submitting your comments and also participating in our poll…
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Wrong way to look at it.
It proves that it is not a scam because people benefits from it.
1) Yes, MoneyLife and Filipino Paper are OpEd pieces. They are not news reports.
However, they thought enough about the issues to publish them. They are asking questions, unlike the followers of TVI Express who points at ANYBODY questioning TVI Express as being crazy, sick, evil, and so on.
2) You can go through Google Translate, can you not? I did.
3) here’s another one for you to translate: News out of China that another three TVI Express fraudsters got jail sentences.
http://www.chinafcx.com/flfg/cxaj/7765.html
Or you can read my translation here:
http://kschang.blogspot.com/2011/06/newsflash-more-tvi-express-fraudsters.html
I am no expert on Sharia Law. I simply point out facts others may not be aware of (or turn a blind eye to). I’ll leave the fatwa to the experts.
Getty Images and such sources LICENSE images to be used without loyalty payments. Copyright must be still acknowledged. As TVI Express never acknowledge the source of the image, TVI Express does NOT acknowledge copyright, and that is intellectual piracy: stealing pictures.
Or do you have a different definition?
As for UKHolidayLoans, you can easily see that TVI Express’s image is the derivative by clipping out the people in the foreground and replacing the background ocean with generic blue.
Furthermore, there’s a dozen more instances of easily documented stock photo use without attribution, some of them from Xango, another MLM.
I wouldn’t bother ascribing any motive to your actions, as you shouldn’t bother speculating about the rest of my claims. If you can disprove them or cast doubt on them, please go ahead and try. I’d however, appreciate you try to apply the same enthusiasm to some of TVI Express’s claims and actions.
Study all the evidence and decide for yourself.
Not it does not. Benard Madoff’s Ponzi benefited plenty of people. It’s still a scam.
You don’t even realized you used a logical fallacy, do you?
EVEN IF (and there’s no proof) that TVI Express have somehow licensed the stock photo, they are in violation of GettyImages licening terms 3.3 and 3.9 at the minimum.
Look them up yourself. I did.
Furthermore, all the clone websites that copied TVI Express website? They are ALL in violation as well.
Another three TVI Express fraudsters sentenced in China to prison, probation, and fines
Bilingual translation available here (with link to original article in Chinese)
http://kschang.blogspot.com/2011/06/newsflash-more-tvi-express-fraudsters.html
Proof that TVI Express had turned into a cult: Indonesian TVI Express members doing the “Hail Hitler” salute together
Proof that TVI Express “International Good Company Award” is neither international nor an award:
Until 2009 or 2010, the award was “Indonesian Good Company Award”. It had never been awarded to a non-Indonesian company. Even now, the award is to PT TVI Express Indonesia, not TVI Express itself.
There was also no investigation, no criteria to win, and apparently the winners were chosen at random, and was informed via a fax, with request that they pay up to $1000 USD to “reserve” their seat at the event. Many business owners believe the fax is spam and tossed the announcement.
Proof available here. You decide whether the award is legit or not.
http://kschang.blogspot.com/2011/05/newsflash-tvi-express-good-company.html
Again,
“by experience..”
lol
Remember, I booked, I stayed and I enjoyed.
lol again..
BTW, my friend who just joined for the sake of the free hotel is off for “her choice” -not yours Kasey- of two (2) nights out of three (3) -if it’s in any business hotels worldwide- in a five (5) star hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE together with her husband, son and daughter.
And guess what Kasey. You got it! They just paid US$81 per suite which totalled US$162 for two suites and that includes a buffet breakfast. And the suite? Sea view baby!
Ahh, look at that awe. Told you. You won’t find good catch by the the seashore anymore. Expose yourself to some risk and you will surely feel life.
Again, nice try Kasey. I hope your mother is happy to what you do for a living.
Remember, WE booked, WE stayed & WE enjoyed..
Want to see a real ex-con, convicted and JAILED for Ponzi Scheme, promote TVI Express?
Let me introduce Thomas E. McMurrain, convicted Ponzi scheme fraudster, stole over 8 million dollars, then ran off to Panama. He was then arrested and brought back, and convicted in 2005, and ordered to be jailed for 8 years.
http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_16/issue_10/economy_02.html
And in 2010, we find him pushing TVI Express. touting his ex-con status, allegedly wrote a book “From Ex-con to Excaliber” [sic]
http://buildanonlineteam.com/author/ThomasMcMurrain/
Need I say more?
Of course these writers, people like you, have to publish their OPINIONS. That’s what you people do. Even in most times, your opinion are unfounded. Those writers use your blog as AUTHORITY and in return you use them as REFERENCE. Isn’t there too much stupidity listening to both of you when individually you’re referring to each other as AUTHORITY?
I do not have to go through all the articles you are presenting.
Take me this blog of yours for example. The title is “NEWSFLASH: Manila Newspaper named TVI Express and Pacific Destinations as suspect ponzi schemes”. Going into the article, true that it was published in a newspaper but in the OPINION page. The writer was just expressing his opinion, he admitted that he does not have enough facts to support it. Yet you use the title NEWSFLASH. Isn’t that an indication of too much hate and bias from you — a self-acclaimed EXPERT?
EXPERTS don’t have biases.
You are no expert from Sharia Law and yet you use the application of the law as your reference. Experts don’t do that. They dig deep into the matter before expressing their opinion because they take responsibility for every word they say and not deny any part of it in the long run.
My question to you… who has more authority on the matter? Who is more expert on this issue? You or the persons you are using as reference who in turn are using your blogs as their reference too? Enlighten me.
TVI around this hour is conducting a Feedback Session in Pretoria City Center, South Africa. clearly disproving that TVI still operates in South Africa contrary to your allegation that it’s officially dead in that place. Expert Guy, please put steak on your sizzle.
July 05, 2011 , 6:00 pm onwards (GMT+02:00)
Speaker(s) :African Leader, Ambassador and Country Manager Mr. Sthe MaziyaHost :The Local TVI Express Leaders.Where :Pretoria City Hall
Paul Kruger & Visagie Street.Pretoria City Centre, Gauteng, South AfricaDescripton :Introduction of the New Office Structure, The Market Revival and New Revised Marketing Plan and MotivationRegistration :Open To All
That UK Travel website has the same photo with a TIGHTER crop than what you can find in TVI page. I think you can crop and image to cut off sections but you can not expand the image to include what is not there ORIGINALLY. Enlighten me on this. Do we have a new technology I am missing?
If you claim your article to be TRUE, it has to be true in every sentence. The fact is that I have pointed false allegations in your so-called expert opinion. It can be easily deduced that the rest of your allegations can be false. A SINGLE LIE ON YOUR ENTIRE CLAIM OF TRUTH TARNISH THE WHOLE CLAIM. In this case, I have presented that your “expert opinion” is not really of an expert at all but from someone who have biases against the company. And TO LISTEN TO YOU IS TO BE MISGUIDED.
If EVERYONE recovers back their initial cash outlay in form of TRAVEL VOUCHERS, how does that become a scam? NOBODY is losing anything.
When Bill Clinton was scandalized in the White House for his sexual behavior, we did not say that the entire US government is engaged in the same act. The act of one does not prove that the entire organization is a rot. What’s your point?
The fact is that Bill Clinton is still a sought after motivational speaker around the globe. You put up one fact and put so much bias on it.
The Truth is Internet is a Free Media….Guys…If I were you…Just go TVI…..TVI is not a pyramiding Scheme..and it’s not a Scam….Why not try to ask yourself what is Pyramiding…I can give you an example….It is an organization wherein only those on top of rank will get a high payment or get a position…eg..School, All Companies ( electronics.garments…etc..)..
And I f you really know what is Scam is? …Guys scam is a company wherein nobody gets a payment knor receive a profit…eg. Illegal Recruitment Center…..etc….
For me TVI is really great…I almost touch the sky because of TVI…I reached my dream….fullfilled everything…
NO AND its not Scam……….Guys..wake up….TVI help a lots of people around the world..TVI touched many lives..
The product is the TRAVEL MEMBERSHIP CLUB……IF YOU HAVE A INTELLIGENT MIND YOU should know all about TVI…….TVi is really great
Next thing you’ll tell me that this guy was never arrested in South Africa:
http://www.observer.co.za/stories/locals-lose-thousands-pyramid-scheme-bus
Good, tell me what pyramid scheme is and why TVI Express is not pyramid scheme. Let’s see if YOUR logic has holes in it. All you got so far is “denial, denial, denial” without anything to back it up.
Other than TVI Express attracts con-men, there was no other point.
I have no idea what you thought the point was. I can’t read your mind.
Come on, frankcow, you clearly don’t know Photoshop. What they did was they cut the family out from the background, placed it on that blue bakcground, and then replicate the blue background to the left.
It is NOT a tighter crop if the left side is repeated ad infinitum. Thank you for demonstrating your ignorance when it comes to image manipulation.
TVIGuy, who don’t you PROVE my opinions are unfounded first, big mouth?
Or sure, turning a blind eye toward evidence that contradicts your evidence with statements like “I do not have to go through all the articles you are presenting”.
Ever watch the Simpsons? You are Bart Simpson putting a cooking pot over his head and banging on it so he can’t hear his mom’s lecture.
You’ve demonstrated your own bias to NOT study the evidnece. You have yet to PROVE I have a bias.
The news report cited me, not the Fatwa Council. Get your own facts straight.
And ruined a lot more. That’s the part they don’t tell you.
That’s assuming every single travel voucher CAN and WILL be redeemed. Can you prove that?
Try to disprove this newsitem, TVI Express followers:
TVI EXPRESS HEADQUARTER IN BANGALORE INDIA RAIDED BY POLICE, TWO ARRESTED FOR FRAUD
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/2-held-for-taking-many-for-a-ride/articleshow/9241742.cms
BANGALORE: Central Crime Branch arrested two partners of a multi-level marketing company in Wilson Garden for cheating several persons including software engineers by promising them time-share holidays at posh resorts and hotels abroad. In MLM schemes, a member has to enrol a certain number of new members before he becomes eligible for benefits.
Mohammed Nayeem and Ramiz Ashraf Vani, both from Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir, opened a travel agency called Travels Venture International Express (TVI Express) at Hara House Building in JAT Street off Hosur Road about two years ago. Through their company website, they offered customers annual holiday packages abroad for just Rs 15,500.
CCB found they’d cheated people to the tune of Rs 2 crore. “We’re questioning them to find the volume of business across India. We’re going through their hard disk and online transactions,” an investigating officer said.
The scam came to light when the duo tried to fob off customers with excuses. Once they enrolled a member, they set new conditions of eligibility for accommodation,” police claimed.
“They tried to evade customers and when some got suspicious, they approached the police. The company made fake offers with an intent to cheat,” said a CCB officer. Both are remanded to police custody.
But I already know what you will say: they made a mistake, they don’t understand us, etc. etc.
You are welcome to your own delusions.
Pyramid scheme is a scam, and SOME people in pyramid scheme gets paid. There, you are wrong. Admit it.
can i adoop your memebership
Worldwide Probe into 1 Billion Rand Scam
http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/2011/08/07/worldwide-probe-into-r1bn-scheme
A high-flying 27-year-old Indian tycoon is behind an alleged pyramid scheme that the Reserve Bank and state-appointed forensic auditors say has amassed over R1-billion in just two years.
And, according to government investigators in the US, UK and China, Tarun Trikha’s company, Travel Ventures International (TVI) Express, is worth at least $2-billion (R13.8-billion) worldwide.
Trikha lives in New Delhi and built his “billion-dollar success story” in just two years. He travels to over a dozen countries a month in his private jet punting his scheme. He claims to have recruited more than a million members globally.
According to local auditors, investors are required to pay a minimum “membership fee” of R2700. Then they receive a “travel voucher” – which is worth virtually nothing in some instances – and the opportunity to receive commission for recruiting other investors.
At least 100000 South Africans have invested in the scheme.
Attorneys and forensic investigators appointed by the Reserve Bank said they were dumbfounded by the scale of the scheme.
TVI will be the next mlm giant!!!!!!
ANOTHER nation joins the rank of those who declared TVI Express to be scam: Lesotho
http://www.gov.ls/articles/2011/central_bank_warns_against_tvi.php
CENTRAL BANK WARNS AGAINST TVI EXPRESS
The Central Bank of Lesotho(CBL) appeals to law abiding citizens of Lesotho to refrain from participating in any activities of TVI Express it is said to be operating in violation of the law.
According to CBL Public Relations Manager Mr. Thato Mohasoa, the activities of that scheme resemble those of a selling and marketing pyramid schemes as defined in Section 2 of the Financial Institution Act,1999 in terms of receiving funds.
‘CBL would like to caution all the scheme promoters including persons who attempt to recruit others to join the scheme anywhere in Lesotho to stop such practices immediately,’ Mr. Mohasoa said.
CBL spokesperson said after scrutinising the business model of the scheme, they concluded that its business operations place emphasis on recruitment of participants.
‘The findings further indicated that in the whole selling of products or services there is a small component of the business mode in scheme and therefore designed to defraud members of the public,’ he added.
‘Given the above, this business model contravene the provisions of the Act when subjected to the definition of ‘receiving funds from the public’ and therefore, considered illegal’, Mr. Mohasoa added.
Since MKM Bursary scheme which left over 500 000 Basotho broke from investing in the scheme, CBL has been warning people against investing in schemes such as Millennium Goal, Letsema and many more.
Source: LENA 01/09/2011
its is a scam i signed up with them a year ago and for somereason they still send emails.
that stupid hotel deal they have is 100% fake
This is the biggest scam . I bought positions on the board. Cycled for $10,000.00 Never could get the money from my ewallet . Please listen and believe this is a scam. =-O
I agree with you kasey chang that tvi is a fraud i tried to sent email asking questions but non of tvi replied my questions and all of my family in the philippines are now members and yes they received certificate for hotel accomodation but its not worth of the money they put them up and my nephew recruit me and i understand that their product is a hotel accomodation and flight discount but until now i never get my certificate for the reason they can’t encode cause their main office in manila still on process to ugrade their system and my nephew did already sent my money to TVI express account. I purchase their product not to make money but i just want to avail their hotel accomodation and flight discount just incased i like to take a vacation here United States. Now i search an answer for myself and your right its fraud. I just feel so bad for my family in Philippines cause they are victim of fraud of this people.
lol you don’t understand what is a pyramid scheme look at the system how the TVI express do their networking scheme its form of pyramid.
ih tviexpress doorway cash only your
ih tviexpress doorway cash only your
STOP !
NOW ! TVI Express already PAID to members directly by Wire Transfer to member’s account.
TVI Express always is The BEST Network Marketing in the World !
stupid kasey chang..if u r rich,don’t bother about TVI..and if u r poor guy d’ont even think to be involved in network marketing!!!
The informations here really provides great guidance. A close friend of mine the other day approached me with this TVI money opportunity thing. I could not say no, though I have already apprehentions before his invitations (i said no to my other friend) knowing that this kind of “business” falls into another pyramid scams. His laptop presentations added excitement for me to sign up because its quite tempting and good to be true. But having been heard of so many scams before here in the Philippines such as powerhomes, etc where many of my colleagues were victimized. I could not help but to think many times. That’s why I search in the computer to know more of its facts. Now its clear to me and I have to say NO with a smile. Thank you very much for the enlightenment.
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