Truck and Barter: Pyramid Scheme Warning

Some of our readers might have heard of the web based pyramid scheme involving a company called SkyBiz:

One SkyBiz presentation claimed, "This system was put together by a gentleman named Eric Rasmussen who basically joined SkyBiz and six months later was able to retire with an income of about 400,000 a month. Currently, [he] lives in the Gold Coast of Australia and he's making 76,000 a week and growing�They provided CD-Roms, computer disks, videos and books promoting the SkyBiz programs and they provide a PowerPoint presentation on their website that can be downloaded to aid in recruiting new members. The cost to join the SkyBiz Program is $125, ostensibly used to buy an "e-Commerce Web Pak," but in reality was to purchase the right to receive compensation for recruiting additional participants. Participants were urged to invest in more than one "Web Pak," to maximize their earning potential.

Now it seems the SkyBiz has been born-again in the Middle-East and Asia by the name of a company called BizNas. From Maldives, Sri Lanka to United Arab Emirates, people are being fooled to buy their package and are being promised commissions if they recruit additional participants. It sounds too good to be true.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has web notice declaring the winding up of the company BizNas.com Pakistan (Pvt). It was also involved in a similar multi-level web based marketing scheme, offering public to purchase its membership card at US $99, and in return giving different packages of learning and facility of web hosting. Here is more of �Biznas.com� rip off in the Indian Subcontinent. The problem in poor countries is that there are no consumer protection agencies and people can be ripped off easily.

Here is an excellent little book (Little black book of scams) issued by Office of Fair Trading Australia. Here is another creative pyramid scheme which tried targeting women.

Comments

Kevin Brancato wrote:

I think that the problem of fraud in "poor countries" (like Russia) is not that the people don't have consumer protection legislation and government agencies (although they don't), but that the poor have too little experience with this particular type of fraud; it's not the case that the poor don't know fraud at all, just not the get-rich-quick type.

After all, (relatively educated and wealthy) Americans who succumb to Nigerian email scams are protected by consumer agencies; it is their own ignorance and greed that lead to them being successfully scammed. Not much can be done by governments to stop people from being fools.

-- October 24, 2004 1:33 PM ∞

Chris Rasmussen wrote:

erik rasmussen is my dad and has left my mom and went to austrailia i am now learnign about this and im angry and pissed!

-- January 8, 2005 12:58 PM ∞

Atif Kamran wrote:

My personal point of view is that the artical written above is written in haste so It need to be revised. BizNas is providing Information Technology to the people in different parts of the world. So There is example quoted about SkyBiz.com but evry finger of Ur hand is not the same one.
Thanx.

-- February 7, 2005 11:04 AM ∞

hussain wrote:

I am very worried about this biznas.com's work here in our country:Maldives. the fever of investing in this pyramid is catching up, even those who can not pay there telephone, electricity bills are trying to invest in this simply because of the return that they are been promised.the sad thing is in our country we do not have any customer protection policies in action.

-- February 16, 2005 5:04 AM ∞

Dali2k wrote:

I have participate in one of one of reunion of this BizNas company and i'm so good in math so from the first moment i saw that is a fraude pelease forgive me beacause my english is too bad but i'm from tunisa and this company has open a BCO in our capital and there are too many victim i hope that i'll help him

-- March 12, 2005 7:43 PM ∞

Ahmed Farish wrote:

Have anyone of you seen a BizNas presentation. If not how can anyone say this is pyramid scheme or this is like skybiz. You better understand this and give a comment about anything. Every thing have both sides. Anything can harm anyone if its miss used. Knife is a very sharp thing which can kill people. But, because it is sharp should we stop importing it?. So better understand and decide if BizNas is good or bad. Contact me if you want see a presentation. All comments are welcome : farish@avasmail.com.mv

-- April 27, 2005 6:06 AM ∞

thoha wrote:

Farish: BizNas is a pyramid scheme. The only money that comes into it is from people coming into the pyramid (like you.) When more and more people join under you, you will get more and more money (just a little bit of what they pay to get in).

Forget the psycho-babble of the presentation. You are in it because you are greedy, and want to get rich without having to work to create any new wealth. Sell it to as many people as you can. And keep on pressuring them to sell to more. Have a leg or two move into another country. You won't have any trouble selling it, because for most people greed outweighs intelligence, and they won't want to miss out on a get-rich-quick scheme like this. You will be a multi-millionaire soon.

Now repeat after me: BizNas is a pyramid scheme. BizNas is a pyramid scheme. BizNas is a pyramid scheme.

-- May 26, 2005 2:38 AM ∞

Derek Anampio wrote:

BizNas is a great Network Marketing company i have worked with for the past 8 months. i've read about pyramid schemes and network marketingin detail. BizNas uses clearly explained income plans; Bonus,Unilevel and Binary. I dont blame the ignorant for being sceptical. Nothing good succeeds without challenges. Belief and understanding is invidual, you either take opportunity or leave it. Thank you for your time. get more info bout something before you can critisize it. Reference: www.biznas.com
God Bless.

-- July 4, 2005 8:29 AM ∞

Daniel wrote:

According to my knowledge and experience BizNas, a UAE based company,The Co Founder : Imran Khan(PAK), has introduced the company with a great view of introducing an e-University. Its true they are providing Web Packs ........but realize one thing....just learn about this Web Packs......these packs are really helpfull to learn and educate atleast computer basics in a more convenient and easier way(Interactive education). Its true they have introduced these packs in Network Market, because they have the great option in it ........as it is the most powerful marketing system. Anyway the thing of its failure in certain individuals is not because of its fault but is because of them and their greed to earn money without working. But its proven that Network Marketing is a toughest marketting system .and to earn something you should work to your maximum. So please refer the things before you comment about it.

-- August 8, 2005 12:26 PM ∞

Tsegay wrote:

I have herd about the net work marketing/ pyramid scheme and I am very sory. Governments or states should controle this illegal business.

-- August 20, 2005 12:52 PM ∞

MZ wrote:

BizNas was a pyramid scheme and launched with great fanfare here in Pakistan.They held weekly seminars and conferences inviting frustrated jobless youth eager to earn but landing in a pyramid scheme in which only the founders make money,all the rest work to make the founders richer and richer.The greatest drawback of such pyramid schemes is that they are unable to sustain in the long run and hence doomed to failure.
I am happy to learn the government of Pakistan acted to closed down all BizNas activties.I suggest and appeal to the authorties to launch investigation into the shady activities of all those working for bizNas since they claimed to have earned thousands of dollars in the "business".

-- September 6, 2005 3:10 PM ∞

Fardous wrote:

In Bangladesh, one of the Pakistani Biznas Dimond customer called Taher was the franch i's share holder. He was cheating all over with his chain and fleed away all the centre money! The management did't puished him but rewarded him with a freanch i in another country! This is result of biznas's so called BELIEVE all right! DAM CHEAT ! GET RAID OF BIZAS PLEASE! THEY ARE USING THE ALL POWERFULL ALLAH'S NAME WHEN CHEATING!

-- January 20, 2006 11:32 AM ∞

shalauddin wrote:

IN FACT IT IS FRAUD> NOW GO AND SEE QHT HAPPENED TO UR WEBSITES THOSE U BUUGHT> THEN TELL ME > TATA

-- February 14, 2006 10:36 PM ∞

Anonymous wrote:

i was in biznas but jumped out months before it collapsed because I saw it for what it was finally... a scam! am FROM UGANDA and during my time with this company I travelled to kenya and met one DEREK ANAMPIO during this company's first anniversary celebrations. derek built the companys website for the kenya franchise for that occasion. YOUNG ANd ENTHUSIASTIC but riding on an ill fated ship.

-- March 17, 2006 1:06 PM ∞

Alfin wrote:

for all those I PERSONALLY recruited into biznas either directly or indirectly. am sorry. i was deceived . all my friends in Uganda ceaser,Nassim. penny , mark etc from kenya george , magda, ches,the guy with a huge bike , guys we shall meet one day and have a good laugh at how we were fooled.. . but we learnt a lesson. IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...IT MOST LIKELY IS! atleast I LEARNT THAT

-- March 17, 2006 1:25 PM ∞

garao wrote:

YOU GUY! Me and Network Marketing! Forget it! Never Again! I was in Biznas...made a few coins? Yes! Lost Many coins? YES! results to the equation...LOSS! Finally, the thing crashed!! The founder goes with all the money in the bank..What next? Frustration! Square Zero...Fuck Them Arabs!

-- March 27, 2006 7:28 AM ∞

mutethia wrote:

Biznas was one of the greatest mistakes made. i thank God i never managed to recruit anybody and therefore only my money got lost. network marketing, bye bye. never never again

-- April 8, 2006 8:53 AM ∞

mutethia wrote:

by the way am from Kenya and so much was promised by the recruiters

-- April 8, 2006 8:54 AM ∞

Noura Ahmed- NanOoOsha wrote:

In kuwait Biznas was like the main GOD FATHER centre for us where we gathered about every day getting trained on how to give presentations and convince ppl to join and spend some little money on sumthin useful and would come bak at them with triple the amount they payed as long as they put effort in the beginning.truly its a shame how BIZNAS went UP UP SO QUICK THEN DOWN...wut goes up the wrong way MUST come down.my personal opinion is the management was very pooor and they ruined it fpr those who really saw BIZNAS as another interactive fun experience for them...an EX biznas client, noura ! PEACE OUT

-- June 25, 2006 3:10 AM ∞

NanOoOsha-Noura wrote:

mr Imran Khan and Zamani (co founders) the least u couldve done was face it like men and FLY to kuwait and every other country u went and busted ur energy to convince them and let'em trust u to join ur company...fly to them AND APOLOGIZE!!!!!! at least thaaaaaaaaat !!!!! apologize ! instead of take the money that was left and spit out nuthin for those who worked their ASS day and night to get u all the way up !!!

-- June 25, 2006 3:13 AM ∞

riaz wrote:

i worked for biznas. it was a good experince to learn. those who worked closely with Imran khan should remember him s trainer and speaker.

-- August 28, 2006 12:15 PM ∞

Hfz wrote:

Overall Network Marketing concept is selling through customers. Just like advertising, Companies pays to advertisers or marketing companies for advertising their products. In, Network Marketing customers advertise/sells the product so they should be paid for their efforts and their efforts are recorded as well so that customers are paid according to their time and efforst spent.
Actual what is happeing, companies are misusing this great concept. They dont have the product to sell rather they sell nothing and just pays customers to get more customers. Actually, the product should have the ability or value so that it is promoted/advertised by customers than there is no need to present them that how can they make money. To advertise, they will do it by their will and product will sell like anything.

Another important thing is that, price of product should be competetive. Not that company is giving money to customer so the price of the product is high. If price is same in the market than people will buy product of the company that is using Network Marketing concept as otherwise they are getting the product only but here also chance of getting income.

Biznas was not meeting both conditions. It was selling a useless product which most of people dont need and secondly the price of product is too high. So when you purchase the product, you are not able to use it nor to convince others to use/buy the product. So you only try to convince people for income and if they are not convinced, you lost your money.

So be aware of Biznas fraud and help others to do the same.

May Allah bless you all my Friends.

-- August 31, 2006 5:34 AM ∞

Al Boek wrote:

I knew Eric Rasmussen: He was a real down to earth sort of fellow how called me late one friday night in N. Ca. SKY BIZ became an overnight success. They had a real product...websites and
web education...They became enormus overnight and many
made fortunes...Eric was the top earner.

-- December 15, 2006 11:04 AM ∞

Naeem Khan wrote:

I Lived in Muzaffarabad (AJK) .Where is nearest office

-- June 4, 2007 6:29 AM ∞

Khalid Raja wrote:

Dear Friends my experince with Biznas is great, it is Biggest oppurtunity for learning and for personal development. It totally changed my life and gives a U-turn toward Remarkable success. I am thankfull to Allah and Biznas's founders for such fantastic oppurtunity.

-- July 29, 2007 2:33 PM ∞

towett wrote:

Biznas conned people here in Kenya with one Zamani Ahmhad being the leader,

-- April 15, 2009 10:43 AM ∞

Ahmed halali wrote:

Davood galaani was COO and finaly become CEO of biznas, worked in all countries . he still living in dubai

-- June 8, 2009 9:47 PM ∞

Ahmed halali wrote:

His real name is SYED DAWOOD GAILANI and mobile number is 00971-505582173 .he is very close related of imran khan

-- June 8, 2009 9:51 PM ∞

FAWAD HASHMI wrote:

BIZNAS was a great Mission BY IMRAN KHAN

-- October 7, 2009 9:58 AM ∞

Alice wrote:

to all my dear victims of biznas ...sorry about what they did i was also a very well known recruter in kenya. people think that we ate their money but only Gods know what the biznas founders did...Alice from kenya.

-- December 30, 2009 8:04 PM ∞

Truck and Barter

Pyramid Scheme Warning

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