WorldVentures Scam? Yes It Is In My Opinion.
Update: 11/28/2014 WorldVentures has lost their appeal of a decision by the Norwegian Gaming Board that said they were a pyramid scheme. WorldVentures is now judged to be a pyramid scheme in Norway.
WorldVentures Scam Claims
Fun, Freedom and Fulfillment!
WorldVentures™ has made a commitment to being the most-trusted name in the direct-selling industry through our transparent business processes and open management philosophy.
Thanks to its commitment to superior value, its innovative products and its good corporate citizenship, WorldVentures has become one of the world’s largest vacation and entertainment direct sellers. With a network of more than 110,000 Independent Representatives in 24 countries, the company offers a unique opportunity to make money doing what you love. In other words, you can make a living, living!
Here is a WorldVentures presentation.
WorldVentures Scam Reality
Fees
DreamTrips One Time Fee $199.95 Monthly Fee $26.99
DreamTrips Life One Time Fee $199.95 Monthly Fee $54.99
International DreamTrips Life One Time Fee $199.95 Monthly Fee $49.98
Luxury DreamTrips One Time Fee $999.99 Monthly Fee $99.99
DreamTrips U One Time Fee $99.99 Monthly Fee $20.99
Become a representative $99 one time $10.99 per month.
$360 to start with a DreamTrips package and become a representative.
Do DreamTrips include flights. No. You have to book that separately. What a dream!
You can get similar pricing and package deals, INCLUDING airfare, elsewhere.
Here is one example of how close the prices are for flights. A flight to NYC from LA on American Airlines: $446 on Kayak and $480 on Rovia.
Refund policy
14 business days
http://gs1.wpc.edgecastcdn.net/80289E/media/1/PDF/unitedstates_us/policiesandprocedures_us.pdf
The WorldVentures BBB Rating is now a C+ it was a D at the time this video was recorded. (The ratings provided by the BBB are a scam in my opinion. The complaints are not.)
WorldVentures had a F rating with the BBB at the end of 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131216205406/http://www.bbb.org/dallas/business-reviews/multi-level-selling-companies/worldventures-marketing-in-plano-tx-90030075
Below is one of the BBB complaints.
After accessing and exploring the website I found that the destinations were the same but packaged differently to make the website seem more expansive.
I called the Regional Manager again to complain about the destination and availablity issues, and again I got the run-around and was offered another suggestion, which was to shop other travel websites and if I found a destination on another website they would match the cost, if this was the solution to my issues then WorldVenture is offering a service that is free from other travel entities, so why should I pay fro something that is free.
The Regional Manager then stated that if I got others involved in WorldVenture My cost to travel these destinations would be less. I told the regional manager that it would be difficult for me to involve a friend or associate in a business venture that I was completely dissatisfied with, and that I was opting out of the program because of the false advertising and marketing practices, lack of destinations/opportunities promised and not received from WorldVenture services
Income Disclosure
77.51% Earned no income.
Average income for an independent representative was $203.59
95% on average are losing money according to their own income disclosure and reports that take into account expenses have WorldVentures ranked as one of the worst MLMs for you losing money: 99.97%.
Click Here For The World Ventures Income Disclosure
The World Ventures Compensation Plan will make your eyes bleed because it is so confusing.
There are compensation caps at various levels and a 65% PAYOUT CAP RULE.
http://gs1.wpc.edgecastcdn.net/80289E/media/1/PDF/unitedstates_us/detailedcompplan_us.pdf
Wayne Nugent tries to say that you and he are the same.
You are not the same as Wayne because the top positions are owned by Wayne and Mike.
http://gs1.wpc.edgecastcdn.net/80289E/media/1/PDF/GENERIC/truth/WorldVenturesTruthContent.pdf
Both Wayne and Mike are tax frauds.
Click the below link to find out what happens when Mike Conway EX-CEO of WorldVentures makes some recommendations on the tax fraud situation.
When you get the car bonus, keep in mind, you are the one that takes the car in YOUR name, YOU pay the insurance on it, and if any customers you signed up drop out or cancel their membership and you fall below the quota required to keep that car, YOU will be stuck with the payments.
http://gs1.wpc.edgecastcdn.net/80289E/media/1/PDF/unitedstates_us/compplanoverview_us.pdf
Essentially all your fees for joining and monthly membership go into a “piggy bank”. Unfortunately these are not all available immediately, expire after a year and are only good for DreamTrips Rewards (not normal DreamTrips and not airfare).
http://gs1.wpc.edgecastcdn.net/80289E/media/1/PDF/unitedstates_us/dreamtrips/dtr_faq_us.pdf
http://gs1.wpc.edgecastcdn.net/80289E/media/1/PDF/unitedstates_us/dreamtrips/dtrprogramterms_us.pdf
WordVentures Court Case 2011-2013
Alan Waters CFO explains why it is normal for management to place some people high in the compensation plan as a perk.
So far, WorldVentures has kept out of trouble with attorneys general, shamed or litigated former reps into silence, and successfully parlayed its rating from the Better Business Bureau up to a C. But the two most damning lawsuits from former reps may soon be joined by a third. Jeffrey Ostrove, a former WorldVentures rep who was involved for seven months, is preparing a class action suit against the company. More than 200 people have signed on, he said. “This is really ethically wrong, it’s morally wrong,” he told The Observer. “It’s taking advantage financially of people without them knowing about it.”
– Source New York Observer
Here is a great video were WordVentures recruiters are confronted with the facts (Hint: they don’t like it.):
Oh the bullshit. I was invited to a small bar by an employee of a client without really being told anything except that he was into marketing and wanted me to see what he does. I got there early to see a group of 10 Hisapnic people hanging out drinking and eating. They heard me ask the bartender for Joe and quickly introduced themselves. As I made conversation with them I asked why we were all there but everyone was evasive. This was screw up #1 on their part and Joe’s. Lying to people before you actually try to rob them with a sales pitch. Myself and another person were asked to sit at the very front of small stage. Then, one of the people got up and got on stage and started her speech along with a slideshow. It was a lot of baloney, showing thuggish minorities with brand new BMW’s and saying I could have any car I wanted, Then showing more losers that supposedly lived in a Ghetto but now live in a mansion and drive $200,000 cars. The bling ang glitz was sickening. As this person spoke, all the people behind me and the guest chanted “yes!” “That’s right!” blah blah blah. I got up and went to the bathroom and took my sweet time, came back grabbed my coat, and told them I had to leave. They still pushed and asked me to wait, then the woman steps down and asked if I want to get on board and I say No Thanks and I leave. What a big waste of time and what a lousy idea. another scam and more losers trying to tell me (successful business owner) how to make money. stay away, far far away from this scam.
loading...
I recently had an encounter with this business, one of the reps did a presentation of this BS knowledge to myself and several others. Within 5 minutes of listening to it, I knew it was a fraudulence. They’re targeting college students that more than likely have no idea about businesses, economics or pyramid schemes. The people who have bought into this, and we’re presenting it to me,attempted to pressure me into joining. I was the only person at the presentation (out of 8) that didn’t fall for it. What a joke, not to mention $200+ is a lot of money for a college student to be spending on a fake vacation scam! Avoid this company at all costs!
loading...
Wise advice. Avoid WorldVentures!
loading...
I went to one of those meetings and im left confused how are people making money the representative was very vague is this a scam?
loading...
Yes it is a scam.
loading...
I can’t believe this thing is still out there. They are now in my beautiful country, Puerto Rico. My sister told me how they are targeting church groups. This is affinity fraud!!! I feel bad for the people who don’t have the resources to educate themselves about these scams. Keep up the good work Ethan. You’re helping a lot of people out there.
loading...
Thank you. I am sorry to hear that they have made it to your country.
loading...
Some people are making money, some are not. If people aren’t making money, it is not necessary a scam too unless the government shuts it down. Seems like the company recently has just launched it’s newer membership. Maybe you could review it as well?
loading...
Thank you for your request of an additional review.
loading...
Im from Kenya, East Africa and was literally coerced into joining WV by a (then) good family friend. I have never been able to recruit even on person and yet WV deducts the monthly fees promptly. I have sent NUMEROUS emails to the representatives in South Africa to suspend the payments but no one even acknowledges my mail. I want to withdraw from this clearly pyramid scheme. How do I go about it and can I get some refund?
loading...
It is my understanding you need to mail WorldVentures a cancellation form. I do not have information on where to get that form for South Africa.
loading...
97% of World Ventures reps don’t make income. They even tell you that before quickly brushing it off. A good number of reps do not even want to join but are pressured into doing so by claims that they are stupid or lazy. In addition they recruit sales people who control the interaction and cleverly steer people away from objecting, often even encouraging credit card debt !!!!!!!!!!!
This model exploits YOU and the years it took for you to build trust between friends, family members, and colleagues. They tell you to bring in the people that you know so that either you or the people way above you can prop themselves up with that cash. That is the truth. When your friends and family are burned by this business your relationships are damaged and the trust you once had is tarnished. Believe me when I say you do not want this. *And yes, a WV supporter will say you need to be a leader that is why they failed blah blah blah. 97% of reps fail, the numbers do not lie.
The meetings are disingenuous and are staged to feel hyped up. They admit that it is staged not more than a few minutes after presenting the main video. They tell you to put your closest 10 people into these bubble sheets and tell you that 9 of 10 are merely throwaways.
As far as the product goes, you get what you pay for. You pay cheap prices for hotel rooms and you get cheap dingy accommodations. I booked the same Wisconsin Dells trip with my family WITHOUT World Ventures and it was 1) actually cheaper and 2) a lot cleaner and nicer.
That is why I swore off World Ventures after one year. That is why I will not do another MLM in the future.
loading...
SCAM through and through! Their Price Pledge refund is a scam. Your airflight bookings can be ILLEGALLY cancelled by another W.V. rep from another country, and you would miss the flight cos it was snatched away from you: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.truth/posts/10152726050056768
Most people on free W.V. trips are simply exchanging their W.V. points (you have to earn it) for the “free” trips.
loading...
Yes it is.
loading...
Now, WV is trying to open up market in Thailand this year end claiming they have achieved in Singapore and Hong Kong. What happens next? Still using the same old tricks or changing some conditions to fit the lawsuit? They said this WV never fail easily worldwide because of number of representatives and there is no any law able to sue them in case of any fraud. Is this true??
loading...
I went for a presentation last night. Based on what I have read on your site vs the presentation, Either World Ventures has up’d their game or the way its sold in South Africa is different to our its sold in the USA. Cant really compare it to a Chris brown concert but the enthusiasm was portrayed…
loading...
Glad I read this. I went to a presentation last night and the sales person spoke quickly and wanted no questions. When I asked him if he watched the show “American greed” he said no and he didn’t have cable. I thought that odd as he was sporting a big diamond watch and ring. That was how I determined I was dealing with a fraud. He showed us a video of the purported millionaires and I thought I was looking at a Chris brown concert audience!
loading...
I am glad you could see through their tricks.
loading...
lol this is insane i was about to join now now omg thanks ethan i had to do an internet research bwt this and thank God u explained ooooppsss reliefed
loading...
You are very welcome.
loading...
thankyou Ethan and God Bless you for this work!! It saves us “newbies” from even attempting it which is far better than figuring a way out. And then we live with the regrets all our life, blaming God and others. It just delivers us from a whole lot!!! Although I know some will still not heed this but from me THANK YOU!!!
loading...
You are very welcome.
loading...
Ethan,
Great job revealing one of my many MLM debacles.
To this day I have never found a single MLM where you could actually earn anything respectable,
In fact I have always lost money on each one.
The wife and I drove down to Edison NJ from upstate NY, for a super World Ventures “Pump-Fest” back in early 2008.
It was a very nice hotel and I must admit it was catered quite nicely as well.
That trip alone to obtain information cost us close to $250 between the hotel, gas, additional meals and tolls.
After getting home and digesting everything we soon realized that once you cut through all the Exotic Destination “Eye Candy” you were left with nothing more than the constant job of hawking friends and family to join. All the while telling them how psyched you are!
Without a downline of size, you are left paying close to full value for most any trips you do end up taking.
My last words, do not look at this or any other MLM opportunity, with dreamy eyes of fantasy, put some glasses on and read between the lines, there are plenty of costly catches hidden throughout this or any other similar program.
Thanks for the great review Ethan, I do hope you are able to spare folks some heartache.
Gary
loading...
Thank you Gary for sharing your experience.
loading...
Thank you for sharing, Ethan. People like you make the world a better place. Keep up the good job. 🙂
loading...
The scam has arrived in Asia to sweep money off our pockets. How I wish I have read your blog before being conned into the skimpy business; did I mention skimpy?
loading...
This scam is world wide. I am sorry they took advantage of you.
loading...
Also been scammed by them in May 2014 here in South Africa. Wish I read your blog before also been taken advantage of. Please people don’t get caught with this scam!!!! Taken my money and can’t get it refunded. Received nothing in return. Will post the mails from them, and then they become cheecky in their e-mails too.
loading...
Its here now in Australia and well yeh the RaRa Hype is going on. 🙁 Im sadden to know that this company will come in like a tornado and take everyones money without the benefit of cheaper travel at all!! I Joined! because of the cheap travel not because of the Money. I said no I do not want to go to the meetings I do not believe in MLM and Pyramid is a scam. The scheme is all designed for everyone to fail and 1% who are the owners of World Ventures make money. Not the ants running around faithfully recruiting.
and yes if you fail you do not want people to know and I believe after 2 to 8 months you will quit. Using your time petrol money food everything to recruit you loose money everywhere. The horrible monthly fee time intimidation tactics….its a lll sales! and when you join its all lies. The Dreamtrips are not cheap and you do not get cheaper air flights etc.. I think the Rovia search engine is good but you can go on better ones for FREE! the end of the year you are spending $1300 that is a cost of a Holiday. bUt since you gave it to World Ventures well you can’t afford to go on any holiday as your savings went to World Ventures… You are not really buying anything and yes those Timeshare is terrible as well but there is a product! its just their sales tactics are very unethical and just plain a con…highly expensive and as w enow the customers rarely used. My parents are not rich..and they joined once and my parents are tight with their money! but in the end everyone has emotions and dreams..and these play on peoples emotions and dreams. Dreams of getting out of the rat race and having financial freedom. Everyone would love to be a millionaire… Really read some books follow some financial strategies. work as team in your family. Read Robert Kyosaki sorry I am not going to google it to find the right spelling. and try hard to not get involved with Hype on MLM companies. I do believe some are good and you get paid selling like a commission job. Wolrd Ventures is not selling you a product its recruiting you and saying if you do not recruit you are still an outsider!
I do not like what hey are doing and I understand it will happen wether I write this or not but please be careful as its not what it seems. They say everything but hide it well with all thh RaRa Hype!
loading...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
loading...
Do you know what the legal age is to join WV in Minnesota? I remember when I was 17 and a senior in high school when my boss pressured me to join. The reps did not inform me about the legal age to join and signed me up anyways. I was young and dumb at the time and thought joining would make me rich and I would receive better treatment from my boss. During that summer when I was away at college (still 17 with no job) ran out of money and decided to email WV about quitting. I could not bear the monthly fees anymore. After stating in my email that I was only 17 and could not make payments, I got a response back that I was quite surprised about. WV gave me back my $300+ activation fee plus the monthly payments I made while I was with the company. Of course I didnt complain to WV, but now I’m starting to wonder why they gave my money back in such a hurry.
WV policy states
SECTION 3 – BECOMING A REPRESENTATIVE 3.1 – Requirements to Become a U.S. Representative To become a WorldVentures Representative, each applicant must:
a) Be of legal age in his or her state of residence;
If I was underage, it just goes to show you how low WV will go to get people into this scam.
loading...
What is the status of class action suit where may I join?
loading...
I have not heard anything more about the class action suit. I will update this post when I do.
loading...
I would like to join the class action!
loading...
Thank you. When another one gets going I will pass your information on to them.
loading...