(New?) MLM (Multi Level Marketting) Gimmicks

If a long-time-no-see or just-got-acquainted friend calls you up suddenly and wants to talk to you about a "Business Plan/Venture" or "looking for a business partner", then be real careful! You've been warned here that THIS COULD BE some gimmicks by rather unethical MLM (Multi Level Marketting) members trying to pull you in.

I was so naive to believe a 'friend' (a fellow goldfish hobbyist) whom I have only met once last year. He called me suddenly last week and asked me about ecommerce stuff (I told him before that it is someting which I have been doing for many years). He then told me that he has ventured "into a new business" and he had issues with ecommerce which he needed my advice on.

I am of course, willing to help. If I can help, why not? I am even willing to advise him on how to set it up, and asking nothing in return.

Then after a few times of unsuccessful meetups, I told him over sms to give me his home number so that I can call him up. He can then ask me questions which I will try to answer over the phone. Easy. Short and sweet. Then he replied "With the kind of reply you gave, I think you are the man I am looking for.. Coz I always believe a person with kindness and generousity goes far. I am looking for a business partner rather"
(well, actual fact is... my mobile's plan... incoming is not free one. But I also do not want to give him my home number. :D)

Business partner! Man, anyone would be flattered!! I was of course a little skeptical about this at first because I am well aware of the downside of partnership law in Singapore. So I replied that I have no money for investment. He then replied "My requirement is that the person must be willing to learn and listen, a team player like you. Financial wise is it not so important" So with a possible business partnership in mind, I agred to meeting him today.

So he came to my place and drove me to his "office". But then he say that there is also another interested guy and thus to facilitate the presentation of his "business plan", he would hold it in his house.

So the setup was cool and I kept an opened mind for any business plan which he would try to sell. Excited, yes of course. Eveything was ok until he mentioned... Amway. AMWAY!! Isn't that MLM? At that moment, I realised I have been trapped, cheated, conned, made-use-of, taken-advantage-of, raped, etc etc. Plus there was nothing on ecommerce which he needed my expertise on. That was the reason why I agred to meet him!!

I was so bloody outraged. But there was another guy present and I did not want my actions (I wanted to say goodbye and just walked out) to influence the other guy. I've got good character and upbringing. Hence I remained seated and pretended to pay attention while in fact I was thinking of what to eat for dinner (10 plus and still haven't had my dinner).

Seriously, I have nothing against MLM but he could have told me beforehand that he wants to talk about AmWay. And I would have told him the fact (this is the truth) that both my parents are in AmWay. My pap is even in both Elken and AmWay. If I had wanted to join, I would have joined long ago and under either my pap or mum. Why would I spend 3.5 hours for such talks? And why the hell must he go through all the CONNING to make this meeting possible? Maybe he knew that a lot of people dislike MLM, and at the moment of hearing about MLM, they would run away quickly. And on top of that acquaintance like ours (between me and him) are rather expendable.

But still I feel so cheated. And so disappointed to have made such a lousy friend.

This "friend" is now in my banned list. And I would have no problem having him to read this.

PS: And why did I post this? Because I find it VERY UNETHICAL / Low Class to prey on friends/acquaintances like this.