I was involved with this company in Minnesota about ten years ago, right after I graduated from college. I was out of work and disillusioned by the luck I’d had in my career since earning my degree. I was completely vulnerable to being prey for the Trek Alliance scheme. I believe I answered an ad for a “Marketing” position in the classifieds, and instead of being interviewed I was subjected to a brainwashing sales pitch.
They made me believe that I was wasting my time trying to work my way up from the bottom. That the real way to make money was to start at the top and build up a “pyramid” below you. They quoted Donald Trump. They likened the opportunity to having a chance to invest in McDonald’s back in the day when it first opened and nobody thought it would catch on.
They convinced me to buy almost a thousand dollars worth of “product” to sell at a profit, and to spend numerous hours and resources posting vague notices around town advertising an opportunity to “work from home” and make big money.
I was bilked into attending a training session in Texas, which only subjected attendees to hours more of a cult-like brainwashing experience. Eventually I realized nobody wanted to buy their stuff, and few people were desperate enough to be sucked into the scheme to work for me. I’m still paying off the credit card they convinced me to get for “business purposes” so I could deduct all my costs from my taxes.
And they have been accused of fraudulently misrepresenting what their employees were earning. Rich Von, the guy at the top, is a convicted rapist. I can’t believe I paid for training from a sex offender. It’s a very sad, twisted tale, all around.
Jenelle Montoya
