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10/22/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #81
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about a social media post disseminated by one of its salesforce members that contained several earnings claims including an express claim that salesforce members could earn $500 or more per month. Other claims at issue in the social media post included language describing the opportunity as zero-risk and money back guaranteed as well as the claim salesforce members could become stay at home parents. -
10/22/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #80
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding two Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the posts conveyed the unsupported health-related message that the Company’s direct selling products can protect against COVID-19.
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10/15/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #79
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding three social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concerns that the posts conveyed unsupported product, health and wellness benefits and the message that the Company’s direct selling products can protect against COVID-19.
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10/15/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #78
The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding a Pinterest post and a claim on the company website, both of which referenced a business opportunity at the Company with unlimited income potential. More specifically, the Pinterest post featured a photograph of scattered $100 bills and the promise of glamourous trips, extra cash and unlimited income. In addition, in its description of the business opportunity on the Company website, the Company makes reference to “no limits” on earnings and the significant income opportunity provided by the Company. -
10/12/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #77
The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts communicated the message that the Company’s products can protect children and adults from the COVID-19 virus. -
10/08/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #76
Social media advertising for a direct selling company that markets health and wellness products came to the attention of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) pursuant to its monitoring of the direct selling industry. DSSRC identified three Facebook posts that were disseminated by Company salesforce members as communicating egregious health-related claims. One post stated “build your immune system to fight virus and disease” and was accompanied by a list of several health-related conditions that the product purportedly treats (e.g., “Improve Brain Function,” “Fight Cellular Disease,” “Anti-Glycemic Activity, etc.). In addition, two separate posts implied that the product would “strengthen your immune system and protect yourself from viruses.”
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10/08/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #75
The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company regarding a Facebook post that referenced the Company as providing an “unlimited earnings opportunity” and “financial freedom” for salesforce members. -
10/08/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #74
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding five Facebook posts that discussed the ability of the Company’s products to treat and/or alleviate a number of health-related conditions including, but not limited to, cancer, depression, arthritis, memory loss and epilepsy. The Company responded to DSSRC and explained that all of the posts at issue were not disseminated by the Company or its salesforce members, but were, instead, made by independent retailers that purchased the products at wholesale from the Company. -
9/22/2020 - Case #25-2020 -NGO Inquiry- International Markets Live, Inc.
DSSRC's inquiries are in regards to the marketing disseminated by a direct selling company and/or its salesforce. Here, a nonprofit NGO brought to DSSRC’s attention certain earnings claims being disseminated on the social media pages of certain Independent Business Owners (IBO’s) of International Markets Live, Inc. (IML), a New York based multi-level direct selling company that sells financial trading software and provides educational programs regarding financial trading to its customers. It alleged that many of the representations at issue include both express and implied claims that IML’s programs and educational opportunities will help individuals earn a minimum level of income and/or enjoy a lavish lifestyle. In the NGO’s initial written submission to DSSRC, it identified over 200 examples of such claims.
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9/16/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #73
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members as well as two product performance claims, one business opportunity claim and nine consumer testimonials located on the Company’s website The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the claims (including those representations communicated in consumer testimonials) and social media posts communicated the message that the Company’s products can protect consumers against a number of health-related conditions including the COVID-19 virus. -
9/15/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #72
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated health-related benefit claims related to the current COVID-19 pandemic. -
9/15/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #71
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding five Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product health and wellness benefit claims related to the current COVID-19 pandemic. -
9/08/2020 - Case #24-2020 -NGO Inquiry- Le-Vel Brands LLC
DSSRC's inquiries are in regards to the marketing disseminated by a direct selling company and/or its salesforce where the subject claims. Here, a nonprofit NGO dedicated to protecting consumers identified to DSSRC certain product and income claims for Le-Vel Brands LLC, a multi-level direct selling company that was founded in 2012 and sells health and wellness products. The Company’s products include dietary supplements containing vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, antioxidants, enzymes, probiotics, and amino acids -
8/28/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #70
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two Facebook posts disseminated by the company’s salesforce members that conveyed product performance stating and/or implying that the company’s products can help prevent or treat COVID-19. Both posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.
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8/28/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #69
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two YouTube videos disseminated by the company’s salesforce members that conveyed product performance claims while referencing the current global pandemic. Both videos came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.
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8/28/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #68
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two social media posts disseminated by the company’s salesforce members that conveyed product performance claims. Both social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.
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8/24/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #67
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about certain social media posts disseminated by salesforce members regarding product efficacy claims that referenced “Corona Virus.” DSSRC also identified more general product claims regarding viruses that DSSRC was concerned could be reasonably interpreted could be reasonably interpreted as meaning that the company’s products are effective against the coronavirus.
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8/17/2020 - Case #23-2020 -Monitoring Inquiry- Fifth Avenue Collection, Inc.
DSSRC's inquiries are in regards to advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry including claims made by salesforce members on social media. This case is about Fifth Avenue Collection, Inc, a multi-level direct selling company located in Alpharetta, GA that was founded in 1988. The company's line of business includes the wholesale distribution of jewelry, precious stones and metals, costume jewelry, watches, clocks, and silverware. Specifically, DSSRC identified several business opportunity claims, including statements that were disseminated on the social media pages of the company's distributors. -
8/14/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #66
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about three social media posts disseminated by salesforce members regarding business opportunities during the pandemic. The social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.
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8/14/2020 - DSSRC Administrative Closure #65
DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about three business opportunity posts disseminated by salesforce members. The social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.