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EDITORIAL: Creeping Up On MLM Perdition

EDITOR’S NOTE: The MLM “program” known as Wings Network is alleged to have operated through two business entities that used the name “Tropikgadget.” The SEC’s case, announced Friday, is filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. That’s the same venue in which the agency’s epic TelexFree case was filed last year. There…

Mar 3, 2015
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: SEC Calls ‘Wings Network’ A ‘Ponzi And Pyramid Scheme’; Firms, Executives And A Dozen Promoters Charged

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (14th update 3:19 p.m. ET U.S.A.) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has gone to federal court in Massachusetts, alleging the “Wings Network” MLM “program” is a Ponzi and pyramid scheme that gathered at least $23.5 million. Wings Network purported to offer “digital and mobile solutions to customers, including apps…

Feb 27, 2015
Woman Listed As ‘Winner’ In Zeek Rewards Scheme Asks Court For Help In Getting Back ‘Achieve Community’ Money, Raises Questions Over 1099 Form

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated at 6:35 a.m. on Feb. 27. **______________________** It happened in the Zeek Rewards pyramid- and Ponzi case in 2012 — and now it has happened in the “Achieve Community” case filed earlier this month. A woman has contacted the court presiding over the Achieve case to solicit help in…

Feb 26, 2015
BULLETIN: ‘MooreFund,’ A Ponzi-Board HYIP ‘Program’ Pushed By Achieve Community Huckster, Is Using Unauthorized Security Seal From Norton

BULLETIN: (Updated 8:17 a.m. ET Feb. 25 U.S.A.) An HYIP “program” that operates at MooreFund.com is using a “Norton Secured” seal that is not authorized, Symantec told the PP Blog late this afternoon. Symantec, owner of the famous Norton brand, is a software and computer-security company. Its name is misspelled as “Symentec” on the FAQ…

Feb 24, 2015
BULLETIN: Troy Barnes, Kristi Johnson Invoke 5th Amendment In SEC’s Pyramid/Ponzi Case; Barnes Tells Agency He Is ‘Target’ Of Criminal Investigation; SEC Says Barnes ‘Discussed’ Moving ‘Victim Funds’ Outside Of United States

BULLETIN: “Achieve Community” Ponzi/pyramid defendants Troy Barnes and Kristi Johnson have informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that they have invoked their Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate themselves in the agency’s civil case. A deposition scheduled for Barnes Feb. 20 in Detroit was canceled. So was a deposition set for Johnson today in…

Feb 23, 2015
SPECIAL REPORT: How The SEC Silently Squared Off Against ‘Achieve Community’ In The Days Leading Up To The Asset Freeze

EDITOR’S NOTE: The personnel information in the first section below is gleaned from public records in the SEC’s pyramid- and Ponzi case against the “Achieve Community” and alleged principals Kristi Johnson and Troy Barnes. Some of the numbered points include additional notes by the PP Blog. These notes are based on public records or information…

Feb 23, 2015
BULLETIN: ‘Trinity Lines,’ A ‘Program’ Pushed By ‘Achieve Community’ Huckster Rodney Blackburn, Goes Missing After Targeting People Of Faith

BULLETIN: (2nd Update 2:35 p.m. ET U.S.A.) A Ponzi-board “program” known as “Trinity Lines” that was targeted at people of faith and was pushed by “Achieve Community” huckster Rodney Blackburn has gone missing. The domain name now resolves to a GoDaddy page, despite claims from Trinity Lines just two days ago that “[e]xciting times are…

Feb 20, 2015
BULLETIN: Zeek Receiver Sues Alleged ‘Winners’ In Norway

BULLETIN: (5th update 8:31 p.m.) Zeek Rewards receiver Kenneth D. Bell has sued more than a dozen alleged “winners” with residencies in Norway. These are believed to be the first cases against defendants in Europe. Bell previously has sued U.S. residents and residents of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the British Virgin Islands. As is…

Feb 19, 2015
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: SEC Charges ‘Achieve Community,’ Troy Barnes, Kristi Johnson; Federal Judge Approves Asset Freeze

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (17th update 3:07 p.m. ET U.S.A.) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged “Achieve Community” (as Work With Troy Barnes Inc.) and alleged operators Troy A. Barnes and Kristine L. Johnson with operating a combined pyramid- and Ponzi scheme that raised more than $3.8 million. A federal judge in…

Feb 18, 2015
In Wake Of Asset-Seizure Claim, Videos By ‘Achieve Community’ Huckster Rodney Blackburn Go Missing From You Tube

With “Achieve Community” members posting on Facebook over the long President’s Day weekend claims attributed to co-founder Troy Barnes that he was under criminal investigation and assets had been seized, something seemed a bit odd on YouTube: Search results appeared to demote Rodney Blackburn in listings when the term “Achieve Community” was entered into the…

Feb 16, 2015
PP Blog Subscription Post

NOTE: This subscription post originally was published at 11:34 p.m. ET U.S.A. on Feb. 7. As was the case with our 2,500th-post commemoration in November, there are four subscription options. In the spirit of that post and the 6th anniversary post last month, I’m returning to the “penny a post” theme. We’re asking readers who…

Feb 15, 2015