The online survey fraud is spreading like wildfire in India, as more MLM companies announce ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes, promising over four times on ‘investments’. But don’t get lured, as this works only for a few people at the top, while the rest end up losing money and personal reputation

As if SpeakAsia, which claims to be an online survey company, was not enticing (cheating?) enough of gullible people, a few domestic multi-level marketing (MLM) companies have entered the online survey scam. The only difference is that domestic companies are asking for smaller amounts as investment, compared to SpeakAsia.

After Moneylife exposed the dubious operations of SpeakAsia, one such MLM company, comments have been pouring in about other such MLMs functioning under the pretext of online surveys. (Read, "Another MLM scam in the happening, this time under the pretext of an online survey".)

FLC Online India, like every other MLM company, also makes promises of high returns. In fact, FLC says that after completion of certain units, the member is entitled to bonanza gifts that range from mobile phones to cars like Skoda and Mercedes Benz.

FLC Online India has initiated the concept of a special segment for market research and offers monetary benefits merely for filling survey forms.

Apart from paying regular income, it also gives income through the binary method, which is primarily based on algorithms. In simple words, it aims to involve more and more people in the scheme, luring them through dubious claims.

FLC claims, "Become a part of $25 billion market research industry and earn Rs4,000-Rs40,000 per month from home by giving your opinion about various products of MNCs for only one hour per week by filling online surveys." The promise of income merely through filling survey forms is questionable as the process itself shows.

A person seeking to become a member of FLC must make a payment of Rs6,500 and the company promises to pay Rs1,000 per week till 52 weeks! Further, there is binary income, or per pair income, for which FLC will pay Rs500 and the levels of binary is unlimited. On referring someone to join the company, it promises to pay Rs500 as direct or referral income.

On the binary level, a member making two new members-one each on the left and the right hands (which constitutes a pair)-also gets 10 market points. The 10 market points are equivalent to one unit or one pair and the member can keep on adding up to a maximum or 200 pairs per week.

Further, if the member refers someone in the chain, then he will be given 10 market points per person introduced. But there is a catch in all this. An incentive of two market points is released whenever you have two market points in the left team and two  market points in the right team, which is also known as one pair.

On completing 20 units, which is 20 pairs consisting of 40 people, the member is rewarded with a colour mobile phone, and on completing 90 units the member will get a laptop. This sounds murky, for the company does not mention the specific brand of mobile or laptop.

A simple calculation shows that if one member makes 20 units, the company would earn a whopping Rs2.6 lakh. Consider this: 20 units is 20 pairs, which means 40 individuals. Each individual pays Rs6,500 as membership fee, so 40 members give a total Rs2.6 lakh to the company. On the other hand the company promises only a colour mobile phone as a reward and the brand is not known.

Interestingly, on completion of 350 units and beyond, the reward could be a motorbike, or even a car-a Tata Safari, a Skoda, or even a Mercedes Benz. But there is a time period in which the targets are to be achieved to be eligible for these rewards.

A reader informs Moneylife about another MLM company by the name of Ram Survey, which also makes similar claims. The registration charge is Rs3,500, of which Rs500 is for life-time registration and the remaining Rs3,000 is a contribution towards an e-magazine called Ram Today, the member will receive fortnightly over 11 months. The company promises a weekly income of Rs500 for 44 weeks. Again Rs500 will be paid as binary income and Rs250 as referral income. There are also bonanza gifts ranging from mobile to cars, based on units earned.

Both the companies described, display pan cards and certificates of incorporation (as legal proof) on their web sites. The validity of these documents is to be verified.

Moneylife Foundation, an affiliate of Moneylife, is a not-for-profit organisation that is working to promote financial literacy and has always advised people not to invest in MLM companies that are not registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). However, many people continue to be lured into the trap with the promises of high returns and easy income.

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