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Trending: India’s anti-MLM movement

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04/12/2022 GMT

India’s anti-MLM movement

BBC World Service - Trending, India’s anti-MLM movement

People are being lured with false promises into direct selling - who will fight back?

Across India, agents of direct selling schemes lure people online with the promise they will make fortunes. Now a small group of crusaders is fighting back.

The past few years gave way to a boom in the number of people joining direct selling schemes in India who were lured in by the false promise of riches. These tactics – imported from the West – have been quietly growing without much scrutiny. Ria – not her real name – fell prey to one of the largest schemes operating in the country. In an exclusive interview for BBC Trending, she reveals how she was trained to “attract people” into the business. 
There is a small group of crusaders who are fighting back, trying to save people from buying into schemes that leave more people further out of pocket than they were to begin with. So who are they and how are they doing it? The BBC’s health and disinformation reporter, Rachel Schraer investigates this phenomenon, speaking to experts, the authorities and even two YouTubers who are spreading awareness in the small South Indian village.  
Presenter: Rachel Schraer
Producer: Reha Kansara
Editor: Flora Carmichael

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