Promoters also openly discourage thoughtful consideration and questioning of the scheme. Victims often find themselves tricked into participating. It is important to recognize that inherent in the scheme is a double problem for the participant. First the scheme may collapse as the new participant buys in, causing the participant's new recruits to look to him for refunds. Second, if law enforcement finds out about the scheme, prosecutors can file charges against the participant who has introduced others as well as against the promoter since both are considered violators of the law.
Some pyramid promoters try to make their schemes look like multi-level marketing methods.
Multi-level marketing can be a lawful and legitimate business which uses a network of independent distributors to sell consumer products. The difference between a pyramid scheme and a multi- level marketing plan is that in the latter, money is only made through the retail sale of a product. Participants can sell without paying to participate in the marketing scheme and consumers can buy without also joining the marketing scheme. To avoid becoming both a victim and simultaneously violating the law, do not let anyone rush you into making hasty and unwise decisions. A good opportunity to build a business in a multi-level structure will not disappear over night.