Hyderabad cops bust Forever Living pyramid scheme; 2 arrested

Police arrested two men Tuesday for running a multi-level marketing scam targeting teenagers with promises of quick cash. Mohammed Akram and Mohd. Nouman Raza, both 22, were picked up in the Old City’s Mirchowk-Charminar area. They’d rented out a 3,000-square-foot office in Karmanghat and organized recruitment drives under the name “Achievers Club.”

Here’s how it worked: They used Instagram to attract kids with ads about making money from home selling Forever Living products. Entry fee was 200 rupees. Then 30,000 rupees to buy inventory. After that, recruit more people, and you get your cut. Many victims say they never received products or refunds.

The accused took 40 to 50 percent commissions from direct recruits, then more from second-tier recruits. They brought in about 40 people this way, who then used shared contact lists to find more targets. Some got bumped up to “manager” status—which meant they could take cuts too.

Cops seized a Mercedes, multiple phones, an iPad, a MacBook, Forever Living stock, client notebooks, and training materials.

They’re charged under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Telangana’s depositor protection law, and the Prize Chits ban. Investigation into other people involved is ongoing.