Ask Officer Michelle – Question #524
Posted by brotherdan
Is cash gifting illegal? I specifically speak of a website called 2010 Blessings (.com). Was that the problem with “Women Helping Women”? Thank you.
Dear brotherdan,
This looks like a "pyramid scheme" to me. If an organized group asks for money without providing a product or service, it is illegal. You can make donations to an organization, but if the group promises you money in turn for your initial monitory investment, it isn’t legitimate.
The way these pyramids work is that a person invests money and asks that you bring in other people to invest. Once they invest, you get a cut of the money. Each person that you bring in, they are asked to do the same. This can go on and on. The more people you bring in under you, you make a cut of the members’ money. Bottom line, it is illegal and unethical. A lot of people don’t even realize that it is illegal especially if it is marketed under a guise sounding like "Women Helping Women." Thank you for your post.
Officer Michelle
