Exploiting Trust: The Involvement of Kashmiri Influencers in MLM Scams

Kashmir Dot Com 

June 16, 2023

In recent years, multi level marketing (MLM) schemes have spread like wildfire, promising dreams of financial freedom and a flexible work-life balance. Yet, behind the facade of opportunity, lies a sinister reality. MLMs have become a breeding ground for scams, preying on the hopes and aspirations of unsuspecting individuals. This article delves into the dark underbelly of MLMs, exposing the deceptive practices, exploitative business models, and the devastating impact they have on countless lives.

The rise of social media has transformed the way we consume information and interact with influencers. However, this powerful platform is not immune to abuse, and Kashmiri influencers have unfortunately become entangled in the web of multilevel marketing (MLM) scams. These influencers, who once held the trust and admiration of their followers, are now exploiting that trust to promote deceptive MLM schemes. This article delves into the concerning involvement of Kashmiri influencers in MLM scams, shedding light on the exploitation of trust and its detrimental impact on the community.

Cultivating a Believable Image:

Kashmiri influencers often build their online personas around authenticity and relatability, connecting with their followers on a personal level. Their success lies in fostering trust and credibility within their community. However, some influencers have deviated from this path, embracing MLM scams and betraying the trust placed in them. By aligning themselves with MLM companies, they manipulate their followers’ trust, making the scams appear legitimate and enticing.

Glamorizing MLM Success:

Influencers hold significant sway over their followers’ aspirations and dreams. Unfortunately, some Kashmiri influencers have chosen to exploit this influence by glamorizing the success stories associated with MLMs. They showcase lavish lifestyles, luxury purchases, and extravagant experiences, all of which are attributed to their involvement in MLM schemes. By presenting this illusion of success, they entice their followers into believing that joining an MLM will lead to similar prosperity.

Manipulating Emotional Connections:

Kashmiri influencers often have strong emotional connections with their followers, who view them as role models and sources of inspiration. Exploiting this emotional connection, influencers play on their followers’ desires for financial security and independence. They promote MLM scams as a solution to financial woes, promising a pathway to freedom and prosperity. By leveraging emotional manipulation techniques, such as testimonials and personal anecdotes, they persuade their followers to invest in these fraudulent schemes.

Concealing the Dark Reality:

Kashmiri influencers involved in MLM scams often conceal the dark reality of these schemes. They conveniently omit the financial struggles, emotional distress, and shattered dreams experienced by the majority of participants. Instead, they focus on highlighting the few success stories, perpetuating the illusion that everyone can achieve similar outcomes. By downplaying the risks and amplifying the rewards, they deceive their followers into believing that MLMs are a surefire way to achieve financial stability.

Exploiting Community Bonds:

In Kashmiri society, community bonds and trust are highly valued. Unfortunately, some influencers exploit these bonds by targeting their own communities. They capitalize on the trust placed in them by their fellow Kashmiris, knowing that individuals are more likely to trust someone from their own community. By exploiting this familiarity, influencers effectively manipulate their followers into joining MLMs under the guise of community support and collective prosperity.

Unraveling the Consequences:

The involvement of Kashmiri influencers in MLM scams has profound consequences for the community. As individuals invest their hard-earned money, time, and energy into these scams, they often find themselves trapped in a web of debt and disappointment. Relationships within the community become strained as friends and family members are pitted against each other in pursuit of recruitment and profit. The exploitation of trust erodes the fabric of community cohesion and perpetuates financial vulnerability.

The involvement of Kashmiri influencers in MLM scams is a distressing phenomenon that undermines the trust and credibility they once held within their community. By exploiting their influence and emotional connections, these influencers perpetuate MLM scams, leading unsuspecting individuals down a path of financial ruin. It is crucial for the Kashmiri community to remain vigilant, question the authenticity of influencers’ endorsements,

The Allure of MLMs: Promises and Deception

At their core, MLMs are designed to appear as legitimate business opportunities. They entice participants with grand promises of extraordinary income, luxurious lifestyles, and the chance to be their own boss. The appeal of MLMs often stems from the notion that anyone can succeed, regardless of their background or qualifications. This deceptive allure, however, masks the true nature of MLMs and their destructive potential.

Pyramid Scheme Parading as Legitimate Business:

While not all MLMs are outright pyramid schemes, many employ pyramid-like structures that heavily rely on recruitment rather than product sales. Participants are coerced into recruiting others, often friends and family, to join the MLM under their downline. These recruits are then expected to recruit further, creating a never-ending chain. The primary focus is not on the product itself but on expanding the network and generating recruitment commissions. This emphasis on endless recruitment ensures that only a few at the top reap significant financial rewards, while the vast majority languish at the bottom, struggling to make ends meet.

Exploitative Business Models:

One of the defining characteristics of MLMs is the exorbitant costs participants are subjected to. MLMs often require substantial upfront fees for enrollment, along with mandatory purchases of inventory or starter kits. These financial burdens, coupled with the pressure to maintain monthly quotas, force participants into a vicious cycle of debt and desperation. The products themselves often carry inflated price tags, making them difficult to sell in a competitive market. As a result, the main source of income for participants becomes the recruitment of new members, perpetuating the pyramid-like structure and rendering the products a mere accessory to the scheme.

False Promises and Unrealistic Expectations:

MLMs lure individuals with extravagant success stories, testimonials, and glamorous events. They propagate the idea that with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve extraordinary financial prosperity. However, the reality is far from these illusions. Statistical evidence reveals that a staggering majority of MLM participants experience financial losses rather than gains. The MLM business model itself is inherently flawed, relying on the constant influx of new recruits to sustain the system. This inherent flaw ensures that the pyramid eventually collapses, leaving the vast majority of participants at a severe disadvantage.

Manipulative Recruitment Tactics:

MLMs often target vulnerable individuals, exploiting their financial hardships, aspirations, and desire for a better life. They employ high-pressure sales tactics, emotional manipulation, and false claims to convince potential recruits to join their ranks. Tactics such as love-bombing, where recruits are showered with attention and praise, create an atmosphere of belonging and camaraderie. This emotional manipulation makes it increasingly difficult for individuals to resist the allure of MLMs, as they become emotionally invested in the promise of a better future.

The Devastating Fallout:

MLMs leave a trail of shattered dreams, broken relationships, and financial ruin in their wake. As the pyramid crumbles, those at the bottom are left with little to show for their efforts, facing mountains of debt and damaged personal connections. The emotional toll is immeasurable, as individuals grapple with feelings of shame, guilt, and regret for falling victim to the MLM scam. Moreover, the deceptive practices of MLMs erode trust within communities, as friends and family members are pitted against each other in the pursuit of profit.

Legal Loopholes and Inadequate Regulations:

While some countries have recognized the exploitative nature of MLMs and implemented stricter regulations, many remain relatively unregulated. MLMs often exploit legal loopholes by masking their pyramid-like structures with product sales, making it challenging for authorities to take action. The lack of comprehensive legislation allows MLMs to operate with impunity, preying on vulnerable individuals and evading accountability.

Multi Level marketing scams continue to proliferate, leaving countless lives devastated in their wake. The deceptive practices, exploitative business models, and manipulative tactics employed by MLMs have no place in an ethical and equitable society. It is crucial for governments, regulatory bodies, and consumers to come together to expose the true nature of MLMs and implement stringent regulations to protect individuals from falling victim to these scams. Only through increased awareness, education, and proactive measures can we dismantle the MLM empire and ensure a safer future for all.

Advisory: How to Stay Safe from MLM Scams

Multilevel marketing (MLM) scams continue to exploit unsuspecting individuals, causing financial losses and emotional distress. To protect yourself and your community from falling victim to these scams, consider the following advisory:

Research and Educate Yourself:

Before getting involved in any business opportunity, especially MLMs, conduct thorough research. Understand the fundamentals of MLMs, their business models, and the potential risks involved. Familiarize yourself with the red flags and warning signs of MLM scams, such as excessive emphasis on recruitment, high upfront costs, and unrealistic income promises.

Exploiting Trust: The Involvement of Kashmiri Influencers in MLM Scams

Scrutinize the MLM company and its products or services. Look for credible third-party information, reviews, and testimonials from reliable sources. Check if the MLM is registered and compliant with relevant regulations. Legitimate MLM companies are transparent about their financial disclosures and provide clear information about their products, compensation plans, and earnings potential.

Guard Against Emotional Manipulation:

MLM scams often manipulate emotions, exploiting desires for financial security and personal growth. Be cautious of high-pressure sales tactics, exaggerated success stories, and emotional appeals used by recruiters or influencers. Make rational decisions based on critical thinking and objective evaluation, rather than being swayed solely by emotions or promises of quick wealth.

Assess the Product Value:

Evaluate the MLM’s products or services independently. Are they competitively priced and in demand in the market? Consider whether you would genuinely use or recommend these products outside of the MLM opportunity. If the focus of the MLM seems to be primarily on recruitment rather than product sales, it may indicate a pyramid scheme disguised as an MLM.

Understand the Compensation Structure:

Thoroughly review the MLM’s compensation plan and understand how earnings are generated. If the primary emphasis is on recruitment commissions rather than product sales, it is likely a pyramid scheme. Be cautious of MLMs that require significant upfront fees, mandatory purchases of inventory, or imposing monthly quotas. A legitimate MLM should have a fair and transparent compensation structure.

Seek Advice from Independent Professionals:

If you are considering joining an MLM, consult with unbiased professionals, such as financial advisors or legal experts, to assess the risks and potential returns. They can provide objective insights and help you make informed decisions based on your financial goals and circumstances.

Discuss with Trusted Individuals:

Engage in open discussions with trusted friends, family, and community members who have experience or knowledge about MLMs. Seek their perspectives and advice to gain different viewpoints and insights. Sometimes an external perspective can shed light on potential risks and help you make a more informed decision.

Trust Your Instincts:

If something feels too good to be true or raises suspicions, trust your instincts. Remember, MLMs are notorious for making unrealistic promises and exploiting vulnerabilities. If you feel pressured, manipulated, or uncomfortable, it’s best to step away and explore other opportunities that align with your values and financial well-being.

In conclusion, staying safe from MLM scams requires diligent research, critical thinking, and reliance on trusted sources of information. By educating yourself, assessing the legitimacy of MLM companies, and seeking advice from independent professionals and trusted individuals, you can protect yourself from falling victim to these deceptive schemes.

( The Author Irfan Attari is a Renowned Social Activist/ Writer , President of Foundation For Youth Web & Student Of Cybersecurity ) 

https://kashmirdotcom.in/2023/06/16/exploiting-trust-the-involvement-of-kashmiri-influencers-in-mlm-scams/

Swami Lakshmanjoo and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Lakshmanjoo Academy
Published on Mar 24, 2013
MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI IN KASHMIR

In 1952, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, Himalayas, travelled to Kashmir with his entourage. Almost certainly, Bal Brahmachari Mahesh, as Maharishi was then known, was amongst the disciples who witnessed their beloved Gurudeva perform a seven-day yagya in the temple of Mother Divine atop Hari Parbhat hill in Srinagar. This same shrine is reputed to be the very place where almost 2,000 years earlier Adi Shankara first glimpsed the Shri Yantra that was naturally formed at the base of the large stone.

Maharishi's next visit to Kashmir seems to have been in 1962. At that time, he visited a number of sacred sites dedicated to Mother Divine, and also the cave at Amarnath, with its naturally formed Shiva lingam of ice.

In 1967 and 1968, Maharishi again visited Kashmir from Rishikesh, bringing with him the participants of the Transcendental Meditation Teacher Training Courses. His reputation as a world teacher preceded him, and, within a short period, he initiated many of the younger generation of Kashmiri Brahmins into TM.

One day in 1968, while en route to a proposed academy site, Maharishi inquired of the driver if he knew the whereabouts of one Swami Lakshmanjoo who apparently lived in that area. The driver requested Maharishi to redirect his inquiry to the young initiate whom he had chosen to accompany him on that journey, Inder Krishan Raina, indicating that the young man was in fact Swami Lakshmanjoo's nephew.

The young man shyly replied: "We can visit my uncle just now if you wish, as his residence is quite nearby and I know he is home today." Maharishi, somewhat surprised, replied, "No, I must make a formal request for his audience and receive his formal invitation, as that is the proper procedure for visiting saints."

That evening Inderji conveyed the formal request to his uncle, who said he would be pleased to meet with Maharishi. Inderji says Swamiji was also pleased to hear that he had been initiated into TM and encouraged him to be vigilant in his practice.

The next day the two saints met, and all present on that occasion immediately perceived the wonderful appreciation and respect they held for one another.

This short film clip is from the following year, when Maharishi again visited Kashmir. The film was taken by Wulf Wemmje, a course participant from Germany, who very kindly made it available to John Hughes. The first part was taken on the site of a proposed academy overlooking Dal Lake and the entire Srinagar Valley. The second part was taken during Swami Lakshmanjoo's 62nd birthday celebration which was attended by more than 10,000 people over a period of three days. In the third part, Maharishi and Swamiji visit the academy site with all the course participants.

During that visit, Maharishi requested Swamiji to explain the meaning of one of the most revered texts of Kashmir Shaivism, the Vijnana Bhairava, a dialogue between Bhairava and Bhairavi detailing 112 ways to realize one's divine nature.

In the days and weeks that followed, Swamiji expounded each of the 112 techniques, leaving Maharishi to explain in English to those present. At the same time, far away in England, Dr Vernon Katz, who had worked with Maharishi on his translation and commentary of the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras, was conducting the 'NMGTC', to train new teachers of TM. Course participants still remember well one particular weekend, held at the Grail Retreat Centre in Pinner, Middlesex, when Maharishi, inspired by this knowledge of the Vijnana Bhairava, had spoken with Dr Katz by telephone from Kashmir at the last minute asking him to tell his trainee teachers all about "The 112 Ways of Transcending", the name Maharishi always used to refer to this text.

Also, around this time, Swamiji organized for one of his scholarly disciples to translate into English Swamiji's earlier Hindi translation of the Shiva Sutras, another very important text of Kashmir Shaivism. This same translation was subsequently distributed on various advanced courses for those who were already teachers of TM. The heading read: "Shiva Sutras (by: Shri Brahmachari Lakshman Joo) Guptaganga, (Nishat), Kashmir, India" (although, later, when told about this, Swamiji said that the translation had not actually been his).

Attending that same TTC in 1969 were two young Americans, John and Denise Hughes. John went on to become a member of the original faculty of Maharishi International University. In 1972, both he and Denise, with Maharishi's blessings, would return to Kashmir to study Kashmir Shaivism under Swami Lakshmanjoo. Subsequently Swamiji entrusted John with the task of making available to the world hundreds of hours of his translations and commentaries on the most important scriptural texts of Kashmir Shaivism, including the Vijnana Bhairava and the Shiva Sutras (published by http://www.UniversalShaivaFellowship.org )


https://youtu.be/-4SdkYo2pTk

After faith healer is arrested for sexual abuse in Kashmir, more ‘victims’ come forward

Safeena Wani
Newslaundry's
March 16, 2016

Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, 45, called himself a pir. A married man and father of three children, he had built a reputation for himself as a faith healer. For 20 years, people from Sopore in Kashmir, turned to Ahmad, asking him to reverse their misfortunes. Unwittingly, many may have served up their children to an alleged sexual predator.

Earlier this month, Sheikh was accused of paedophilia by the father of a 14-year-old from Sopore. “My son recently refused to visit the faith healer,” he told the police. “When I asked him the reason, he shocked me saying, ‘Enough! I won’t let him abuse me sexually anymore.’ My son also told me that the pir had abused many other boys at his residence.”

Sheikh was arrested on March 4 and his family claims he is innocent. However, people are coming forward with stories of how the pir allegedly used healing as a front to sodomise young boys. Some of those “kids” are now grown-ups in their twenties and their thirties.

Thirty-two-year-old Shahid (name changed) has come forward with his own experience. “I was an eighth-grader when my maternal uncle suffered a huge loss in business,” he said. “He went to Sheikh, who told him, ‘Do you have any kid of 12 to 14? If yes, then bring him here’.” Sheikh told Shahid’s uncle that he had a djinn that would speak to the 14-year-old Shahid and reveal “the solution” to the financial reversals.

Shahid was sent to the Sheikh’s house, upon his uncle’s request. “Once there, he [Sheikh] told my uncle to leave the room for a while,” said Shahid. “Then he asked me if I was 15. I said I was 14. Suddenly he pulled down my trousers and grabbed my buttocks and said ‘No, you’re 15’.”

This was the beginning of Shahid’s nightmare. Sheikh told Shahid’s uncle to bring the boy back after a few days. When Shahid was taken the second time, he remembers Sheikh said to him, “I thought, you will never come back. You are such a brave boy!”

“After dinner, he took me to a room and said, ‘We will now start conversing with the djinn’ and after a while said, ‘Be ready! Djinn is about to talk to you’,” said Shahid. “With that, he started speaking in Urdu. His body started shaking and saying that I should speak the truth. He asked if I masturbated. Masturbation was taboo to me. But he terrorised me with talk of djinn and I yelled, ‘Yes!’ Then he enquired, ‘So, how many drops do you ejaculate?’ I said, ‘Three to four.’ Then, he told me, ‘I am the djinn! Do it to me.’ Later, he forced me to do it to him. Then, he stripped me naked and sodomised me.”

Shahid’s ordeal lasted two years. Every now and then, the faith healer would send word to his home, asking him to come and Shahid had no choice but to go because he said he felt too ashamed too tell anyone what was happening.

Those who visited Sheikh knew that he had some set conditions. Primary among them was telling parents and guardians that they needed to leave their wards in his care overnight for the faith healing to succeed. Convinced by his silver tongue, parents willingly accepted Sheikh at his word. Thursday and Saturday were days when parents would throng his home seeking cures and children were left in the faith healer’s care.

One of his “victims”, now a Class XI student, narrated traumatic memories of those nights. In 2012, this boy accompanied his uncle to see Sheikh. They were seeking a cure for the boy’s cousin, who had suddenly taken ill.

“After an hour, my uncle left after the pir told him, ‘To heal your son, this kid must stay here’,” he said. There were four boys already there. Nothing seemed unusual for the boy until at night, when the clock struck 11. “All of us boys were in a room when Sheikh stepped in and told us, ‘Now, the djinn will talk to you’, scaring all of us. He then lowered his tone and warned us, ‘Don’t lie, if you do, the djinn won’t spare you’.” Then, Sheikh switched from Kashmiri to Urdu, and while speaking, he began fondling the boys, according to the victim. “He told us the djinns were under his spell, that he had learned to control them when he went to Gujarat. Suddenly, he started asking us dirty questions. Then, he forced us to have a sex with him. He forced a boy to do a sexual act on another boy as he stood watching. It was humiliating.”

On these nights, Sheikh would sleep sandwiched between two boys, according to the victim. “I used to wake up in the mornings wanting to kill him,” said one of the boys. “But I was scared of his djinns. He was always warning us that if we spoke of what he did to us, he would unleash the djinns on us and our families. It was horrible.”

After the arrest, the village of Bomai, where Sheikh lived, is simmering with anger. “Not everyone likes him,” said village elder Mohammad Shaban. “We were suspicious about his conduct toward children for very long. It’s good he stands finally exposed.”

It seems Sheikh was barred from offering prayers at the local mosque some years ago. The reasons aren’t clear but some said it was owing to “behavioural issues”. According to Shaban, “He seldom stepped out of his house thereafter. Hardly anyone from Bomai took his claims to faith healing seriously. Come to think of it, he never tried to lure our kids; he probably knew the village mood and its consequences.”

In Bomai, it seems the locals wondered why parents from nearby villages, who came seeking cures, left boys in Sheikh’s custody.

“Ten years ago, he was imam of Masjid Yunsu, of north Kashmir’s Pooru village, where he had rented a room,” said Sheikh’s neighbour Noor Mohammad. “He used to bring boys there, too. When the villagers came to know about it, they dragged him out of the Masjid. He was expelled from the mosque.”

In Bomai, despite Shaban’s claims, Sheikh was left largely untroubled. He had an “office” in front of his residence for his healing work. “Sheikh’s brothers are known goons of the village,” said another neighbour, Shameema. “Besides everybody thought why should they become his enemy when nobody in the neighbourhood complained about his activities. With the result, he got a free run.”

Sheikh’s family is defending him and have instead accused the police of intimidating Sheikh. “The Bomai police came here along with some cameramen,” said Sheikh’s brother Mohd Arif Sheikh. “They searched the house and spoke to pir sahib. They returned the day after to arrest him, but pir sahib escaped through a window. So, the police picked up our relatives. The next daypir sahib surrendered.”

Sheikh’s brother has filed a counter case, alleging that the 14-year-old complainant’s father had borrowed Rs 3 lakh from Sheikh and when the faith healer demanded his money, the man framed him in a fake case. Sheikh’s wife, Gulshana Begum, has vouched for his innocence. “I am his wife and I know him better than anybody else. He is clean,” she said.

However, public opinion is against Sheikh and victims are coming forward to help the police investigation. Superintendent of Police Harmeet Singh said, “So far we have recorded statements of around 10 victims. Besides we have recorded the statement of the 14-year-old complainant and another teen victim before the judge to make it a strong case.”

The author can be contacted on Twitter @safeena_wani

http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/03/16/after-faith-healer-is-arrested-for-sexual-abuse-in-kashmir-more-victims-come-forward/