There are also pyramid schemes, which can look a lot like multi-level marketing, but are illegal. According to the Better Business Bureau, there are ways to spot the difference.

Pyramid schemesfocus on making quick profits that are earned by selling the right to recruit others. The entire purpose of the scheme is to get your money upfront.

So the story that we've been telling in the U.S. for several decades by this point, that there are pyramid schemes and there's legitimate multi-level marketing—right away that broke down for me.