5 Famous Pyramid Scheme Companies in US History

4. Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing

Ceased Operations: 2013

Founded in 2001, Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing was a Lexington, Kentucky-based company that used a multi-level marketing approach to sell consumer goods and services. However, in 2013 the Federal Trade Commission and regulators for three states took action against the company for being a pyramid scheme, ultimately shutting it down.

Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing used multi-level marketing to recruit representatives to sell a variety of retail services and products. The company had a sign up fees that ranged between $99 and $299. The representatives were paid a commission and bonuses for recruiting more representatives. The products sold by the company had low-profit margins, and representatives were paid a commission between 0.25% and 1%. The company sold a variety of products including mobile phones, Dish Network TV, and hair-care products, among others.