WorldVentures

December 2020: This case was automatically stayed pending the company’s bankruptcy proceedings.

November 2020: The Court was notified that the arbitrator clarified the arbitration award. The judge then reopened the case pursuant to the September 2020 order and plaintiffs filed a Renewed First Amended Complaint that adds recent statements from the FTC regarding pyramid schemes.

September 2020: A federal judge sent the case back to the arbitrator asking for clarification regarding his findings.

November 2019: Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint bringing similar allegations.

October 2019: An arbitrator dismissed the arbitration concluding that the arbitration agreement was illusory. Later in the month, a federal judge granted the parties’ motion to lift the stay and reopen the case.

September 2018: A federal judge stayed this action and administratively closed the case pending the outcome of arbitration.

August 2017: The case was transferred from a court in California to one in Texas. (Yiru v. WorldVentures, Case No. 17-cv-2155, N.D. Tex.)

June 2017: The case was transferred to federal court. (Yiru et al v. WorldVentures, Case No. 17-cv-4357, C.D. Cal.)

May 2017: A class-action lawsuit was filed against WorldVentures, a website that compiles and sells travel packages, for allegedly operating an illegal pyramid scheme. According to the complaint, WorldVentures representatives are rewarded for recruiting others to join instead of sales of travel packages and do not make as much money as the company promises. (Yiru et al v. WorldVentures Holdings, LLC et al, Case No. BC659422, California Superior Court – County of Los Angeles)

For more information about TINA.org’s coverage of MLMs and pyramid schemes, click here.