If you have not heard by now it’s true, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit Tuesday, June 26th 2016 against the company known as Traffic Monsoon.
U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish granted the restraining order Tuesday evening, freezing the assets of Charles Scoville and Traffic Monsoon, which is sitting on about $60 million in cash in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Traffic Monsoon was started by Charles Scoville in October 2014.
Pictured above Charles Scoville, founder Traffic Monsoon
What is Traffic Monsoon?
According to the company website,
TrafficMonsoon.com is a specialized advertising and revenue sharing company that allows international participation of individuals and groups. Our services provide high quality advertising targeted for people seeking for a way to earn money online along with complete account privacy, top level online security, efficient account management, and a dedicated support team
So basically Traffic Monsoon passes itself off as an online advertising services company.
Traffic Monsoon users purchase “Banner AdPacks” for $50 each and can earn $5 per AdPack in two months — or a return of about 10 percent — if they click on 50 other website ads in any 24-hour period. But clicking on the ads is highly automated and takes about 4 minutes a day, according to the lawsuit.
Scoville is the sole owner of the company and is aware that AdPacks could be considered investments and, therefore, fall under federal law,” the SEC says
Feds say Traffic Monsoon is a $207 million Ponzi scheme
It is estimated to have scammed around 160,000 investors out of $207 million dollars. 90% of Traffic Monsoon’s investors, roughly 145,000, are based outside of the US.
The program appears to be most popular in countries that are also some of the poorest in the world.
Nearly 99 percent of Traffic Monsoon’s revenue comes almost exclusively from the sale of AdPacks purchased by new investors.
Traffic Monsoon has virtually no revenue from any other source.
Because all investor returns are funded through new investor contributions, the company operates as a classic Ponzi scheme.
PayPal froze Traffic Monsoon account – $61 million dollars of invested funds
Paypal seizure was a significant setback for Traffic Monsoon, with the SEC revealing that ‘almost all member funds were kept in PayPal‘.
Despite their current state of affairs, Scoville claimed he’s going to ‘stand up against (the SEC’s) claims in a court of law.”
Despite what has happened there are at least three fundamental lessons we can learn from Traffic Monsoon’s demise:
1) Always research the company, especially the leadership. Read a lot of reviews and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t just jump all in because of the initial hype!
2) Examine the company product/services, what makes it unique?
3) Make sure the company compensation or pay plan is sound. Be suspicious if they pay commissions primarily on the recruitment of new affiliates.
NOTE: Traffic Monsoon’s revenue generation relied primarily on the sale of AdPacks by investors and all investor returns were funded through new investor contributions, the company operates as a classic Ponzi scheme.
Traffic Monsoon is a great example of why it is important to brand YOURSELF and not the company you are affiliated with!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Revenue sharing and network marketing companies come and go all the time, just like many brick and mortar small businesses do but what I find especially disturbing with this development is the amount of people that were involved overseas and will be adversely affected by Traffic Monsoon being their first make money online or from home experience.
If you were promoting Traffic Monsoon please keep your head up and do not let this minor stumbling block quench your entrepreneurial spirit and keep you from pursing your dreams of financial freedom.
To Your Success!
P.S. Check out my RESOURCES Page to see the programs I recommend and tools I use to generate 20-50 new leads a day!
Your comments are welcomed below, and if you promote Traffic Monsoon IBO please share your experiences.
