Women in regional Australia lured into financial ‘freedom’ through water ioniser MLM scheme (ABC News Investigation)

Are you a woman living in regional Australia looking for financial freedom? Have you considered joining a multi-level marketing scheme selling water ionisers? If so, you’re not alone. Many women like Kate*, a single mum from outback Queensland, have been enticed by the promise of a six-figure salary and a life of financial freedom.

Kate stumbled upon a post on social media that led her to join the Rural Freedom Movement, a community of rural people seeking to create an online income and build a legacy for their future. The movement is tied to a Japanese company called Enagic, which sells Kangen alkaline water ionizers and filtration machines. These machines are marketed as creating “water with more antioxidants,” but there is little scientific evidence to support these claims.

Kate, like many others, was encouraged to sign up for the scheme by purchasing a water ionizer and other products, totaling around $6,500. She was promised that she could make her money back by selling the products and recruiting others to join the scheme. However, as Kate soon realized, making a profit from the scheme was not as easy as it seemed.

The scheme, run by top Enagic distributors like Kristie Ord and Clint Morgan, promises financial success and a life of freedom. They offer training resources through The Freedom Era, a paid subscription service that provides tools for affiliate marketing success. However, the reality is that very few distributors actually make a significant income from selling the products.

The question of whether multi-level marketing schemes like Enagic are legal or operate as illegal pyramid schemes is a complex one. While MLMs are legal, the line between a legitimate MLM and a pyramid scheme can be blurry. According to experts, the vast majority of participants in MLMs do not make a profit, and the promises of financial success are often exaggerated.

Kate, like many others, is still paying off her debt to Enagic and has not made her money back. She realized that the scheme was not the solution she was looking for and has since distanced herself from it.

If you are considering joining a multi-level marketing scheme like the one offered by Enagic, it’s essential to do your research and understand the risks involved. While the promise of financial freedom may be enticing, the reality is that very few people actually achieve success in these schemes.

*Name has been changed

Credits:
Reporters: Nathan Morris and Andy Burns
Story editor: Charlotte King
Illustrations: Lindsay Dunbar
Digital production: Nathan Morris