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The suspected scheme is reported to be using the image of a flower to entice people. CCPC

People warned about Flower/Leaf pyramid scheme circulating on social media

The scheme appears to be particularly targeting students and younger people.

THE PUBLIC IS being warned about a potential pyramid scheme called the ‘Flower/Leaf’ which is circulating on social media channels in Ireland.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning consumers not to engage with the scheme, which appears to be particularly targeting students and younger people. 

The watchdog said it has been contacted by consumers who have been invited to take part in what they suspect is a pyramid scheme, in which they were encouraged to make an initial investment of €150 and then recruit others to invest.

“They were told that once they recruited more people they would move to the next tier of the model. This supposedly continues until the participant reaches the centre of the model and makes a return on their investment,” the CCPC said.

The particular scheme currently being reported uses the image of a flower and may refer to flowers or petals. It appears that this scheme is targeting students and young people.

Pyramid schemes have existed in many guises for decades. The model works by offering people the opportunity to buy into the scheme and this money then goes to the person above them in the pyramid.

Participants are told they can recoup their investments by recruiting new members to join the scheme below them. Inevitably, the supply of investors runs out, the scheme collapses and the majority of people involved lose their money.

Talking to Neil Prendeville on Cork’s RedFM today a woman shared her experience of being scammed and warned others to be careful.

“Everyone was on about and said they were making money,” she explained.

I didn’t really have €150 to spare, but I chanced it anyway – I didn’t look into it properly or research it. Obviously I sent the money in and it just died, no one was doing it anymore it just stopped.

“I did contact PayPal about it but I don’t know if they can do anything about it. I reached out to the girl who I sent the money to but she actually blocked me and is avoiding me,” she added.

Pyramid schemes are illegal and those who knowingly participate in them are liable for prosecution. 

The CCPC said it is currently investigating this scheme and is warning consumers not to engage with it.

The watchdog urged anyone who is approached to join any kind of pyramid scheme to contact it immediately through its website or its helpline (01 402 5555).

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    Mute Vincent Bickerstaffe
    Favourite Vincent Bickerstaffe
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:39 PM

    If you have to be warned you shouldn’t be allowed to have money to participate..

    613
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    Mute ÓDuibhír Abú
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:35 PM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: A Fool and his Money, are easily parted.

    171
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    Mute Lad
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    Mar 5th 2021, 1:29 AM

    @Vincent Bickerstaffe: it’s 13 years since the crash of the Celtic Tiger. Plenty of young people have money now and never had to learn the lesson that so many others did that time.

    47
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    Mute Sean Nihill
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:42 PM

    I wonder where this Stemmed from

    197
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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Mar 5th 2021, 9:49 AM

    @Sean Nihill: The Egyptians. They first started pyramid schemes about 4,500 years ago.

    59
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    Mute Barry Brady
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    Mar 5th 2021, 11:46 AM

    @Sean Nihill: It needs to be nipped in the bud straight away!!!!!

    13
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    Mute Lien Lynch
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:39 PM

    It sounds like a blooming good idea

    198
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    Mute Martin Scaldbag
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:44 PM

    @Lien Lynch: Get in early, and you will be smelling of roses in no time.

    133
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    Mute Jake Jake
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:21 PM

    @Lien Lynch: Can this pyramid scheme just leaf us alone?!

    46
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    Mute Michal Rozanski
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:37 PM

    @Jake Jake: it’s fairly planted in our lives I’m afraid. Invasive species unfortunately.

    20
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    Mute Asid
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    Mar 5th 2021, 2:52 AM

    @Michal Rozanski: we need to weed out these criminals…

    17
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    Mute Declan Costello
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    Mar 5th 2021, 7:02 AM

    @Lien Lynch: I petal the f00l!

    17
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    Mute Barry Brady
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    Mar 5th 2021, 12:06 PM

    @Asid: Yeah I agree, They need to get to the root of the problem!!!

    4
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    Mute Terry Tibbs
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:06 PM

    I wouldn’t touch one of these schemes, but I do have some magic beans if anyone is interested.

    143
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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:35 PM

    @Terry Tibbs: how much Terry? Or will I just send on a blank cheque? What’s easiest for you?!

    62
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    Mute Gerard McAuliffe
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:55 PM

    If you’re talking about your “investments” or indeed anything at all on the Neil Prendeville show you’re already losing at life

    170
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    Mute Thomas Harrington
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:56 PM

    @Gerard McAuliffe: is it Neil or Niall :)

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    Mute Daniel O'Connor
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    Mar 5th 2021, 7:02 AM

    @Thomas Harrington: https://youtu.be/sPin5LRBfZo 20 seconds in

    5
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    Mute Pat Conway
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:42 PM

    How can anyone fall for scams like that?

    138
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    Mute Daff. Myers
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:39 PM

    @Pat Conway: they’re targeting kids

    24
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    Mute Ronan J Walsh
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:48 PM

    Nothing can ever be positive that contains the word ‘scheme’ .

    75
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    Mute Mick Tobin
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:19 PM

    @Ronan J Walsh: It’s called a sceme because it’s long been classified as such, but the people being scammed are presented with investment and business oppertunities which obfuscate the true nature of what’s going on.

    22
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    Mute Alan Clarke
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    Mar 5th 2021, 6:01 AM

    @Mick Tobin: you can spell obfuscate but not scheme. go figure

    34
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    Mute Gabhán de Brí
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:12 PM

    Some tulips falling for that!

    65
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    Mute Gerard
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:10 PM

    At least it’s honest. They seem to have done very little, if anything at all, to disguise that it’s a pyramid scheme.

    No selling products, or signing people up for subscriptions, or hiding how it works. Just “give us money, then eventually you get money”.

    56
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    Mute In fairness now...
    Favourite In fairness now...
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    Mar 4th 2021, 9:50 PM

    People who get involved in these scams deserve to lose their money.

    69
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    Mute Carol Conway
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:52 PM

    I can’t believe students have a spare €150 nowadays… Y’know what they need? A good ol’ recession! (I jest!)

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    Mute Daff. Myers
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:41 PM

    @Carol Conway: poor feckers have been stuck at home for a year. Their little SUSI grants must be mounting.

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    Mute Maalouf
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    Mar 4th 2021, 10:06 PM

    AH HEEEEYOH LEAF-IH-ROUU!

    30
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    Mute Asid
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    Mar 5th 2021, 2:51 AM

    Our whole system is a pyramid scheme..

    16
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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Mar 5th 2021, 12:06 AM

    I made a few thousand back in the early noughties tru one of these pyramid schemes. And still feel the shame today when I think about it.

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    Mute Melissa OHara
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    Mar 5th 2021, 12:54 AM

    @Paul Gorry: we were the same. Only young engaged couple at the time and encouraged into it by extended family. We didn’t have a clue. Luckily we got money out and those who we got it from were family who were going in a second or third time. I know my mother in law gave back money to ‘investors’ who had given it to her when it collapsed. Boy we were young and impressionable!

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Mar 5th 2021, 1:34 AM

    @Melissa OHara: yeah melissa had the same issues and thankfully had enough money to reimburse family that we’d promised would make a a few Bob. But so sorry for the people that lost a lot of money.

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    Mute Jake Jake
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    Mar 4th 2021, 11:21 PM

    Can this pyramid scheme just leaf us alone?!

    8
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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Mar 5th 2021, 7:12 AM

    Nearly as big a scam as ordering from VikingDirect.ie

    9
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    Mute Barry Brady
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    Mar 5th 2021, 11:49 AM

    Don’t give them your money, the are just pollen your leg!!

    4
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    Mute Barry Brady
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    Mar 5th 2021, 11:45 AM

    I wonder to they Stalk their victims!!!

    3
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