Most Americans see multi-level marketing as misleading or a scam
Core finding
About six-in-ten Americans (62%) say multi-level marketing is either misleading about its earnings potential or an outright scam, including 28% who call it a scam or pyramid scheme designed to exploit participants, according to an April 2025 Verasight survey.
The remainder splits between ambivalence and approval: 18% think the model has both benefits and risks depending on the situation, 12% call it a fair and legitimate way to earn money, and 7% see it as an opportunity for empowerment for those willing to work hard.
Topline distribution
Most Americans see multi-level marketing as misleading or a scam.
Which of the following statements best describes your views of multi-level marketing?
n = 1,000 · Apr 9–15, 2025 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Apr 9–15, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | policy |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-mpsa-2025.tiiny.co
Which of the following statements best describes your views of multi-level marketing?
Cite this question
Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2025-026, fielded April 9-15, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.