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Have judges or officials caught companies promising sellers guaranteed sales or pay?

Research question: What have regulators and courts found about businesses that promised sellers fixed earnings per sale or guaranteed sales volumes?

The records show that the FTC announced Operation Income Illusion, a sweep with nineteen partners that included more than fifty law enforcement actions, and described its targets as including 'bogus coaching courses' 1. The FTC also proposed requiring sellers of money-making opportunities, including business coaching, to hold written substantiation for earnings claims and provide it to consumers on request 4. In September 2025 the FTC distributed $666,631 to 4,208 consumers harmed by a business-opportunity scheme, roughly $158 each 5. On the court side, a jury deadlocked on fraud-related charges against Marshall Sylver over a money-back guarantee in 2003, a mistrial was declared, and he was never retried or convicted 6. The provided facts do not directly address fixed earnings per sale or guaranteed sales volumes, so this answer is only partial, and the newest fact is dated September 2026, about a month before today 1.

Checked 2026-10-20. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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Sources

[1] supported
The FTC announced Operation Income Illusion, a sweep with nineteen federal, state and local partners that included more than fifty law enforcement actions, and its own description of the targets included 'bogus coaching courses'.
"In December 2020 the Federal Trade Commission announced Operation Income Illusion, a sweep with nineteen federal, state and local partners comprising more than fifty law enforcement actions."
He Sells Courses to $79 , 995 on a Guarantee of Business Success . Neither Website Publishes What a Typical Buyer Earns . (thecherrycreeknews.com, 2026-09)
[2] supported
The document says anti-pyramid and related laws generally require that product sales ultimately reach consumers and that advancement be based on product sales rather than on investments or other non-retail criteria.
"Generally the laws directed at such schemes attempt to ensure that product sales ultimately are made to consumers and that advancement within such sales organizations is based on sales of the enterprise's products"
10-K MARKET AMERICA INC (CIK 0000880121) 2001-07-26
[3] documented
The document lists warning signs of illegal pyramid-type schemes, including claims of huge and quick financial rewards with little or no effort.
"Often such schemes are characterized by large up-front entry or sign-up fees, over-priced products of low value, little or no emphasis on the sale or use of products, high pressure recruiting tactics and claims of huge and quick financial rewards with little or no effort."
10-K MARKET AMERICA INC (CIK 0000880121) 2001-07-26
[4] supported
The FTC proposed requiring sellers of money-making opportunities, including business coaching, to hold written substantiation for earnings claims and provide it to consumers on request.
"Covered sellers would have to hold written substantiation for earnings claims and provide it to consumers on request ."
He Sells Courses to $79 , 995 on a Guarantee of Business Success . Neither Website Publishes What a Typical Buyer Earns . (thecherrycreeknews.com, 2026-09)
[5] supported
In September 2025 the FTC distributed $666,631 to 4,208 consumers harmed by a business-opportunity scheme, roughly $158 each.
"In September 2025 the Commission announced it was distributing $666,631 to 4,208 consumers harmed by a business-opportunity scheme, about $158 each, against a category that sells in the thousands."
He Sells Courses to $79 , 995 on a Guarantee of Business Success . Neither Website Publishes What a Typical Buyer Earns . (thecherrycreeknews.com, 2026-09)
[6] supported
A jury deadlocked on the fraud-related charges against Marshall Sylver over a money-back guarantee in 2003, a mistrial was declared, and he was never retried or convicted.
"After about four days of deliberation the jury deadlocked and District Judge Valorie Vega declared a mistrial. Prosecutors said at the time that a retrial was likely. It never happened."
He Sells Courses to $79 , 995 on a Guarantee of Business Success . Neither Website Publishes What a Typical Buyer Earns . (thecherrycreeknews.com, 2026-09)