Uncovering the Skeletons of the Thrive Learning LLC Scam

Thrive Learning LLC Died With Scam Skeletons in its Closets.

(photo: Jan)

By far the largest complaint (second only to the ripoffs) is how Thrive Learning made so many blogs and complaints just disappear from the Web.

Reportedly, it's been when the individuals got their refund paid and the check cleared.

Digging around (and nothing ever really leaves the Internet) I found  these collections of an old site called stop-telemarketers.blogspot.com (its back up now, but without the original data.)

I found a copy of "Scammer Jammer" and "Utah: Internet Scam Capitol of the World".

There's also a cover:

Here's the links:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5AYlZ41aftpN01DR081T0pfMjA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5AYlZ41aftpRVlIUVBwajFlOTA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5AYlZ41aftpUXk0MndpRG9iS0E/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5AYlZ41aftpbENWU2s2MTVBdXc/view?usp=sharing

What you'll find there is one person using the tools he knew - online researching - to dig up how and why he got scammed, as well as how to get his money back. (Of course, he had some help from all of you out there, particularly the mysterious "JoeBlow2000".)

One of these is the missing blog posts - his whole timeline up to the point of his refund. Sometime after that, the blog disappeared for awhile - then showed up without the posts. This is very possibly the most complete recovery of that data available. (The Wayback Machine has a few scintillating scrapes.)

You'll also be able to see why Thrive Learning wanted this book banned - and all copies destroyed. It tells exactly why those certain refund steps are very effective. I understand that everyone this author helped directly got their refund - 100%. (Of course, Thrive sued his a** to get him to stop...) There's a possibility I can contact the author to get the paperback available in print again, if you want a copy...

So now you can read the history of this Thrive Learning mess - how it started, how the people in charge were paying the then Utah AG Shurtleff to look the other way, how a few dedicated people took the necessary steps to get the government to actually do what they were supposed to be doing - in spite of personal danger from Thrive's in-house lawyers.

There is a chance that what is covered in these books can be used to straighten out other Internet scams ongoing. I see that this pattern is still continuing with other companies. Maybe we have more work to do?

Do what you want with these. Or buy the guy's books.

It's all over to you. Thrive Learning is history - or at least that chapter of it...

Related articles

• The final lessons - can a man-eating tiger ever change its stripes?

Thrive Learning Institute Has Given Up!

(photo: You Win! I Surrender! by Gloson Teh)

Just checked in on both thriveli.com and thrivelearninginstitute.com - seems now they just redirect to some sort of coaching access. So these sites don't come up on Google's front page at all now.

Even their Facebook page is blank. So Google now just serves up complaint boards for them.

Seems 2010 was their death-knell year. No more videos or anything else after that. The September order from Utah State did something -- thanks to all of you who helped.

Hope to see you all around in better circumstances - like finding some honest training companies.

I've got my eye on a few - hope to get active again and bring them to you...

[Update: A bit premature. BBB has ongoing complaints as of 2013 against Thrive and their satellite offices (http://www.bbb.org/arkansas/business-reviews/work-at-home-companies/focus-worldwide-in-beaverton-or-90235211) Do your own research.]

REFUNDS ARE HAPPENING!

People are receiving refunds! So if you are feeling discouraged - STOP. Just regroup and keep working toward your goal. Remember - Thrive and their sales people know they are in the wrong. You just need to keep letting the Utah Consumer Protection department know about it. They will do their best for you.

Sign the petition if you haven't done so!

If you are wondering about blogs and statements on the forums that have been taken down - know it was part of the deal to get their money back.

Thrive is still trying to stop all the bad publicity. Problem is for Thrive - when one goes down - another picks up the torch.

There are a lot of people out there still feeling the sting from Thrives sales bee's.

Encourage others! United we can stand together and will be strong. :)

Related articles

• Thrive Learning Institute Has Given Up!