Esquemas promocionales en pirámide; delitos y contratos nulos

Explicación Simple

Los esquemas piramidales son como un juego donde ganas dinero solo si traes a más personas al juego. Es ilegal porque hace que las ganancias vengan de la entrada de nuevos participantes, no de vender productos reales.

Es como si un grupo de amigos en una fiesta solo pudiera ganar bocadillos si traen a más amigos a la fiesta, en lugar de compartir la comida que ya tienen.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana se une a un grupo donde paga $100 para participar. A medida que trae a más amigos, le prometen una parte del dinero que ellos también paguen. Esto es un esquema piramidal y, si la policía lo descubre, Ana puede enfrentar problemas legales.

Penalidades

Participar en un esquema piramidal es un delito menor en Virginia, con posibles sanciones legales.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 18.2-239 - Pyramid promotional schemes; misdemeanor; definitions; contracts void. Every person who contrives, prepares, sets up, operates, advertises or promotes any pyramid promotional scheme shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For the purposes of this section: (1) "Compensation" means the transfer of money or anything of value. "Compensation" does not mean payment based on sales of goods or services to persons who are not participants in the scheme and who are not purchasing in order to participate in the scheme; (2) "Consideration" means the payment of cash or the purchase of goods, services, or intangible property; (3) "Promotes" means inducing one or more other persons to become a participant; and (4) "Pyramid promotional scheme" means any plan or operation by which a person gives consideration for the opportunity to receive compensation a majority of which is derived from the introduction of other persons into the plan or operation rather than from the sale or consumption of goods, services, or intangible property by a participant or other persons introduced into the plan or operation. All contracts and agreements, now existing or hereafter formed, whereof the whole or any part of the consideration is given for the right to participate in pyramid promotional scheme programs, are against public policy, void and unenforceable. Any violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a prohibited practice under the provisions of § 59.1-200 and shall be subject to any and all of the enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.). Code 1950, §§ 59.1-67.1, 59.1-67.2; 1970, c. 450; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 2008, cc. 791 , 842 .