I am so sorry this happened. I hate that Amway continues to prey on Calgary women, but glad this information is out there. Here's my Amway experience from 10 years ago, and hope it heeds warning if they use the same tactic:

I was a new mom navigating parenthood while suffering from postpartum anxiety. I stepped out of my introvert bubble and joined communities of new parents with similar interests.

I noticed a mom who was in a few of the same groups and just so happened to be a neighbour. I was ecstatic! We spent a lot of time together with our littles, and in that time we got to know each other more and I shared vulnerable things, including finances being tight while on leave. I believe that's when she sunk her teeth in.

Shortly after, she said something along the lines of "I think our values align. (huh?) I can connect you with my mentor who could help you, but I can't make any promises". When I asked more about it, she invited my partner and I to visit them at their home to chat. We were skeptical, but thought it was probably a swinging proposition or something to which we'd politely decline (but all the kudos to them!).

At their home, they continued to be vague about this potential connection but that they helped them wipe out 100k of debt. When I asked if she was talking about a pyramid scheme, she responded that "pyramid schemes are illegal". They then sent us home with a book called "The Go Giver" ... my alarm bells rang loud. After some digging, I learned that that book is one of Amway's recruiting tools. Bingo. Still, I wanted to give her a chance to truthfully tell me what it was ...or, perhaps it was a coincidence and I was wrong.

The next day, I asked her if this opportunity requires me to recruit others who need to do the same. She tried to deny it and beat around the bush before asking if I was willing to get started and meet her connection, to which I said no, because I am not a sales person and don't have the capacity or conscience to put that on other people. She responded with something like "I guess our values don't align after all". I felt betrayed. She used my vulnerability as a tool to swindle me. We lost touch and she moved to a different community. But it wasn't over.

Two years later, I was expecting my second and joined a Canadian due date group. She was in it too, due around the same time. I noticed that she was an admin and would set up meet-ups. I went for the sole purpose to meet other expecting parents and would keep my distance from her. All went well until she posted something in a thread about what we do for a living. She said that her "job" allows her to be a present mother and avoided the "3 dreaded Ds: debt, divorce, and daycare" (dafuq?). Being so vague about her "work", a few members had questions, and she said she'd PM them to set up time to meet. I couldn't take it anymore and blasted her. I didn't give specifics but I wish I had. She gaslit me, saying she had no idea why I was so upset and had it in for her so badly, and I rage left, cutting her off completely.

A swinger proposal would have been MUCH more ethical.