I fell victim to this scam known as Primerica. It all started one day when an unknown number called my cell phone and left me a voicemail. I listened to the voicemail and couldn't even hardly make out the name of the company from which the guy said he was calling. In the voicemail, he asked if I was still looking for employment.
As a recent college graduate desperate to find a job in this sluggish economy, I gladly called back and set up an interview. So I met with the guy who was to become my "field trainer" or whatever and he explained to me what I would be doing, and as a journalism major in college, I hadn't the slightest clue or interest in selling insurance, which is what I got out of the interview, but desperate to work, I agreed to a second interview, and the really weird part is that he asked me if I wanted to meet at the local office or if I wanted him to come to my house (strange).

I always felt really pressured when I met with him, and I found it strange the way he always had me write down names of people who I knew. He told me that there was a $99 fee but that if I didn't have it, I could do a "scholarship" program to where I go with my field trainer on three "successful" interviews with prospective buyers/victims in my "warm market" (people close to me - friends and family) to waive the $99 fee, which is what I chose to do.

So we went on several interviews to houses of people who I knew and the whole process just seemed a little strange to me. I found it weird how I wasn't participating (I would just sit at the kitchen table watching him explain all this information to my friends who were just as confused as me) and how he always left papers with everyone and asked them to fill out names of people who they knew. Even to customers who didn't or wasn't interested in the whole process, he would constantly call me and ask if I had gotten the list of names. Finally after the third client, my field trainer just stopped calling me and that's when I knew that I had been scammed. I could tell from the beginning that it was a little strange and didn't seem like a real job, but being the desperate unemployed college graduate that I am, I accepted.

I feel absolutely embarrassed to have to tell my friends that it was a scam and I am constantly apologizing to them for putting them through this and for giving out their personal financial information to these crooks at Primerica. These cronies are a weird bunch as well. My field trainer told me that I needed to go to the weekly meetings which were every Tuesday night and this was during the summer and Tuesday nights were volleyball nights for me so I rarely showed up and just made excuses as to why I wasn't there.

The few meetings that I went to were absolute repeats of one another. The same people got up in the same order and talked about the same old stuff - about how great Primerica was and how it's changed their lives, etc. I spent the entire time asking myself, "What am I doing here with these scammers?" To top it off, my field trainer told me that I needed to go to a regional meeting in St. Louis, which was the biggest joke and waste of time of my entire life.

All of these Primerica people are the most brainwashed and ridiculous-acting people I've ever met. I thought to myself that it was just a big cult.  Their phony postings here and elsewere, along with countless fake blogs and websites are indicative of the caliber of mediocrities that this organiziation attracts, and should be a red flag to any potential recruits or customers. To anyone who comes into contact with these people, I would say hang up the phone or slam the door immediately before they lure you in before it's too late. I made no money but lost no money either - only thing I lost was some respect among my friends and a great deal of time that I could have spent looking for other jobs.

Julia, thank you for standing your ground. Mister Grossman's threats I hope serve to strengthen your great resolve in creating this place for the harassed to share their experiences.

They tried to get me as well.  Primerica preys on the naive and the disadvantaged - students, immigrants, the chronically unemployed - with empty promises of "big money" and "financial independence."

The reality is that recruits are simply used as tools to gain access to their circle of contacts. After collecting enrollment fees from you and bilking what they can from your friends and relatives they move on to the next stooge.  I had a big laugh when I read that the average annual income of one of their grunts was barely over $5000/year, about one quarter what you would earn making minimum wage at a fast food restaurant -

http://www.primerica.com/public/primerica_disclosures.html

The chance of your life? You are definitely a very close-minded person to assume that. "Quixtar is a multi-level marketing company that sells SOAP and TOOTHRBURSHES!!" Wake up buddy, Primerica is a multi-level marketing company that sells INSURANCE and FINANCIAL SERVICES. Please point out to me where the big difference is. It is not irrelevant as the same basic principles which applied to AmWay/Quixtar apply to other MLM schemes. I advise any and all people to beware of MLM companies, whether they are backed by Citigroup or AmWay. Citi is in the business of making money, Primerica yielded a profit of $544M, it is obvious that it is making money. The difference is WHO is making the money. The "independent representatives" (read: "Independent Business Owners" in Quixtar speak) are not the ones making money. If you've booked an interview - don't worry, you're already hired. Why? Because you are a customer to them, not an employee. As will be everyone that you refer. I can definitely see that you are a hardworking and self-motivated person (read: unemployed?) and it is a scary thought to think that you have a mortgage and a family of three while living on the hopes and dreams of some "amazing" financial freedom that you think a job that requires no experience may yield you. I pity your children, for if my father spoke with the immaturity of you it would be a sad day of reckoning when I saw him for the failure that you are. I was previously a manager for the world's largest consumer packaged goods company, a $100B MNC that has work ten-fold that of your precious Primerica. I currently work in marketing for one of the world's largest internet companies, with the second-most visited site and largest e-mail host in the internet. To think that you would call me a pety "20 year old... living off my parent's dime!!" speaks volumes about the types of people that Primerica is looking for to sell financial services. I would bet you think CFA stands for Corn Flakes 'n Applejuice. Attacks on my character are unwarranted. Get the facts before you try do so, and for the sake of your children at least get some outside information on what you speak before preaching your garbage to the vulnerable of the internet.

Received a call from this number today, the guy said his name was Tal Grossman and he was calling from Primerica and then he said Citi Group.  He said they have job available in the finance department for someone with no finance experience (weird)! Then he said "I don't think you have finance experience", when I actually do have a lot of finance experience, but he did know my name and my number, so I think he got it from workopolis or something like that.He talk really fast.He called me last year and did the same sales pitch.My friend went to the interview and said its a company that tries to lure you in for insurance sales.I asked him if it was sales and he said no.  Oh well I'm not going to this stupid interview, waste of time.

Mel -

If you were asked to pay a fee for this "job" then told it could not be refunded, you should file a complaint with the Ontario Securities Commission:

http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/en/Investors_questions-complaints_index.htm

Online complaint.