A mysterious group that calls out to people on the street and asks them to exchange contact information. We received information that a person in the group called "master" was selling malicious products. We followed up on the truth. The accusation was made by a woman who belonged to a certain "group." An email received by TBS Insiders read, "This group does not have an official name, but is known online as a business group. They call out to ordinary people in public places such as stations and exchange contact information." Based on the information received, we went out to the city to interview them... ■A mysterious group that calls out to people on the street What is a "business group"? N-Sta: "They're calling out to people... Are they taking out their cell phones and exchanging contact information?" A group of two people calling out to people on the street. After a while, they gather in one place, change pairs, and call out to people again. On this day, the people who were called out were asked to tell them about recommended stores in the neighborhood and asked to exchange contact information. ■ They claim they approach people as a hobby "They ask about their dreams and stir up anxiety" When we spoke directly to the people who approach people... N-Station: "This is TBS, what have you been calling out to for a while now?" Calling group: "It's just a hobby" The mysterious group said they approach people as a hobby. Audio of the exchange was recorded in a video filmed by a former member of the group in June last year. Video of a man calling out to people in the street: "Do you like alcohol? Beer gardens are nice. We hold events and workshops and we all get along well, can I invite you?" The group invites people to drinking parties and the like under the pretext of "making friends". What do they do at drinking parties and the like? A former member of the group testified. A former male member of the group said, "First, we find out what kind of income they want to achieve and what their dreams are. For example, do they want to live in a big house, how many children they want, how many cars they want. We say that it's difficult to make money the way things are now, so if they start their own business, they might be able to get closer to their dreams." Nsta: "So you're asking about their anxieties and worries?" A former male member of the group: "Yes. Sometimes we stir up anxiety." At drinking parties, the group will ask people to study to start a business, starting with the topic of income. ■Business teaching seminar from the master: "The master's word is absolute" A scene from the seminar, where members from all over the country gather. According to several former members, the group now has more than 3,000 members, as each member continues to recruit others. They are divided into several groups called teams, and as apprentices, they learn business from the heads of each team and the master. As a self-investment, the apprentices are required to buy beauty products such as shampoo and treatment at the master's store for 150,000 yen per month. Why can't the disciples refuse to buy things? A former male member of the group said, "The teaching is that 'what the master says is absolute,' so they believe that if they do what they are told by an absolute being (the master), they will be successful. It made them feel that (calling out to others and purchasing their products) would lead to success." The master runs a number of businesses. He is believed to earn hundreds of millions of yen a year and is considered an absolute being. The disciples are also tasked with recruiting members, and if they can gather 50 people, they can become the master. At the group's nationwide seminar, one of the masters said the following... An interview with a woman known as "the Master": "I realized the value of this team building (encouraging people to join forces) and started working hard, and I've been running my business based on that foundation for 15 years now. I'm already going really well, and my annual income is probably more than ten times what it was when I was a company employee. I'm making quite a bit of money." "Everyone can do it. I'm convinced that anyone can change if they decide to learn in this team, work hard together, and work together to achieve results." ■ Monthly payments of 1.3 million yen result in large debts, and violence from the Master However, there are quotas for recruiting members, and he says he has to buy beauty products for the people he couldn't recruit. The woman said she was saddled with a large amount of debt and left both physically and mentally exhausted. A former female member of the group said, "At my peak, I paid 1.3 million yen a month. At first, I paid from my savings, and he told me, 'When you run out of savings, get as many credit cards as you can,' so I don't know how many I made. I just thought about how to get the money to buy the products... that was all I could think about." The former female member of the group continued to buy from him every month for eight years, spending more than 15 million yen. When she asked to leave, the master's attitude changed completely. A former female member of the group said, "When I thought about quitting the group and said, 'I want to quit,' he would punch me in the face, regardless of gender, so I couldn't resist. He said, 'I'm going to sue you for 10 to 15 million yen in damages.' He made me write my parent's address, name, and phone number on a piece of paper and said, 'If you quit, I'll sue you for damages here.'" She was assaulted by her master, who punched her in the face multiple times, and eventually she ran away from the group and went into hiding. ■ Malicious pyramid schemes The act of recruiting people without disclosing that the purpose is to sell products is regulated by law, and experts point out that this constitutes malicious pyramid schemes. "The Act on Specified Commercial Transactions clearly states that 'soliciting while concealing the purpose of sales is illegal.' The method of mind-controlling the other person to make them give money without them realizing it is illegal, and claims for damages are allowed, so I think there is a possibility that it could develop into a civil illegality issue." ■ Direct interview with the "master": The beauty product manufacturer says it has nothing to do with the group The manufacturer of the beauty products sold at the master's store responded to an interview that it has nothing to do with the group, and that it will take action such as suspending transactions if there is any illegal activity. We decided to talk directly to the master of one of the teams. N-Station: "This is TBS." A man called "master": "Hey, what is it? Can you not film us? Wait, what is it?" N-Station: "Is it true that you are making your members purchase products for 150,000 yen every month?" A man called "master": "Can you not film us without our permission?" Several former members are now preparing to sue their respective masters for damages. (6th, 18:59) #maliciousmulti-levelmarketing #N-Station #investigativereporting #news #newsdig #tbsnews #tbs ▼TBS NEWS Official Website https://news.tbs.co.jp/index.html ▼TBS NEWS Official Social Media ◇Twitter https://twitter.com/tbs_news?s=20 ◇Facebook / tbsnews ◇note https://note.com/tbsnews ◇TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tbsnews?lang=ja ◇instagram / tbsnews_insta ▼Please subscribe to our channel! http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6AG8... ▼Information provided by "TBS Insiders" https://news.tbs.co.jp/newsi_sp/tbs-i... ▼Video provided by "TBS Scoop Post" https://news.tbs.co.jp/newsi_sp/toukou/