Infiltrating a multi-level marketing network claiming to cure all diseases with 'quantum energy'

“Energy cures all diseases?”

In recent months, on social media sites, an electronic application called Limbic Arc or InfoBoosts has been widely advertised, attracting many participants. This application is advertised as being able to cure many diseases, even for people with Covid-19 - a pandemic that is shaking the whole world.

It took Nghe An Newspaper reporters many days to infiltrate this network. Posing as a person with colon disease, we were proactively approached by Chien (from Ha Tinh), the leader of a zalo chat group with hundreds of members interested in this application. After hearing us briefly describe his illness, Chien said that he also had severe colon disease, and had used many types of medicine and functional foods but they were still ineffective. However, after using the Limbic Arc application, in less than a month, the disease was completely cured.

A woman from Nghe An advertises a quantum energy healing application to attract more members. Photo: TH

In particular, the treatment method of this line is not the same as usual. No need for medical examination, no need to take medicine, no need to apply, no need to hold. Accordingly, after agreeing to participate, the patient will provide some personal information to create an account on the application. The patient then calls the person who invited him to join the line and reads a paragraph according to the available template. Through voice, the Limbic Arc application will give the results of what active ingredients this person is lacking in the body, what disease he has, and then start advising to buy packages. Each package will cost 480,000 VND/month.

After agreeing to buy, the patient does not receive any medicine or functional food, but is granted permission to activate the application via phone. The patient then only needs to sit in front of the phone to receive “quantum energy transmission”, and the disease will automatically be cured. “It’s amazing. No need to take medicine, no need to go to the hospital. Just receive energy transmission and you will be cured,” Chien said excitedly.

This woman brags that she was paralyzed but thanks to this treatment she can walk again? Photo: TH

In addition, Chien also boasted that treating diseases with quantum energy is a treatment method using American technology, a technology ahead of its time, the most advanced technology product today. Although it has only been introduced to Vietnam for 6 months, this line has about 20,000 participants. Of which, Nghe An is a province with a large number of members.

To lure their “prey,” these members often film short videos, called “living witnesses” who have recovered from the disease thanks to the Limbic Arc application. In the videos, these people express their gratitude to the person who introduced them as well as the founder, and share their spectacular recovery. Those who are hesitant will be put into zalo chat groups. There, they are guided to join zoom rooms to listen to key members entice and persuade them. “It’s amazing. It’s miraculous. Not only am I cured, but I also bring value to many people around me. Everyone is grateful,” said a woman named Vu Hue from Nghe An in the promotional video for this line.

In the chat groups that reporters accessed, key members of this network continuously advertised that the application could cure all kinds of diseases. From joints, diabetes, blood pressure, stomach, colon, hemorrhoids, dermatitis, insomnia, pain, cancer, or Covid-19. Even children addicted to games, cigarettes, drugs, or not concentrating on studying... could be cured. Just pay to register for the application, if you want to rejuvenate your body, have beautiful skin, and a beautiful figure, that's fine. The "prey" are mainly the elderly.

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An advertisement that was widely shared in chat groups. Photo: TH

“I had Covid-19, but after just transmitting energy, I was cured the same day. I feel much healthier,” a woman said in a promotional video for the app. Another person said that she was previously paralyzed and could not walk, had a slurred speech, stuck words, and had difficulty pronouncing words… but after 10 days of using Limbic Arc technology, the transmission of quantum energy helped her walk on her own two feet, speak in long sentences, without sticking words, and pronounce clearly. Another person said that she was previously blind, but after 2 months of receiving energy, her eyes were clear again?

People need to be vigilant

According to the reporter's investigation, this network operates according to a multi-level model. Accordingly, if a member invites 100 people to join, he will be promoted to a star and receive 2,500 USD/week. Each time he invites 100 more people, he will be promoted to 1 star, the bonus will increase to 5,000 USD/week. The highest level is 5 stars when inviting 500 people, the amount of money received will be 20,000 USD/week. The more people a member invites, the higher the bonus.

In the chat groups, the person introduced as the founder of this technology is Mr. Vaughn Cook, from the US. In the videos, he explains how to cure diseases with quantum energy in a very vague way. Accordingly, quantum medicine is a part of the biological energy in humans, helping to balance and protect the physical and mental health of humans throughout life. For various reasons, this energy flow is disturbed, losing balance, causing diseases to develop. And the Limbic Arc application invented by him will help people connect and interact with this energy source in their bodies to adjust, correct, and restore that balance. When the energy source is balanced, the body will be healthy again?

Inside a Zoom room. The "prey" targeted by this ring are mainly elderly people suffering from illness. Photo: TH

However, according to medical experts, this treatment method has not been verified, recognized by any medical system, or used to treat patients.

In the face of the bustling operation of the network, openly attracting people, the Department of Competition and Consumer Protection (Ministry of Industry and Trade) has recently issued a warning. Accordingly, this unit has recorded information and documents on the Internet about a number of organizations and individuals inviting people to use an electronic application called Limbic Arc or InfoBoosts. This application is introduced by the subjects as quantum energy technology and proactive health care technology of the new era with many healing effects, including effects on Covid-19 patients. In addition to the healing effects, these subjects introduce participants to invite other members to enjoy commission benefits according to the multi-level model.

The man believed to be the founder of Limbic Arc. Photo: TH

Up to now, the Department of Competition and Consumer Protection has not issued a certificate of registration for multi-level marketing activities to any enterprise or organization named Limbic Arc or Infoboosts mentioned above according to the provisions of Decree 40/2018/ND-CP dated March 12, 2018 of the Government on management of multi-level marketing activities. Therefore, the above organizations and individuals have signs of conducting multi-level marketing business without being granted a certificate of registration for multi-level marketing activities and may be subject to criminal prosecution with a fine of up to VND 5 billion or 5 years in prison (Article 217a, Penal Code 2015 amended in 2017).

Therefore, the Department of Competition and Consumer Protection warns people.should notParticipate in using and inviting others to participate in using products and applications by "word of mouth" to treat diseases without a clear scientific basis to avoid health damage and loss of opportunities for proper treatment.Should notParticipate in activities that show signs of illegal multi-level marketing as mentioned above to minimize risks and material and legal damages.

Article 217a of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017) stipulates the following penalty frameworks:

- Offenders may be fined from VND 500,000,000 to under VND 1,000,000,000, subject to non-custodial reform for up to 03 years or imprisonment from 06 months to 02 years.

- The offender may be fined from VND 1,000,000,000 to less than VND 5,000,000,000, or imprisoned from 01 year to 05 years if one of the following aggravating circumstances is satisfied:

1. Illegal profits of VND 1,000,000,000 or more;

2. Causing damage to others of VND 1,500,000,000 or more;

3. Network size of participants 100 people or more.

The offender may also be subject to additional penalties of a fine from VND 100,000,000 to VND 500,000,000, and a ban from practicing a profession or doing certain jobs from 01 to 05 years.