On April 24, AARP published an article titled "19 Jobs You Can Do Without Leaving the House," which included a recommendation for a "Negotiator" role with Viv, a company operating under Path One Group. This job, aimed at homebound seniors seeking income during the COVID-19 pandemic, appears tied to a recruitment-based scheme.
AARP describes its mission as empowering people to choose how they live as they age. The non-profit charges $16 annually for membership, providing access to financial services, employment resources, community programs, shopping perks, health guidance, and insurance options. Its website offers extensive content for both members and non-members.
The pandemic created an urgent need for income solutions, particularly for retirees, a group highly vulnerable to the virus. AARP responded with articles like the one written by Stacy Rapacon, a freelance personal finance writer based in New York. Most of Rapacon's suggestions for remote work seemed appropriate, such as mock juror positions. But a reader flagged the twelfth suggestion, "Negotiator."
The job description presented by AARP initially looked harmless. Viv, a technology company operating under Path One Group, claimed to help individuals lower monthly bills for services like cable, cellphones, internet, and other utilities. The company sought negotiators to haggle with providers such as Comcast and Verizon. Recruiters advertised full-time and part-time negotiators could earn $50,000 to $75,000 annually, with potential for higher earnings based on performance. Average hourly pay was listed between $17 and $25.
The negotiator role itself, involving calls to utility providers for clients, is legitimate work. The issue rests with Viv's operational structure. The negotiator service is sold through "Pro Memberships." These memberships are required to qualify for any commissions paid through Viv's multi-level marketing (MLM) side. This arrangement encourages individuals to sign up as Pro Members, then recruit others to do the same, generating income from recruitment rather than solely from the negotiation service. Such a setup meets the definition of a pyramid scheme under Federal Trade Commission guidelines.
AARP did not directly promote the pyramid scheme itself. But the organization's editorial oversight policy for promoting third-party companies raises questions. A retiree following AARP's recommendation could accept a negotiator position, then face pressure to join the recruitment-based Pro Membership side. This could lead to significant financial harm for seniors already struggling to make ends meet.
Readers reported additional problems with the Viv recommendation. One job listing link triggered a "dangerous web page" security warning. After Rapacon's article went live, Viv's entire company website vanished. Other individuals reported handing over personal information, only to be rejected for positions still advertised as open, despite meeting the stated qualifications.
One commenter on the article expressed frustration, writing, "Who is writing this nonsense? So far, not overly impressed with this new membership." This incident underscores the need for AARP to rigorously vet companies it promotes to vulnerable populations, especially during a crisis.