Zeek Rewards and its Zeekler penny auction platform ceased operations this week, just over a week after the North Carolina Attorney General's Office confirmed an investigation into the company's business model. The abrupt shutdown followed demands for information from the state regulator, raising concerns about the scheme's viability.
As of publication, only Rex Ventures' "Zeek Rewards News" blog and "Shopping Daisy" remained online. The Zeek Rewards Facebook page also continued to operate, but administrators intensified efforts to block complaints. Affiliates reported their comments were deleted and their accounts banned from the group.
Troubles for Zeek Rewards became public on Monday with the sudden cancellation of all "training, recruitment or leadership calls." The company cited "planning" as the reason but offered no details. Troy Dooly from MLMHelpdesk, listed as an official Zeek Rewards "Training Consultant," had recently assured participants that the next "Red Carpet" event was still on track for the following week, despite the NC AG's announced inquiry.
This changed today. Zeek Rewards announced the cancellation of "Red Carpet Wednesday," originally scheduled for August 22, 2012. A similar message appeared on the official Zeek Rewards support forum, warning affiliates that "No Posts regarding this will be entertained." Shortly after this communication, reports emerged that Zeek Rewards' North Carolina offices had closed.
Accounts from the Zeek headquarters suggest that around 2:30 PM local time, someone was seen changing the office locks. Employees were also observed exiting the building through a back door, carrying boxes of office supplies. Unconfirmed reports indicated that Zeek Rewards employees had been fired. Some North Carolina residents suggested that the Federal Bureau of Investigation might have been involved in the office closure.
The North Carolina Attorney General's office has not released any official information regarding these events as of publication time.