Ashneh Teleservices Pvt. Ltd. launched FacePayBook, an MLM social network, in August 2012. The company claimed users could earn money while socializing, aiming to replicate the evident success of platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
The FacePayBook website identifies "Ashneh Teleservices Pvt. Ltd." as the operator. This entity describes itself as a "Leading VOIP service provider worldwide." Yet, no independent information about Ashneh Teleservices exists online outside of the FacePayBook site. The company also declared an intent to "leave all the existing social networking platforms far behind in a very short span." The domain facepaybook.com was registered on August 8, 2012. Its registration details remain private, obscuring the true owners or administrators. This lack of transparency often signals caution for potential participants.
FacePayBook does not offer any distinct retail products or services. Its primary appeal rests on the idea of being the "first time in the history of social networking" where individuals can "earn while you socialize on internet." This free-to-join model directly contrasts with offering a tangible good or service for sale to the public.
A review of the FacePayBook website's underlying code reveals its construction using "Buddy Zone." Vastal I-Tech & Co. developed Buddy Zone in 2008, explicitly marketing it as a "Facebook clone." The script promises all technologies needed for a "Social Network Website" version 2.0, including Ajax features for shoutboxes and chat rooms. Its interface copies Facebook, and its technology resembles MySpace, offering a blend of both. Anyone can purchase Buddy Zone for $399, with an ongoing monthly fee of $39.99.
Over several years preceding FacePayBook's launch, a wave of MLM social networks emerged. These earlier attempts sought to capitalize on the popularity of established platforms. They typically generated revenue through two main methods: monthly membership fees, which often resulted in pyramid schemes, or through advertisement-based systems, which historically paid very little to users. Not one of these prior MLM social networks achieved widespread adoption or lasting success. Many faded quickly.
FacePayBook's reliance on a pre-made "social network in a box" product, combined with its opaque corporate identity and the historical failures of similar MLM ventures, positions it within a familiar pattern.