Nxivm

[johnny.5]

I had never heard of them have you?
does something like this exist in the uk. ?
its like a film plot !

[Mamyalynne]

There probably is.

[Cloverjo]

How did you hear of them at all?
I'd never heard of them. I've just googled, and they seem to be in New York only.
Horrible, but things like this do happen outside of film plots.

[jno]

it's this story, Cloverjo

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43846243

[Cloverjo]

Ooh :(

[jno]

nobody's tried to recruit me yet ... though if George Clooney was around ...

[tonyav]

Mamyalynne There probably is.

Or certainly will be now, Mamya.

[johnny.5]

I found this more interesting
https://frankreport.com/

[Buenchico]

The guy behind the organisation, Keith Raniere, used to run a pyramid scheme (calling it a 'multi-level marketing' company) under the name of Consumers Buyline:
https://www.culteducation.com/group/907-nxivm/5968-consumers-buyline-of-clifton-park-was-forced-to-close-after-25-separate-investigations-.html

When that was forced to close it seems that he sought out another way of getting money out of people, in the form of NXIVM (which also calls itself a multi-level marketing company). People like Richard Branson have attended NXIVM events but have avoided being drawn in by the hype. Others though have lost a LOT of money:
http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/how-to-lose-100-million/

That's aside from the latest allegations, of course. However they fit neatly alongside the idea of Mr Raniere being both charismatic and controlling.

I'm unaware of any UK organisations which link multi-level marketing to cults (or pseudo-cults) but cults themselves are ever-present here:
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/wd49g9/uk-cult-information-centre-interview-202