OK, here's my two cents.........
Pyramid schemes are illegal, full stop. Multi Level Marketing is not, although it uses many of the Pyramid tactics. See the difference here http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/epic/si.../en/01230e.html according to the GC Competition Bureau.
Anything that involves MLM, again in my opinion, is unsustainable, meaning that it relies on you signing up others who sign up others, who in turn sign up others. In theory, each get a cut of the sales made by the people further down the line. What they don't tell you is that each level compounds itself........meaning, if you sign up 6 people and each of them sign up six people and so on and so on, by the time it have reached the 12th level you are at 13,060,694,016 if my math is correct (more than the current world population).
Tread cautiously....and.... if you asked to front any money, don't it is illegal.
PM me if you want to know any more....
John...