"New criminal complaint in the Lyoness case – promoter Zoran Vitanov in North Macedonia is the focus of investigators"

In the international Lyoness/ myWorld network, North Macedonian promoter Zoran Vitanov has become the latest player in the sales apparatus to face criminal charges. According to media reports, a criminal complaint has been filed in Skopje, alleging damages to thousands of participants and total losses in the hundreds of millions of euros. The case fits a pattern already seen in other countries: the central question is whether the system was primarily driven by building new memberships rather than by actual cashback sales. This increasingly brings not only group companies but also high-ranking promoters and top marketers into focus, who are said to have expanded the network through events, training, and recruitment. While several myWorld and Lyconet companies are already insolvent and legal proceedings are underway worldwide, the complaint in North Macedonia demonstrates that the legal scrutiny of the system has long since reached the upper echelons of the sales organization.

Another building block in the global Lyoness complex

While several companies in the Lyoness or myWorld group are now insolvent and numerous participants worldwide are trying to claim their losses in court, another player in the international sales network is now coming under the scrutiny of investigators.

According to media reports, a criminal complaint has been filed in North Macedonia against entrepreneur and network promoter Zoran Vitanov . The complaint relates to activities connected with the Lyoness/ myWorld sales system and the alleged harm caused to numerous participants.

The case raises questions once again that have already been addressed in several BEKM investigations:
What role did local promoters play in the global Lyoness network – and to what extent did they benefit from the development of the sales structures?

Thousands affected and high amounts of damages

According to those affected and local media, thousands of citizens from North Macedonia are said to have invested in programs of the Lyoness or myWorld system.

Some of those involved estimate the total damage at over 100 million euros .

The central question of the advertisement is whether participants were recruited through a sales model in which revenues did not primarily come from real cashback programs, but from building new membership structures .

The public prosecutor’s office has not yet commented publicly on ongoing proceedings.

Investigations are increasingly reaching the upper distribution structures.

From the perspective of many victims, it is expressly welcomed that investigations are increasingly directed not only against companies, but also against leading promoters and so-called “top marketers” .

For years, it was precisely this group within the sales structure that organized events, gave presentations, and recruited new participants for the system, often with the promise of additional income or improved retirement savings .

Many participants report today that they decided to invest significant sums precisely because of these promises.

The current case is therefore a further signal that investigations will in future focus more strongly on the responsibility of the upper sales levels .

Zoran Vitanov is not the first “Level 8 promoter” in the spotlight.

Within the Lyoness and Lyconet structures, a multi-level career system with so-called level or leadership levels existed for many years .

Promoters who reached high positions – roughly levels 6 to 8 – were among the most visible figures in the system. They frequently appeared at international events, conducted training sessions, and presented the business model to new participants.

Against this background, it seems hardly surprising to observers that representatives of these upper sales levels are now also becoming the subject of advertisements or investigations.

Zoran Vitanov is therefore unlikely to be the first high-profile promoter to face such accusations .

The “self-harmed” thesis in the distribution system

In recent years, several high-ranking promoters have publicly stated that they themselves have also become victims of the system.

However, this portrayal – according to which even top marketers were merely participants – is increasingly being questioned by numerous victims.

Upon closer inspection, two questions in particular arise:

What revenues were actually generated by leading promoters?
What role did they play in building the membership structures?

Critics argue that promoters at the higher levels may have earned substantial income through commissions, bonus programs, and network compensation .

Whether and to what extent these structures are legally relevant is the subject of ongoing legal disputes.

Investigations and regulatory measures in several countries

The current case in North Macedonia is one of a series of international proceedings dealing with the business model of Lyoness or myWorld .

Among other things, the following occurred:

Investigations in Austria , including by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA)
Regulatory measures in Norway , where authorities classified parts of the model as a pyramid scheme, have now also involved the police.
Investigation proceedings in Germany
Proceedings in Italy in which the competition authority imposed a fine
Investigations in Sweden and Poland into possible violations of pyramid scheme laws
Tax evasion proceedings in Turkey
representatives of the local Lyoness structure have already been arrested .

At the same time, civil proceedings are underway in several countries in which participants are trying to reclaim their investments.

Conclusion

The criminal complaint against Zoran Vitanov shows once again that the Lyoness/ myWorld complex is far from over .

leading figures in the distribution system are increasingly coming under investigation.

For many victims, this is an important step – especially after years in which the companies themselves were the main focus of criticism.

Whether the complaint in North Macedonia will lead to formal investigations or even charges remains to be seen.

However, one thing is certain:
the legal proceedings against the international Lyoness network are far from over.

Notice / Legal Information

This article presents a journalistic analysis based on publicly available information.
All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. To the best of our knowledge, this article separates facts, third-party reports, and journalistic commentary.

Sources:

Libertas.mk

Insolvency reports myWorld Austria GmbH and Lyconet Austria GmbH, Regional Court Graz

Decisions of the Supreme Court (3 Ob 189/24a; 6 Ob 79/24z; 5 Ob 192/24g)

AGCM Italy – Competition decision regarding Lyoness

Norwegian Consumer Authority – Investigation into pyramid schemes

Own research and document evaluation