pyramid selling 
noun [mass noun]
A system of selling goods or services in which each salesperson recruits further salespeople, resulting in a hierarchy in which each member is receives returns from the sales made by those below them.What is to stop people from holding sessions on the Atkins Diet, on Scientology, or on pyramid selling?...
- The act explains the differences between multi-level marketing and pyramid selling.
- However, the Chinese Government has labeled network marketing as pyramid selling, and banned it completely.