Over 1,500 deceptive job advertisements—promising remote positions with no experience required—have been removed from LinkedIn and Monster following a visual investigation by CBC. This investigation uncovered that these listings misled unsuspecting job seekers into engaging with a multi-level marketing (MLM) firm that demanded payment.
CBC traced a web of travel-oriented pages that were posting questionable job opportunities—such as “Work From Home Travel Planner and Virtual Customer Support Representative”—to a U.S.-based MLM named Evolution Travel. Some of these positions advertised salaries of up to $75,000 US annually.
However, there were no actual job opportunities or salaries involved.
Applicants were swiftly directed to attend virtual information sessions, where they were required to pay hundreds of dollars upfront, in addition to a monthly subscription fee. The program claimed to educate participants on earning money through travel bookings as independent agents and by recruiting others into the scheme, taking a portion of their commissions.
The platforms operated under various names, including Wanderwell Collective, Professional Travel Hub, Remote-Careers, Sky Land & Ocean Travel, and Sunkissed Getaways.
Notably, the job advertisements did not disclose any association with Evolution Travel or the required sign-up fees.
Many of the jobs did not require experience and promised to pay up to $75,000 US. (Illustration: Matthew Hoddy/CBC; LinkedIn)
“This is outrageous,” remarked Jay Jones, a job listing investigator from Chicago, who was informed of CBC’s findings. “They entice you with the promise of a non-existent job. The salary appears enticing, [successful candidates] can work from home. Yet, you have to pay to get employment—that’s not how employment functions.”
Platforms like LinkedIn and other job sites have strict policies against misleading job advertisements, including those that require payment or lead to MLMs.
Jay Jones investigates misleading and fake jobs online. (CBC)
“In many ways, it feels like we’re navigating a funhouse mirror,” stated Vass Bednar, managing director of the Canadian Shield Institute, a think-tank focused on public policy regarding economic stability and digital independence.
These advertisements threaten to “undermine confidence—both in oneself and in the belief that there are genuinely valuable job opportunities available to pursue.”
LinkedIn calls jobs ‘misleading’
While MLMs are not illegal in Canada or the U.S., companies and individuals in the U.S. could incur penalties if they are found to breach the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.”
“I would classify [these job postings] as misleading… and would encourage enforcement by either the FTC, state governments, or other federal regulatory bodies,” stated William Kovacic, a former FTC chairman and commissioner, who also reviewed CBC’s findings.
One independent agent linked to several travel businesses associated with the misleading job ads identified by CBC—Wanderwell Collective, Destination Knot, Aisle and Abroad, and Professional Travel Hub—was Diedre Norton. In a YouTube video, Norton claimed to have a network of 300 recruits for Evolution Travel.
Despite Evolution Travel’s founder, David McCovy, praising her in various online videos for her performance, Norton denied any affiliation with the program before abruptly ending the conversation with CBC News.
Screenshot of an online video showing Evolution founder David McCovy during a conference. (EvolutionTravelCafe/YouTube)
McCovy did not respond to requests for comment from CBC.
A representative from Evolution Travel, who did not disclose their name but held the title of chief operating officer, informed CBC that they consistently instruct their independent agents not to post job advertisements on any platforms.
Last month, LinkedIn removed nearly 900 ads associated with Evolution Travel, stating they were “misleading and violated” company policies and added that “the companies behind them will no longer be able to post jobs” on the site.
Monster also took down 600 listings, affirming that it has “clear policies against misleading job postings and multi-level marketing opportunities, and we take action to eliminate listings that do not adhere to our standards.”
Hundreds of job postings posted to LinkedIn and Monster actually brought applicants into the recruiting process for a multi-level marketing company, a CBC News visual investigation has found. (Illustration: Matthew Hoddy/CBC, LinkedIn, Monster)
Identifying fake job postings
Although Evolution Travel does not operate in Canada, CBC reporters still discovered the job postings in their feeds, which were also recommended via emails from LinkedIn.
The advertisements exhibited immediate warning signs. The travel companies mentioned had little to no online presence, and there were approximately 1,500 postings, frequently featuring nearly identical job descriptions.
Many of the jobs did not require experience and were remote. CBC found more than 1,500 misleading or fake jobs. (LinkedIn)
In many instances, these jobs did not require any educational background, prior experience, and often did not ask for a résumé.
CBC applied for eight positions on LinkedIn and Monster, submitting a blank document as a résumé where necessary. After applying, the team received automated emails inviting them to join a virtual information session with individuals connected to Evolution Travel.
CBC journalists were sent automated emails and asked to join a virtual information session by individuals connected to Evolution Travel upon applying for the jobs. (CBC)
Evolution Travel, along with its partner Archer Travel Services, markets itself as a global “home-based travel business” that trains its members to book travel and earn commissions.
However, it extends beyond just booking travel. Archer Travel’s website refers to Evolution Travel as its “recruiting partner” and labels it a “network marketing” firm—another term for multi-level marketing, as defined by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
A compensation structure displayed on Evolution Travel’s website outlines that a portion of commissions and monthly bonuses are allocated to the most successful recruiters, with membership levels reaching “8 Star Platinum” for enrolling 100,000 individuals.
Documents show compensation plans for Evolution Travel. (Evolution Travel)
This information was not shared during the information sessions attended by CBC, which focused solely on travel bookings. When a CBC journalist, posing as a job seeker, inquired about earning commissions from their own recruits, the session facilitator stated that it was not addressed in the sessions and that the individual who invited them would provide clarification.
The hosts also failed to mention a hidden $50 annual fee in the independent contractor agreement, which CBC reviewed during the signup process.
A screenshot from an Evolution virtual session shows the packages attendees can pay to enrol in the program. (Evolution Travel)
Former FTC chairman and commissioner Kovacic indicated that if he were still in office, he would be investigating the company.
“[Fees are] not disclosed in initial interactions,” he stated. “It’s obscured in a manner that is significant and misleading to users.”
27,000 independent contractors
Job seekers have been vocal about their grievances regarding Evolution Travel, its agents, and members like Deidre Norton, both online and to the Better Business Bureau for several years.
In 2021, Evolution Travel was one of 1,000 companies warned by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that they could face penalties for making “misleading or deceptive claims” about a “money-making opportunity.”
Kovacic noted that a firm that “defied” FTC warnings and persisted in such practices would be a “strong candidate for an investigation.”
CBC News found numerous complaints online about companies linked to the job postings. (Illustration: Matthew Hoddy/CBC, Reddit, Better Business Bureau)
Ron Archer, CEO of Archer Travel Services, asserted that the company does “not support illegal job postings and addresses them when brought to our attention.”
Despite this, videos online feature travel agents associated with Evolution Travel openly discussing their use of LinkedIn job postings to recruit individuals into the business.
Archer explained that they cannot “dictate how they train for their business” due to having “27,000 independent contractors globally.”
“LinkedIn is a significant platform,” mentioned one member in a training video from June 2026 shared on YouTube. “We offer various trainings on how to post on LinkedIn.”
Jay Jones, who has successfully removed tens of thousands of job listings from platforms himself, pointed out that companies like LinkedIn and Monster profit from the traffic generated.
“There’s no real vetting of which companies are allowed to operate or which jobs can be listed,” Jones stated. “Individuals coming [to LinkedIn] under the impression that there are legitimate opportunities are confronted with this MLM nonsense.”
For any tips related to this investigation, contact eric.szeto@cbc.ca or the visual investigation team’s inbox: vi@cbc.ca