MUSCAT: Oman on Sunday banned the controversial pyramid scheme and network marketing and set a minimum of OMR 5,000 as fine for violators.

In a Ministerial decision issued by His Excellency Qais bin Mohammad Al-Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the government has prohibited selling, advertising, or promoting goods, products, and services through network marketing and pyramid schemes.

“Pyramid marketing means any method used by the suppliers, advertiser, or promoter to invite the consumer to choose a list of other consumers in order to purchase a commodity or to get service in exchange for a benefit to be obtained by the first consumer, while placing all the targeted consumers in a hierarchical or network groups, in an aim to collect money from the largest number of subscribers of the hierarchical or network group,” the statement from the Ministry stated.

According to the decision, violators will be imposed “an administrative fine of OMR 5,000 on anyone who violates the provisions of this decision, and the fine shall be doubled in case of repeating the violation,” the statement said.