Los Angeles Times

Companies turn your Facebook friends into a sales force

Betsy Stover was 17 when her mother asked her to help fax strangers, hawking a service that had the markings of a pyramid scheme.

"I always felt like a creep sending unsolicited faxes," said Stover, who hated the chore, but knew the work required cold calls to succeed.

Stover, now a 38-year-old comedian based in Los Angeles, had largely forgotten about the experience until about three years ago. That's when her Facebook feed started filling up with new direct sales posts touting cosmetics, jewelry and leggings.

Friends Stover hadn't seen

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