Dishonest.wiki is an [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_intelligence|OSINT]] wiki focused on tracking complex Ponzi, MLM, and crypto schemes and exposing the individuals operating them. The grifters behind these schemes exploit victims without guilt nor shame. They often front, own, or sponsor charities and worthy causes as an extra layer to hide behind. They are organised career criminals that will prey on the financially illiterate and steal pensions from the elderly. They will take all of your life savings and they will convince you to take a second bond on your home. They are highly convincing and manipulative and they will steal every last cent you have without remorse. Don't feel sorry for them, be cautious and be careful, and always perform your own due diligence. Remember, you are dealing with dangerous //organised criminals//, if it sounds too good to be true, it normally is. ---- ===== Companies ===== Companies either known to be MLM/Ponzi/Pyramid schemes,or likely are based on available information * [[mti | Mirror Trading International]] (**Latest** [[mti_news | MTI News]]) * [[btcglobal | BTC Global]] * [[mydailychoice | My Daily Choice]] * [[syntek | Syntek]] * [[mmm | MMM]] * [[copyprofitsuccessglobal | Copy Profit Success Global]] * [[bitcoinmine|Bitcoin Mine]] * [[onlinebusinesscoach|Online Business Coach]] * [[getsuperrich|Get Super Rich]] * [[kipisa|Kipi SA a.k.a My Deposit 241 / 247]] * [[vaultagesolutions|Vaultage Solutions]] * [[cashfx|Cash FX]] * [[crowd1|Crowd1]] * [[elamant|Elamant]] * [[volishon|Volishon]] * [[bitcaw|Bitcaw]] * [[bitclub_network|Bitclub Network]] * [[kerching|Ker-Ching]] * [[cryptogold|Crypto Gold]] * [[karatbars|Karatbars]] * [[GSPartners|GSPartners]] * [[Freebay]] * [[KBC]] * [[KCB]] * [[V999]] * [[G999]] * [[finiko|Finiko]] * [[miningcity|Mining City]] * [[finalmente_global|Finalmente Global]] * [[finalmente_main|Finalmente Main]] * [[globecoin|Globecoin(FCOIN/FinalmenteCoin)]] * [[cryptodash|Cryptodash]] * [[finfine|Finfine Digital Hedge Fund]] * [[thrive|Thrive International]] * [[titancryptoclub|Titan Crypto Club]] * [[breckii|Breck Integrated Investment]] * [[cryptradersfx|Cryptraders]] * [[torquebot|Torque Trading Systems (also known as Torque Bot)]] * [[dragon_mine|Dragon Mine]] * [[lifestyle_galaxy|Lifestyle Galaxy]] * [[carrera|Carrera Corporation Ltd]] * [[hyperfund|Hypertech / HyperCash / Hyperfund / HyperCapital / Collinstar]] * [[continentalminers|Continental Miners]] * [[uhuru|CBI / Uhuru]] * [[daisy|D.A.I.S.Y]] * [[iquandex|iQuandex]] * [[pgi|PGI]] * [[petronpay|PetronPay]] * [[qubittech|QubitTech]] * [[veribull|Veribull - Auvoria Prime]] * [[mindcapital|Mind Capital]] * [[passiveexpert|Passive Expert]] * [[twain2|Steven Twain is Back]] * [[anitree|Anitree Financial]] * [[aintree|Aintree Financial Ltd]] * [[protravelplus|Pro Travel Plus]] * [[forsage| Forsage / Fortron / XGold]] * [[map|Meishi Affiliate Program - FinelineVcard]] * [[Silgonex]] * [[Silverchiefs]] * [[onyxlifestyle| Onyx Lifestyle]] * [[TBC BTC/Club BTC International]] * [[worldventure|World Venture]] * [[7k|7k Metals]] * [[Blocktrading|Blocktrading/Blocktrading.co.za]] * [[MyWealth|MyWealth/My Wealth Method]] * [[Beurax]] * [[Wiseling]] * [[Africrypt]] * [[Tariomix]] * [[Redox|Redox Trades LLC]] * [[for3x breakout kings]] * [[QZ Asset Management]] ---- ===== People ===== * [[cheriward | Cheri Ward / Marks / Gray]] * [[johannsteynberg|Johann Steynberg]] * [[clyntonmarks]|Clynton Hugh Marks]] * [[joelsantiago|Joel Santiago]] * [[leonardgray|Leonard Wesley Gray]] * [[richsimmonds|Rich Simmonds]] * [[lizmalton|Liz Malton]] * [[andrewcaw|Andrew Caw]] * [[steventwain |Steven Twain]] * [[russelcjerrard | Russel C Jerrard]] * [[madelynroose | Madelyn Roose - deceased]] * [[williebreedt|Willie Breedt]] * [[johanvanwyk|Johan van Wyk - deceased]] * [[elainechetty|Elaine Chetty]] * [[brettmaaske|Brett Maaske]] * [[scottsmith|Scott Smith]] * [[vinceward|Vince Ward]] * [[belindavanzyl|Belinda van Zyl]] * [[charlenechiang|Charlene Chiang]] * [[charlieward|Charles "Charlie" Ward]] * [[corventer|Cor Venter]] * [[jayshreegovender|Jayshree Govender]] * [[monicacoetzee|Monica Coetzee]] * [[pearlmethshezi|Pearl Meth-Shezi]] * [[taniavanzyl|Tania van Zyl]] * [[tshidiramanamane|Tshidi Ramanamane]] * [[Kobus van der Merwe]] * [[Esmari du Plessis]] * [[Susan Barnard]] * [[Tiaan van der Westhuizen]] * [[Ngqabutho Don Nkomo]] * [[romanosamuel|Romano Samuel]] * [[masilomokone|Masilo Mokone a.k.a Mr Smile]] * [[Raees Cajee]] * [[Ameer Cajee]] * [[Louis Liebenberg]] ---- ===== Commonly Used Locations ===== [[341 Beyers Naude Drive]], Johannesburg, is an address in South Africa that many ponzi schemes and dodgy businesses has used as their HQ. ---- ===== Vocal Promoters ===== Persons who are known to promote or profit significantly from ponzi and pyramid schemes - usually by having a significantly sized downline (referrals) * [[tony_degouveia|Tony de Gouveia]] * [[andreweaton|Andrew Eaton]] * [[tomfraser|Tom Fraser]] * [[brendonearpjones|Brendon Earp-Jones]] * [[brucehughes|Bruce Hughes]] * [[lethaguilar|Leth Aguilar]] * [[seanlogan|Sean Logan]] * [[cryptoanalyzer|CryptoAnalyzer - Gary Jeremiah Handley]] * [[Colin Daly - Crypto Stacks 369]] * [[Gerrit Denham]] * [[lmgray|LM Gray]] * [[henricohanekom|Henrico Hanekom]] * [[Chris Hattingh]] * [[gerardkavonic|Gerard Kavonic]] * [[katherinekorytkowski|Katherine Korytkowski]] * [[petermuller|Peter Muller]] * [[Bernard Swanevelder]] * [[johanvanwyk|Johan van Wyk]] * [[ericventer|Eric Venter]] * [[marinusbell|Marinus Bell]] * [[ignatiusbell|Ignatius Bell]] * [[usherbell|Usher Bell]] * [[lizaansheppard|Lizaan Sheppard]] * [[andrejerasmus|André Jacques Erasmus]] * [[jperasmus|JP Erasmus]] * [[shaungrunlingh|Shaun Grundlingh]] * [[geraldlassen|Gerald Lassen]] * [[hannespotgieter|Hannes Potgieter]] * [[natashaleroux|Natasha le Roux]] * [[stefanolds|Stefan Olds]] * [[henrykemp|Henry Kemp]] * [[vaughngonzalvers|Vaughn Gonzalvers]] * [[jacquessmit|Jacques Smit]] * [[johnloots|John Loots]] * [[anthonychis|Anthony Chis]] * [[royalkwaku|Royal Kwaku]] * [[josephclairevaneeden|Joseph and Claire van Eeden]] * [[gideonstols|Gideon Stols]] * [[russelljacob|Russell Jacob]] * [[siphondaba|Sipho Ndaba / Cryptoking]] * [[jezellekruger|Je'zelle Kruger]] * [[brandonlizamore|Brandon Lizamore aka Neil1MTI]] * [[Jacques Sassin]] * [[Jeanine Stocker]] * [[denversmit|Denver Smit]] * [[sharoncousins|Sharon Cousins]] * [[johankruger|Johan Kruger]] * [[johanneschristiankriel|Johannes Christian Kriel]] * [[chantelvanbreda|Chantel van Breda]] * [[mariusdelarey|Marius de la Rey]] * [[raymondkhan|Raymond Khan]] * [[Craig van Aswegen]]  * [[Blerim Shabani]] * [[Lucas Wolmarans]] * [[eddiebrown|Eddie Brown]] * [[sondaghaluka|Sondag Haluka]] * [[Werner Hattingh]] * [[Peter Lewis]] * [[Louis Mulder]] * [[Brett Pretorius]] * [[Johan Lambton]] * [[Ishyell Van Der Merwe/Viljoen]] * [[brandonmacdonald|Brandon Mac Donald]] * [[vickstrizheus|Vick Strizheus]] * [[davidventer|David Venter]] * [[Conray Labuschagne|Conray Labuschagne]] * [[Ewoudt Labuschagne|Ewoudt Labuschagne]] * [[Daniel Scholtz|Daniel Scholtz]] * [[Helmut Meijer|Helmut Meijer]] * [[Adrian Pilling|Adrian Pilling]] * [[Elana Barnard|Elana Barnard (Lana)]] ---- ===== Influencers' Companies & Networking Teams ===== Promoters are the true driving force behind the success of many of these scams. The same group of people will reach out to their network, promising them high returns for minimal effort. In an effort to highlight this second tier of scammers, here their teams and companies will be listed. * [[aivizion|AI Vizion]] * [[omc|Online Millionaires Club]] * [[denhamcapital|Denham Capital]] * [[myfinancialadvantage|My Financial Advantage]] * [[zurfin|Zurfin]] * [[falconvision|Falconvision]] * [[rag|RAG - Recovery Action Group - Getaquid]] * [[Work Your Wealth]] * [[CKM Wealth Creators]] ---- ===== Relevant Laws ===== * [[https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1998-121.pdf|Prevention of Organised Crime Act]] * [[https://www.gov.za/documents/consumer-protection-act?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpr76KqC6wIVi4BQBh0GPw01EAAYASAAEgKiJ_D_BwE|Consumer Protection Act]] * [[https://www.gov.za/documents/companies-act?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9MjHi6uC6wIV0WDmCh3D5A8wEAAYASAAEgJVvfD_BwE|Companies Act]] * [[https://www.gov.za/documents/deposit-taking-institutions-act-6-mar-2015-1030|Banks Act]] * [[https://www.fic.gov.za/Documents/FIC%20Act%20with%202017%20amendments%20(1)%20(1).pdf|FICA]] * [[https://www.gov.za/documents/financial-advisory-and-intermediary-services-act|FAIS Act]] * [[https://www.justice.gov.za/mc/vnbp/act2005-034.pdf|National Credit Act]] * [[https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/act21of1994.pdf|Income Tax Act]] * [[https://asasa.org.za/|Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa]] ---- ===== Legal Recourse ===== * FAIS Ombud finds advice offered by respondents to be fraudulent, enticing and indicative of a pyramid - [[https://www.masthead.co.za/newsletter/fais-ombud-finds-advice-offered-by-respondents-to-be-fraudulent-enticing-and-indicative-of-a-pyramid-scheme/|Masthead]] * You will soon be able to claim more in the Small Claims court - [[https://www.businessinsider.co.za/you-will-soon-be-able-to-claim-up-to-r20000-in-the-small-claims-court-2019-3|Business Insider]] * Investor claims victory in alleged Ponzi scam - [[https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/investor-claims-victory-in-alleged-ponzi-scam-16799361|IOL]] * Ponzi schemes- Who to sue - [[https://www.maraismullerhendricks.co.za/article/may-newsletter-2013|Marais Muller Hendricks]] If you have information, or have been affected by schemes which you suspect are fraudulent investments such as those described on this wiki, the FSCA can be contacted [[https://www.fsca.co.za/Pages/Contact-Us.aspx|here]]. ---- ===== Pyramids in History ===== * [[https://cointelegraph.com/news/onecoin-a-deep-dive-into-crypto-s-most-notorious-ponzi-scheme|OneCoin - Deep Dive]] * [[https://www.gov.za/documents/companies-act?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9MjHi6uC6wIV0WDmCh3D5A8wEAAYASAAEgJVvfD_BwE|Government Gazette - Investigations into Pyramid Schemes - 1999]] * [[https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10413/16135/Ajodapersad_Rivona_2018.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|Investigations into Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes including the effectiveness of current legislation]] ---- ===== Ponzi/Pyramid Scheme Red Flag Guidance ===== Ponzi or pyramid schemes often have the same characteristics, usually with some very clear and obvious red flags that potential investors should assess before investing. * [[https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/tech/crypto-the-hype-the-profits-the-fundamental-challenge/|Crypto: The hype, the profits, the fundemental challenge - MoneyWeb]] * [[https://www.moneyweb.co.za/financial-advisor-views/how-to-identify-a-ponzi-scheme/|How to identify a Ponzi Scheme - MoneyWeb]] * [[https://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_virtualcurrencies.pdf|Investor Alert - US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)]] * [[https://www.aicpastore.com/Content/media/PRODUCER_CONTENT/Newsletters/Articles_2014/FVSNews/Ponzi_scheme.jsp|The Key Elements of a Ponzi Scheme - CPA Insider]] * [[https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/opinion/business101-tips-to-help-entrepreneurs-spot-a-scam-ba2ce06a-2806-423c-a71d-0602e3badb3d|Business101: Tips to help entrepreneurs spot a scam - IOL]] ---- ===== When Scam Artists Get Caught ===== * People trusted you and you stole from them, magistrate tells fraudster sentenced to 35 years - [[https://www.iol.co.za/amp/sunday-tribune/news/people-trusted-you-and-you-stole-from-them-magistrate-tells-fraudster-sentenced-to-35-years-b9881ee5-bce8-4dd4-95a3-8fc501232e1f|IOL]] * Willie Breedt declared bankrupt as investors head to High Court [[https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/former-cryptocurrency-agency-chief-declared-bankrupt-as-investors-wait-for-millions-20200706|News24]] ---- ===== Other Noteworthy Schemes ===== * Steinhoff Fraud Incident - [[https://prudential.co.za/insights/articlesreleases/special-report-steinhoff-s-red-flags/ | Special report: Steinhoff’s red flags]] * Fyre Festival - [[https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46904445|Fyre Festival: Inside the world's biggest festival flop]] * Enron - [[https://www.investopedia.com/updates/enron-scandal-summary/|Enron Scandal: The Fall of a Wall Street Darling]] ---- ===== Threats We've Received ===== * 29 June 2022, from [[https://www.ottokrause.co.za/|Otto Krause Attorneys]] on behalf of [[G999]] * https://dishonest.wiki/pdf/letter_1.pdf * 4 August 2022, from [[https://www.ottokrause.co.za/|Otto Krause Attorneys]] on behalf of [[G999]] * https://dishonest.wiki/pdf/letter_2.pdf * 2 May 2024, from [[tony_degouveia|Tony de Gouveia]] * https://dishonest.wiki/pdf/dmca_request_1.pdf ---- Proudly hosted by [[https://mzunguhosting.ml/]]