Daniel Fernandes Rojo Filho is currently on the run from the FBI. After conducting an investigation into Filho’s DFRF Enterprises, the agency booked Filho on one count of wire fraud and sought his arrest.

Rather than defend himself and prove DFRF isn’t just a $15 million dollar Ponzi scheme however, Filho instead fled.

The latest in the developing saga has seen Filho interviewed by radio host Beto Moraes, in which Filho professes both the SEC and FBI investigation into DFRF are based on a “lack of information”. [Continue reading…]

Last month saw Robert Craddock plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud.

And now the Department of Justice is looking to collect… [Continue reading…]

One of the first things serial Ponzi scammers do when one of their schemes goes bust is file disputes with banks, payment processors and credit card providers.

The idea is that, even with an SEC injunction in place, financial institutions will cover their client’s losses while they investigate.

How effective this is I can’t say, but according to one Achieve Community investor the practice was widespread and has left her at a severe disadvantage. [Continue reading…]

The manhunt for Daniel Fernandes Rojo Filho continues, with new information increasingly pointing to Filho having fled the US.

Using stolen DFRF Enterprises investor funds, Filho amassed a sizeable collection of exotic cars.

One of them, a Rolls Royce Filho was frequently seen driving around, was ‘found abandoned in Miami the first week of July‘.

Filho also stiffed a luxury hotel in Miami out of $70,000: [Continue reading…]

Despite an advertised July 15th launch, at the time of publication the HopRocket website only features a marketing video.

An affiliate website is live over at “myhoprocket.com”, but fails to disclose who owns the company.

It isn’t until one looks up domain registration info that who is behind HopRocket is revealed.

Both the HopRocket and MyHopRocket website domains are registered to Fred Ninow of Ocean Avenue LLC, with an address in the US state of Utah also provided.

Ocean Avenue was first launched  back in 2012 by Ninow and Ken Dunn.

In May 2014 Dunn left Ocean Avenue, claiming at the time:

The idea of walking away from MLM and OA is the toughest decision that I have ever had to make.

Ocean Avenue is in great hands with Fred & Staci, Tuffy & Theresa and the field leaders. It is an amazing opportunity. I would recommend it to anyone asking. I just have another direction that I need to go in.

One month later, Ocean Avenue merged with JM International to create JM Ocean Avenue.

As per a press-release issued on October 1st, 2014:

JM International, currently operating based in China and had expanded market to nearly 20 countries and regions around the world, is a hub for cutting-edge research and development and offers a wide range of healthcare related consumer products.

June 5, 2014, Ocean Avenue and JM International, both multi-national direct sales companies, today announced a merger to create opportunities for distributors and customers by expanding to over 25 new markets around the world this year, offering a broader and deeper range of products and increasing sales.

The venture, JM Ocean Avenue, is collaboration between two companies whose combined strengths will result in a global company able to produce and deliver innovative products through a superior and far-reaching global distributor network.

The JM Ocean Avenue website lists Jacky Zhang as “Global CEO” of the company, presumably appointed at the time of the merger.

Somewhat curiously, Fred Ninow (right) does not appear on JM Ocean Avenue’s listed Executive Team or Board of Directors.

Infact Ninow’s name does not appear anywhere on the JM Ocean Avenue website, leaving his position within the company a complete mystery.

With Ninow’s name popping up on the HopRocket domain registration, it’s probable that this might be a separate side venture of JM Ocean Avenue that he’s been put in charge of.

Before the JM International merger, Ocean Avenue offered access to a “vacation club”:

Claiming to have partnered with an unspecified “world-renowned travel agency”, membership to the Ocean Avenue Vacation Club is available to Ocean Avenue customers who spend a minimum of $50 on product purchases.

Details on the Vacation Club are sketchy, save that Ocean Avenue affiliates and customers will be able to book resort accommodation and cruises.

Unfortunately pending full disclosure by HopRocket, the executive management structure of the company is currently unknown.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]

There is no information on the Hits & Wealth website indicating who owns or runs the business.

The Hits & Wealth website domain (“hitsandwealth.com”) was first registered in February, 2013, with the registration last updated on the 5th of September, 2014. This is likely when the owner(s) of Hits & Wealth took acquired the domain.

Of note is that the DropShip2Cash website is currently hosted off the Hits & Wealth server.

DropShip2Cash is a recently launched $49 a pop Ponzi scheme, with shared hosting strongly suggesting the same admin(s) are behind both opportunities.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]

Despite Lucky5 being widely promoted through Facebook, there is currently no information on the website advising visitors who owns or runs the business. Nor have I seen this information disclosed in any Lucky5 marketing material.

The Lucky5 website domain (“lucky5.com”) was first registered on the 30th of May, 2002. The domain registration was recently updated on the 23rd of June 2015, suggesting this is around the time the current owner(s) acquired it.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]

While there is no readily available information about who owns or operates Lopoca on their website, the company does provide some basic information about itself:

Lopoca Gaming Ltd., was founded in Malta on the 15th June 2010 as a subsidiary from Lopoca Ltd., a company registered in Cyprus.

Whilst Lopoca Gaming Limited is the operative company, Lopoca Limited deals with the administraive (sic) and all member enquiries for Lopoca Gaming Limited.

Despite the mention of registration in Cyprus, Lopoca provide an address in Malta on their website.

This corresponds with a license issued by the Malta Gaming authority (MGA/CL3/709/2010), but does not confirm where Lopoca is being operated from.

The Lopoca website domain (“lopoca.com”) was registered on the 20th of March 2010, with a Klaus Saurugger of Lopoca LTD listed at the owner.

An address in Cyprus is also provided, however further research reveals it to belong to FiduciTrust Services.

On their website, FiduciTrust Services provide mail address and mail forwarding services, indicating Lopoca is unlikely to have an actual physical presence in Cyprus.

In Lopoca affiliate newsletters, Saurugger (right) identifies himself as CEO of the company. On his LinkedIn Saurugger lists his location as Malta, which matches up with the Malta Gaming Authority license.

Saurugger’s employment history reveals positions the telecommunications and insurance sectors, however I didn’t see anything MLM related.

This suggests that Lopoca is Saurugger’s first MLM venture as an executive.

Read on for a full review of the Lopoca MLM business opportunity. [Continue reading…]

Identified as the owner of Fort Ad Pays on the company website is Pedro Fort.

On his LinkedIn profile, Fort lists his location as Columbia, which is presumably where Fort Ad Pays is being operated from.

The Pedro Fort Ads website domain lists Fort as the owner, using what appears to be a bogus address in Spain (fake street address and city).

On his LinkedIn profile Fort (right) credits himself as the CEO of something called “MLM Shop”. The Fort Ad Pays website also uses MLM Shop domain name-servers (“mlmshop.net”).

MLM Shop launched in 2013, with the domain registered anonymously on November 15th.

A visit to the MLM Shop website without a referral link reveals yet another address for Fort, this time in the US state of Florida.

Of note is the banner at the top of the page reads “Business Shop”, suggesting either the name of the MLM shop scheme was changed or that it goes by multiple names.

In any event, research into the MLM Shop compensation plan reveals it to be a Ponzi investment scheme in decline.

As per the MLM shop website affiliates invest up to $50,000 in “packs”, with the company advertising greater than 100% ROIs in 30 days.

My guess is that a gradual decline of new investment into MLM Shop is what prompted the launch of Fort Ad Pays.

Read on for a full review of the Fort Ad Pays MLM business opportunity. [Continue reading…]

There is no specific information on the Kino Box website indicating who owns or runs the business.

In the footer of the website and in the Kino Box Terms and Conditions however, the company does acknowledge ownership by “Next Generation Consulting Inc.”

Kino Box – Next Gen Entertainment System All rights Reserverd (sic)

Next Generation Consulting, Inc. Hear by called NGC makes conscious efforts to ensure information on this website is up-to-date and accurate.

Other than Next Generation Consulting Inc. being based out of the US state of Texas, no further information is provided.

The Kino Box website domain registration however lists a Jit Jadeja of “Next Gen Technologies” as the owner. The same Texas address that appears on the Kino Box website appears in the registration.

On their website, Next Generation Consulting Inc. claim to be

a fast growing, end-to-end information technology services and solutions provider working with leading Global organizations from the Airline, Transportation, Telecommunications Media, and Technology, Energy, Utilities, and Manufacturing & Retail domains.

Corporation Wiki lists Jadeja as a Director of Next Generation Consulting Inc., however his specific role within Kino Box is unclear.

As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money. [Continue reading…]