From Unick Forex to Ronaldinho 18K: See the companies that hurt Brazilians the most in 2019 - OBN

Posted: 29 Dec 2019 09:12 AM PST

Photo: Shutterstock

The rise of scams, breaking businesses and financial pyramids was one of the main issues of 2019 in the Crypto community. Throughout the year, Bitcoin Portal followed and denounced several of these schemes, which left estimated losses in the billions of reais and affected millions of Brazilians.

A survey released in December by SPC Brazil gives an idea of the scope of these practices. According to him, one in ten Brazilians has already fallen into a fraudulent financial scheme, with the pyramids accounting for more than half of these cases (55%).

Much of the pyramids use cryptocurrencies as their main gimmick to attract investors, with the promise of quick and massive profits in a short time. But there are also schemes that use other elements, such as stocks and gems.

A positive aspect is that some of the largest schemes in operation in Brazil have already collapsed, while others see the siege closing more and more – either through pressure from affiliates, the courts, the media, control bodies like the CVM ( Securities Commission) or even the police.

Recall some of the companies that made customers worse in 2019:

Unick forex

Unick Forex was one of the largest financial pyramid schemes that collapsed in Brazil in 2019. The Sao Leopoldo (RS) -based company said it was active in the Forex and Cryptocurrency markets and promised returns of up to 1.5% per day through its operations.

Since March 2018, the company had been prohibited by the CVM from offering investments. To mislead the authorities, it changed its name (Unick Academy) but retained the pyramidal scheme. Reports of delayed withdrawals began in July this year.

On October 17, Unick was targeted by Operation Lamanai, triggered by the Federal Police. According to investigations, Unick had about 1 million customers in Brazil and the debt with this community reaches $ 12 billion. The company's website is down.

Nine people were arrested, including company president Leidimar Lopes and chief marketing officer Danter Silva – both with a history of participating in other fraudulent financial schemes.

Justice extends arrest of Unick Forex directors investigated by criminal organization — Danter Silva and Leidimar Costa, Unick Forex executives who are in jail.
(Photo: Reproduction)

Atlas Quantum

Owner of an alleged arbitration robot, Atlas Quantum claimed to deliver daily returns to its investors. Per month, it yielded more than 4%.

With an air of legality, the company advertised on TV channels, events, subways and airports around Brazil.

In August, the CVM prohibited the company from offering investments in the country under penalty of $ 100,000 fine. Since then, the company has collapsed holding millions of reais and leaving thousands of investors to see ships.

Atlas has amassed dozens of lawsuits across Brazil and has recently laid off almost every employee.

A table obtained exclusively by the Bitcoin Portal shows almost no customer was able to withdraw and that the gap exceeds $ 200 million.

Bitcoin Bank

Owner of two exchanges: Negotiates Coins and TemBTC, the Bitcoin Bank Group (GBB) owes more than $ 600 million to clients, who have been holding their investments at least since May this year.

GBB created a kind of infinite arbitrage, where customers kept buying and selling between their two exchanges (infinitely) and generating huge profits and a short period of time. One of the clients reported on the Bitcoin Portal having made over 3,000% on their investment, but lost everything.

In October, a few months after GBB had stopped paying customers, CVM prohibited the company from offering investments under penalty of $ 100,000 a day.

Today, the websites of both brokerages are down and Bitcoin Bank Group has managed to initiate a request for judicial recovery.

DD Corporation / DreamsDigger

According to # Operation Pharaoh, DD Corporation – formerly DreamsDigger – was the latest collapsing pyramid in Brazil. Based in Salvador, the company founded by Leonardo Araújo said it had about 300,000 associates and claimed to be officially an education platform about the cryptocurrency market. However, it used a supposed bitcoin arbitration robot as its main gimmick.

The classic script for delayed withdrawals was followed by an investigation by the Bahia Public Prosecutor's Office and a change of name from Dreams Digger to DD Corporation.

In December, DD made the default and announced that it would end its multi-level marketing activities on December 31 and blamed problems with a partner IT company for failing to withdraw.

In addition to defaulting on affiliates, DD Corporation also often intimidates those who resolve to publicly complain about the company.

Former Dreams Digger, DD Corporation takes website down after default and associated misfits — Former Dreams Digger, DD Corporation takes website down after default and associated bewilderment.
Photo: Playback / YouTube

Midas Trend

Another company that promises to double investor capital in a few months and, unsurprisingly, is having problems with customer withdrawals.

The company, which is already the subject of a lawsuit at the CVM, claimed that the reason for the inconvenience is the same as that for Unick Forex, Urpay's blocking of accounts. And complained about customers complaining about delays.

On May 23, company president Deivanir Santos announced during a live on YouTube that he would close the sale of "botmidas", his bitcoin arbitration robot, to prove that Midas "is not a pyramid". He said all debts with customers will be settled by December 31.

Instagram meme pinpoints Midas Trend as the next "victim" of # Operation Pharaoh.
Photo: Reproduction

BWA

Led by businessman Paulo Bilibio, who has a history of involvement with another financial pyramid, BWA was aimed at a select audience of clients, as the initial investment in cryptocurrencies was $ 30,000. Withdrawals have been on hold since December.

Months earlier, in October, a looting race began shortly after word broke that Bilibio was kidnapped by police officers in November 2018. The principal would be an alleged lender who accuses the BWA owner of being the true owner of the Bitcoin Group. Bank.

Bilibio told police that he now lives in Florida, in the United States. Meanwhile, BWA remains in debt with associates and threatened with eviction from its headquarters in Santos (SP).

18K Ronaldinho

Targeted by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of a financial pyramid, 18K offers 2% daily returns through bitcoin trading and arbitration.

It is known for its connection with former soccer player Ronaldinho Gaúcho, who says he has no more ties with the company.

However, Ronaldinho has been summoned to testify at the special committee in the House of Representatives that discusses Bill 2303/2015, which aims to regulate the crypto market in Brazil.

Genbit

Four months without paying customers and at CVM's target, Genbit was yet another company calling for its own cryptocurrency in place of bitcoin as a proposal to pay off debt.

In December, Genbit and other companies of Gensa Serviços Digitales, by Nivaldo Gonzaga, became targets of a public civil action of the São Paulo Public Prosecutor, in the amount of R $ 1 billion.

Authorities estimate that 45,000 people were injured by companies belonging to Gensa.

Credminer

A cryptocurrency mining company with operations in Paraguay, Credminer had the "multiplication" of bitcoins as the biggest draw.

When the scheme began to fail and became a target of the Ceará Public Prosecution Service, the business set up by Antonio Silva went through a metamorphosis. He abandoned bitcoin, adopted a cryptocurrency called LQX, renamed WeHPM, and moved to Germany.

The change was so sudden that it confused even the most loyal affiliates. Company says it has changed "because the market has also changed."

Indeal

According to the investigation promoted by the IRS and the Federal Police of Rio Grande do Sul, Indeal raised R $ 850 million in a year, but left a gap of R $ 300 million. More than 55,000 people were harmed.

The company, the target of Operation Egypto, was investigated for raising, without Central Bank authorization, third party funds for investment in the cryptocurrency market and promising a return of at least 15% in the first month of application.

Its partners have been arrested and currently comply with precautionary measures imposed by the courts.

Bitcoin Investment

Announced on television broadcasters by presenters such as Rodrigo Faro and José Luiz Datena, Investimento Bitcoin seduced clients with a promise of 500% to 600% return on cryptocurrency investments.

The aggressive advertising and offer put the company not only in the sights of CVM, but also of Conar, a council that regulates advertisements in the country.

At the same time, since July there were reports of non-payment of the company to its customers. Since December Bitcoin Investment has been banned by the court from attracting new investors.

Justice prohibits bitcoin company disclosed by Rodrigo Faro to capture customers — Rodrigo Faro promotes Bitcoin Investment during program on Record TV.
(Photo: Reproduction)

Other schemes

Anubis Trade – Sold to Atlas Quantum in a surprise transaction on September 26, in undisclosed securities, Anubis Trade defaulted on its customers hours after the announcement. Without any solution presented by the company, investors are considering looking to the judiciary to solve the problem.

Vik Traders – The company, which claims to be headquartered in Colombia, was cited as an example of a financial pyramid in a report published by Rede Globo of the Federal District. The story cites that the business promised profits of up to 3% per day with bitcoin. The platform has been the subject of complaints in Complain Here since July for late payments.

Opus Investments – promised a true "Eldorado", with returns of 30% to 35% per month on plans with metals and gems. Led by the entrepreneur Guilherme Baptista, linked to the cosmetic sector, Opus began to have payment problems a few months after its foundation, in April this year. In December, Baptista told his affiliates that he no longer had money to repay his investments.

Playworld – Founded in 2017, PlayWorld even had a youtuber gospel as its publisher – which months later said it was sorry for the support. Especially covering the state of Espirito Santo, the scheme collapsed in mid-2019. Its mastermind, Celso Luiz da Silva Júnior, who already had police tickets for possession of a gun, is being sued by the state prosecutor for the estelionato.

Krypton Unite – Scheme debuted in December after the Civil Police operation in Paraná, Krypton Unite is accused of having raised $ 1.5 billion in bitcoin operations through e-mail and WhatsApp messaging. One of its leaders is Daniel Kaminski, who is on the run and claimed to be co-founder of the Ethereum Classic, in addition to using the code name "Prophet" (Prophet) Daniel.

Target of PR Civil Police action called himself a prophet and claimed to be co-founder of Ethereum Classic — Daniel Kaminski, one of the targets of Civil Police operation in Paraná against financial pyramid scheme.
(Photo: Reproduction)

All invest – Headquartered in Goiânia, All Invest said to operate with investments in the Stock Exchange. His best known bid was the $ 7 million default he made at CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) after sponsoring the Green Cup in early 2019. The company, which since August has been the subject of complaints about late payments, is also targeted by the prosecutor of Goiás on suspicion of being a financial pyramid.

Wish Money – a company that was even announced by presenter Amaury Jr., Wish Money promised investments with a daily yield of up to 2.1% in bitcoin. It collapsed after not fulfilling what it had promised its members, leading to a looting race. The company says it will pay investors only in January 2020 through a cryptocurrency called Wishcoin.

Binary bit – The company promised gains of 1.5% per day – which surpassed 300% per year – through cryptocurrency operations. Investigated by CVM, the company dared to use the name of the regulator to try to convey credibility. In October, customers of the company surrounded the house of Rodrigo Toro, founder of the scheme, to charge payment.

Profitmon, Star Forex and Toro Bity – The trio of companies were promoted in the state of Sergipe by the same person, Mauricio Henrique dos Santos, accused of scamming $ 17 million through financial pyramids whose appeal was bitcoin. He was arrested by Sergeant police in August.

HPX Crypto – HPX Crypto had a plan that promised more than 4% per day in return on the amount invested. According to TV Record in October, the platform disappeared after defaulting on about 5,000 people. Business used youtubers as prosecutors, who later also claimed to be victims of the scheme.

A2 Trader – Created by Kleyton Alves in January this year, A2 Trader began offering 60% return investment packages in just 40 days. In CVM's view, Alves closed A2's activities on November 5th, without prior warning, through Instagram video. Angry, customers plundered the company's headquarters in Natal.

Wolf Trade Club – Reported by the CVM in July, Wolf Trade Club was another company that became a target of Civil Police action in Curitiba in October. Two of the company's partners were arrested at the time. With a promise of 30% return on investments, it left an estimated loss of $ 30 million.

Trader Group – closed by the Federal Police in May during Operation Madoff, Trader Group said it managed investments with cryptocurrencies and promised returns of up to 20% per month. Four months after going offline, she was banned from working in Brazil by the CVM.

FX Trading / F2 Trading – After closing operations in Brazil in June, defaulting on investors, FX Trading changed its name to F2 and was relaunched the following month in Dubai. It began to attract customers also in Portugal and became a target of the authorities of the European country – where it reached about 8 thousand people. According to the Federal Police, its creator, Parana Philip Han, built his luxury life and career through other fraudulent schemes.

Philip Han, founder of FX Trading
(Photo: Youtube / Reproduction)

JJ Invest – Company that has sponsored Vasco da Gama and even striker Neymar, JJ Invest disappeared in February this year, giving a total default of $ 1.5 million in 3,300 people. Its president, Jonas Spritzer Amar Jaimovick, has an unknown whereabouts.

Miner – a company that defaulted on R $ 10 million in the state of Ceará alone, Miner closed its activities in August. She said she managed a total of $ 120 million in investments and claimed to be the creditor of JJ Invest, a scam that disappeared in February.

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