Global State of Scams 2022 report</a>. Especially, Investment scams continued to rise caused by the accelerated rate of digitalization, high inflation, rapidly increasing cost of living, and, in some countries, high unemployment rates. This is forcing people to look for new ways to invest or simply make ends meet. Scammers have been capitalising on these trends by launching tens of thousands fake investment websites promising huge returns in short periods.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>Particularly, investment scams are indirectly abetted by UK&rsquo;s Companies House and big internet companies who provide the infrastructure for the scams to thrive. To prove how easy it is for anyone to launch a scam site, the <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"http://www.gasa.org/">Global Anti Scam Alliance</a> and <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"http://ScamAdviser.com/">ScamAdviser launched &lsquo;ScamAdviser Coin&rsquo; in the lead up to April Fool&rsquo;s Day 2023.</p>\r\n<p>Within a matter of days, a website was set up which promised investors 100% returns in 14 days, going up to 120% if the investor invites friends to join the program. The cost of setting up the site was just $250 which included purchasing a website template, registering the domain name &rsquo;<a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"http://scamadviser.club/">scamadviser.club&rsquo; and purchasing website hosting.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-113417","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/image1-017ac.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-113419","data":{"text":"<h2>UK&rsquo;s Companies House Facilitated the Scam</h2>\r\n<p>To create a sense of trust, a fictitious company named &lsquo;<a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14674084/">ScamAdviser Coin Limited</a>&rsquo; was also successfully registered in the UK&rsquo;s Companies House Registry, using as Directors names the notorious fraudsters <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ponzi/">Charles Ponzi</a> and <a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Madoff/">Bernard Madoff</a>. Registering the company was just a matter of paying &pound;12 ($15). Within one day the company certificate arrived in ScamAdviser&rsquo;s mailbox.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>This is possible as the Companies House website itself states, &ldquo;Companies House does not verify the accuracy of the information filed&rdquo;.&nbsp; However, few, if any people know that Companies House does not do any due diligence. Many people, especially from abroad, believe that if a company is registered in the United Kingdom, it must be legit. Like many scammers, ScamAdviser prominently displayed the certificate for this fake company on the ScamAdviser Coin website to create an illusion of legitimacy.</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageHalf","_identifier":"block-113432","data":{"imageLeft":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/image3-2a129.png_900x.png","imageRight":null}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-113435","data":{"text":"<h2>Promoting the Scam on Facebook and Google</h2>\r\n<p>ScamAdviser Coin was promoted on ScamAdviser.com&rsquo;s website and social media channels. On social media, many users immediately spotted the scam. The results were mixed when it came to the users of ScamAdviser.com as many sent emails to ask &ldquo;if it is for real.&rdquo;</p>"}},{"_template":"Articles\\ImageFull","_identifier":"block-113448","data":{"image":"https://whitelabel-manager-production.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/thumbs/image2-54f96.png_900x.png"}},{"_template":"Articles\\Text","_identifier":"block-113450","data":{"text":"<p>The fake investment website was even advertised on Facebook for a brief period using a brand new page with fake information and no post history, before being reported by users. Ads for ScamAdviser Coin were disapproved from Google&rsquo;s search engine advertising platform citing their policies regarding &lsquo;Unacceptable business practices&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>This does not mean it is impossible to promote scams on these platforms as there were several &lsquo;experts&rsquo; on a popular freelancing platform who offered to help us advertise the scheme on Facebook for $300, with similar services being offered for Google Ads too. Their advice: You need to buy or &ldquo;warm up&rdquo; a Google Ads or Facebook account. After 3 weeks and not using specific keywords like &ldquo;coin&rdquo;, it&rsquo;s easy to promote any kind of investment scam.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<h2>The Result: $11,000 earned in 10 days</h2>\r\n<p>ScamAdviser Coin only has been up for 10 days. However, many could not spot the signs of a scam as 144 users signed up in 10 days to join the waitlist for the program which was supposedly set to launch on 1st April 2023 - April Fool&rsquo;s Day.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>A few things were remarkable. Firstly the conversion ratio was high. With a mere 1,500 visitors the conversion was nearly 10%. Interestingly, 43 picked the Basic Plan ($50), 62 the Pro Plan ($80) and 39 the VIP Plan ($100). This confirms the marketing saying that if left to a choice, the option in the middle is chosen.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>With the users pledging to invest a total of $11,010, the scheme would have generated a ROI of 4,400% for the scammer.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>The goal of the &lsquo;ScamAdviser Coin&rsquo; April Fool&rsquo;s campaign was to highlight the importance of forming better policies to make it harder for scammers to defraud internet users. The scheme saw many doubters and few sign ups through ScamAdviser&rsquo;s own channels, highlighting the success of the perennial awareness campaigns carried out by the organization.</p>\r\n<p><a href=https://www.scamadviser.com/"https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorijabraham//">Jorij Abraham</a>, General Manager of GASA &amp; ScamAdviser, said regarding the campaign, &ldquo;For only $250 you cannot only set-up an investment scam but also promote it on social media and search engines. The way Companies House operates is hurting many consumers worldwide. Many believe that a company registered in the United Kingdom must be trustworthy. Instead, it seems to be the opposite.</p>\r\n<p>We believe all providers, be it hosting companies, registrars, registries, social media or payment service providers share a responsibility to fight scams better. Next year, we will definitely organise a new scam and see whose infrastructure we can abuse without proper Due Diligence in place.&rdquo;</p>"}}],"sidebarBlocks":[{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Cta","_identifier":"block-157084","data":{"title":"Report a Scam!","consumer":null,"description":"Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!","image":"https://files.scamadviser.com/thumbs/tell-your-story-8910e.png_200x200.png","button":"Report a Scam!","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/leave-review"}},{"_template":"Small\\Content\\Taxonomy","_identifier":"block-157123","data":{"title":"Scam Categories","taxonomies":[{"id":7,"name":"Scam Alerts (1025)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts"},{"id":6,"name":"Scam Trends (372)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends"},{"id":8,"name":"Global Scam Country Guide (44)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/global-scam-country-guide"},{"id":87,"name":"Product Reviews (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/product-reviews"},{"id":88,"name":"Fact Check (43)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/fact-check"},{"id":3,"name":"News about Scamadviser (42)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/news-about-scamadviser"},{"id":5,"name":"Reliable Sites (37)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites"},{"id":1,"name":"Tips & Support (32)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/tips-support"},{"id":2,"name":"Research & Reports (26)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports"},{"id":4,"name":"Advice for Companies (2)","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies"}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59407","data":{"align":"left","text":"Help & Info","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157795","data":{"articles":[{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157824","data":{"title":"Scam Alerts","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-alerts","icon":"fa-exclamation-triangle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-scam-alert-f348b.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157839","data":{"title":"Learn Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/scam-trends","icon":"fa-tags","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-learn-scam-737a6.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157854","data":{"title":"Reliable Sites","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/reliable-sites","icon":"fa-check-circle","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-website-213fb.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157869","data":{"title":"Advices","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/advice-for-companies","icon":"fa-comment","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-advice-f32d8.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-157884","data":{"title":"Studies","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/research-reports","icon":"fa-search","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-report-ebc61.svg"}},{"_template":"Home\\Articles","_identifier":"block-161131","data":{"title":"Global Scams","link":"https://www.scamadviser.com/global-scam-country-guide","icon":"fa-globe","bgImage":"https://files.scamadviser.com/uploads/img-global-scam-005ad.svg"}}],"buttonText":"See all","buttonLink":"https://www.scamadviser.com/help-info"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-167997","data":{"align":"left","text":"Top Safety Picks","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Lists","_identifier":"block-167811","data":{"heading":"Your Go-To Tools for Online Safety","hint":"Disclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.","description":null,"listItems":[{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167891","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - iOS","titleUrl":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scamadviser/id6480509109","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on iOS"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-167944","data":{"title":"ScamAdviser App - Android","titleUrl":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tech.scamadviser","linkTarget":"1","text":"Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on Android."}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-169734","data":{"title":"NordVPN","titleUrl":"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101566658-13382109","linkTarget":"1","text":"NordVPN keeps your connection private and secure whether you are at home, traveling, or streaming from another country. It protects your data, blocks unwanted ads and trackers, and helps you access your paid subscriptions anywhere. Try it Today!"}},{"_template":"Default\\Items\\ListItem","_identifier":"block-171573","data":{"title":"Incogni","titleUrl":"http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101566658-15718702","linkTarget":"1","text":"Incogni automatically removes your personal data from data brokers that trade in personal information online, helping reduce scam and identity theft risks without the hassle of manual opt-outs. Reclaim your privacy now!"}}]}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Heading","_identifier":"block-59517","data":{"align":"left","text":"Popular Stories","size":"large"}},{"_template":"Default\\Content\\Blogs","_identifier":"block-59530","data":{"items":[{"id":1406,"title":"7 Best VPN Services for Security, Speed, and Privacy","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/7-best-vpn-services-for-security-speed-and-privacy","excerpt":"In a nutshell: A good VPN protects your privacy with strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and fast protocols like WireGuard. The best VPNs also offer wide server coverage, leak protection, and easy-to-use apps for all devices. For 2025, the top providers are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and Mullvad—each excelling in speed, security, or value.\r\n\r\nIn an age where every click is tracked, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is no longer just a luxury—it's an essential tool for digital privacy and security. A VPN works by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, masking your real IP address and protecting your sensitive data from prying eyes.\r\nBut with hundreds of providers out there, how do you sort the secure from the suspect? This guide breaks down the non-negotiable features of a quality VPN and highlights the 7 top-rated services for 2025.\r\nWhat to Look for in a Good VPN: The 4 Non-Negotiable Pillars\r\n1. Ironclad Security Features\r\n\r\nStrong Encryption: AES-256, the gold standard.\r\nSecure Protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, NordLynx, Lightway. Avoid PPTP.\r\nKill Switch: Ensures no accidental IP leaks.\r\nLeak Protection: Covers DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC.\r\n\r\n2. Verified Privacy Practices\r\n\r\nNo-Logs Policy: No activity or metadata tracking.\r\nIndependent Audits: Verification by third parties.\r\nSafe Jurisdiction: Prefer countries outside the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances.\r\n\r\n3. High-Speed Performance\r\n\r\nFast Protocols: WireGuard and equivalents.\r\nLarge Server Network: Less crowding, more reliable speeds.\r\n\r\n4. Essential Usability Features\r\n\r\nMulti-Device Apps: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, routers.\r\nSimultaneous Connections: One account, many devices.\r\nUnblocking Power: Netflix, Hulu, BBC ","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false},{"id":1475,"title":"Data Breach Victim? Your Emergency Action Plan Starts Now","url":"https://www.scamadviser.com/articles/data-breach-victim-your-emergency-action-plan-starts-now","excerpt":"How to Protect Yourself and Your Family After a Data Breach\r\nWhen Your Data Falls Into the Wrong Hands\r\nJust received that terrifying notification? Or perhaps you've noticed suspicious activity in your accounts? Take a deep breath. A data breach, the unauthorized access or exposure of sensitive, protected, or confidential data, is a deeply unsettling event. It can plunge you into a world of worry, bringing risks from financial losses and identity theft to significant emotional distress and reputational damage.\r\nThe numbers don't lie: according to a 2024 report, the number of data breach victim notices has grown by a staggering 211% year-over-year. This isn't just a distant threat; it's a stark reality many individuals face. This year alone, we've seen major organizations like Adidas and Qantas grapple with high-profile data breaches, affecting countless customers. This underscores a critical truth: nobody is untouchable. Subsequently, strategic action is the only way to minimize the risk and protect your future.\r\nThis guide is your emergency action plan, designed to walk you through every crucial step—from confirming the breach to fortifying your digital life for the long term.\r\nPart 1: Confirming the Breach and Understanding the Damage\r\nThe very first step is to answer the question definitively: Was my data compromised, and if so, how badly?\r\nStart with the basics:\r\n\r\nCheck Official NotificationsReputable companies are legally obligated to inform you if your data was part of a breach. Look for official emails, letters, or public announcements.\r\nCheck Verified Breach DatabasesPlatforms like HaveIBeenPwned help you see if","buttonText":"Read more","renderAsInertiaLink":false}]}}],"meta":{"title":"ScamAdviser Coin ‘Scams’ the Internet for April Fools","description":"ScamAdviser Coin is a fake crypto investment program created by ScamAdviser and GASA to 'scam' the internet for April Fool's 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ScamAdviser Coin ‘Scams’ the Internet for April Fools

Header
March 30, 2023

Last year nearly 300 million consumers lost more than $55 billion according to the Global State of Scams 2022 report. Especially, Investment scams continued to rise caused by the accelerated rate of digitalization, high inflation, rapidly increasing cost of living, and, in some countries, high unemployment rates. This is forcing people to look for new ways to invest or simply make ends meet. Scammers have been capitalising on these trends by launching tens of thousands fake investment websites promising huge returns in short periods. 

Particularly, investment scams are indirectly abetted by UK’s Companies House and big internet companies who provide the infrastructure for the scams to thrive. To prove how easy it is for anyone to launch a scam site, the Global Anti Scam Alliance and ScamAdviser launched ‘ScamAdviser Coin’ in the lead up to April Fool’s Day 2023.

Within a matter of days, a website was set up which promised investors 100% returns in 14 days, going up to 120% if the investor invites friends to join the program. The cost of setting up the site was just $250 which included purchasing a website template, registering the domain name ’scamadviser.club’ and purchasing website hosting.

UK’s Companies House Facilitated the Scam

To create a sense of trust, a fictitious company named ‘ScamAdviser Coin Limited’ was also successfully registered in the UK’s Companies House Registry, using as Directors names the notorious fraudsters Charles Ponzi and Bernard Madoff. Registering the company was just a matter of paying £12 ($15). Within one day the company certificate arrived in ScamAdviser’s mailbox. 

This is possible as the Companies House website itself states, “Companies House does not verify the accuracy of the information filed”.  However, few, if any people know that Companies House does not do any due diligence. Many people, especially from abroad, believe that if a company is registered in the United Kingdom, it must be legit. Like many scammers, ScamAdviser prominently displayed the certificate for this fake company on the ScamAdviser Coin website to create an illusion of legitimacy.

Promoting the Scam on Facebook and Google

ScamAdviser Coin was promoted on ScamAdviser.com’s website and social media channels. On social media, many users immediately spotted the scam. The results were mixed when it came to the users of ScamAdviser.com as many sent emails to ask “if it is for real.”

The fake investment website was even advertised on Facebook for a brief period using a brand new page with fake information and no post history, before being reported by users. Ads for ScamAdviser Coin were disapproved from Google’s search engine advertising platform citing their policies regarding ‘Unacceptable business practices’. 

This does not mean it is impossible to promote scams on these platforms as there were several ‘experts’ on a popular freelancing platform who offered to help us advertise the scheme on Facebook for $300, with similar services being offered for Google Ads too. Their advice: You need to buy or “warm up” a Google Ads or Facebook account. After 3 weeks and not using specific keywords like “coin”, it’s easy to promote any kind of investment scam. 

The Result: $11,000 earned in 10 days

ScamAdviser Coin only has been up for 10 days. However, many could not spot the signs of a scam as 144 users signed up in 10 days to join the waitlist for the program which was supposedly set to launch on 1st April 2023 - April Fool’s Day. 

A few things were remarkable. Firstly the conversion ratio was high. With a mere 1,500 visitors the conversion was nearly 10%. Interestingly, 43 picked the Basic Plan ($50), 62 the Pro Plan ($80) and 39 the VIP Plan ($100). This confirms the marketing saying that if left to a choice, the option in the middle is chosen. 

With the users pledging to invest a total of $11,010, the scheme would have generated a ROI of 4,400% for the scammer. 

The goal of the ‘ScamAdviser Coin’ April Fool’s campaign was to highlight the importance of forming better policies to make it harder for scammers to defraud internet users. The scheme saw many doubters and few sign ups through ScamAdviser’s own channels, highlighting the success of the perennial awareness campaigns carried out by the organization.

Jorij Abraham, General Manager of GASA & ScamAdviser, said regarding the campaign, “For only $250 you cannot only set-up an investment scam but also promote it on social media and search engines. The way Companies House operates is hurting many consumers worldwide. Many believe that a company registered in the United Kingdom must be trustworthy. Instead, it seems to be the opposite.

We believe all providers, be it hosting companies, registrars, registries, social media or payment service providers share a responsibility to fight scams better. Next year, we will definitely organise a new scam and see whose infrastructure we can abuse without proper Due Diligence in place.”

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  1. ScamAdviser App - iOS : Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on iOS
  2. ScamAdviser App - Android : Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on Android.
  3. NordVPN : NordVPN keeps your connection private and secure whether you are at home, traveling, or streaming from another country. It protects your data, blocks unwanted ads and trackers, and helps you access your paid subscriptions anywhere. Try it Today!
  4. Incogni : Incogni automatically removes your personal data from data brokers that trade in personal information online, helping reduce scam and identity theft risks without the hassle of manual opt-outs. Reclaim your privacy now!

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