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Our client contacted Specialised Security Services to investigate a possible cryptocurrency investment scam.
In June 2023, our client paid R8,765,502.00 to LYON ASSETS, a company that presented itself
as a leader in cryptocurrency trading.
Investigation of the bank account into which our client’s money was paid revealed the following:
Account name: FINPRO DESK PTY LTD
Account number: 4107794954
Bank: ABSA BANK
Account Holder: MR CHRISTIAAN JACOBUS LIEBENBERG
The investigation into LYON ASSETS revealed the following:
The website Lyonassets.com was registered on 26 October 2022.
The website was removed several times during the past two years.
On the website, stock photography is used to create a false impression that the company has offices worldwide.
Contact numbers present on the website are all VOIP lines that divert to cellular lines registered in Nigeria.
The website server responsible for hosting www.lyonassets.com is registered in Nigeria.
DOMAIN INFORMATION:
THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE PLATFORM INVESTIGATION OF LYONASSETS.COM:
CRYPTOCURRENCY CRIME SYNDICATE IDENTIFIED:
A thorough forensic investigation into lyonassets.com was completed and it was positively identified as a scam:
The company does not exist.
The company does not have offices in the locations listed on the website.
The operatives who contact clients on behalf of the company use false identities.
The company changed phone numbers several times over the past few years.
The company changed operative names several times over the past few years.
The company changed bank accounts over the past few years.
Through bank account linkages as well as mobile phone linkages, we were able to confirm that a crime syndicate
is operating this scam, and lyonassets.com is only one of the names used in the scam.
The same group of individuals involved in the lyonassets.com scam is also responsible for the following scams:
FALSE IDENTITIES:
The false identities used include:
Eric Barbosa
Gabriel Heisenberg
Peter van Dyk
Hans Barbosa
Peter Klein
Gabriel van Dyk
MODUS OPERANDI:
The websites all look similar, with some of the same stock photography being used.
Trading platforms look legitimate.
Trader applications provide profit-positive feedback, as they are pre-set up to convince investors to invest more as they see their profits growing.
Once an investor attempts to withdraw their profits, they are told that taxes need to be paid or that they need to upgrade their platform account to make a large withdrawal.
No payouts exceeding input capital have been paid out to investors by these platforms.
BANK ACCOUNTS:
The group does not use bank accounts of their own, as they know that these can be used to identify them.
Thus, they use the following methods to obtain bank accounts: collecting money from investors and converting the money into cryptocurrencies.
SECONDARY SCAM:
A secondary scam is being run concurrently with the main scam; the purpose of the second scam is to obtain bank accounts to use for the purposes explained above.
Facebook users are tricked into believing that they have found part-time employment online.
As part of the employment requirements, they submit their ID documents, along with their banking information.
The scammers then set up a scenario where the “employee” receives a large amount of money into their personal account, and they are tasked with converting the money into cryptocurrency.
As a reward, the “employee” receives a small commission per transaction, but the relationship usually only lasts a few weeks before the bank blocks the “employee” 's bank account for fraud.
Scammers then move on to the next person.
During our investigation, we identified over 30 bank accounts that have been used for this purpose.
THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS:
In another series of events, it was identified that CIPC businesses were registered in the names of innocent parties.
Once the CIPC registration went through, a business bank account was also registered in the name of the business.
We are currently investigating how the scammers manage to bypass the necessary RICA and FICA requirements.
Although the evidence points to the websites being built and maintained in Nigeria, our investigation has revealed that South Africans are also involved in the operation of this scam.
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER IS ONGOING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR SSS SPECIALIST INVESTIGATOR:
MR ANTHONY BOUCHER
Contact number: +27 64 747 3323
Email address: anthonyb@mikebolhuis.co.za
Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Group.
This group is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.
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CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, PROTECTION, OR AN INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED.
ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY AND EVERY IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.
Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
Mobile: +27 82 447 6116
E-mail: mike@mikebolhuis.co.za
Fax: 086 585 4924
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.
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