The Proyonet Scam – Don’t Become the Next Victim

Recently, Proyonet.com service popped up, promoting itself as a platform to keep cryptocurrency and other assets securely. I managed to gather reliable evidence that clearly reveals it is, actually, a fraudulent service.

Contrary to the claims of Proyonet.com, they won’t give back your funds. Despite the numbers displayed in the “member area”, there is absolutely no way to take out even a cent. All commitments regarding crypto incentives are empty as well.

Proyonet Scam Overview

The primary offering that Proyonet attempts to provide is a protected and user-friendly crypto wallet service. The website pledges exchange services, tools for managing wallets, transfers, dashboards, and the like. In reality, they endeavor to emulate the functionality of a crypto exchange, like Binance or Coinbase. However, it actually solely serves as a shell intended to deceive the cautious.

Proyonet Scam

First and foremost, Proyonet imitates the layout of many similar pages. There are quite a few examples, like Qoplex, Rayclex or Spacesio. They are totally undistinguishable in terms of graphic elements, with small discrepancies in the website header. Other specific elements, and at times even crypto wallet addresses, are matching. Presumably, all these scam websites are led by the same group of scammers.

Cryptocurrency Scam Summary

How the Proyonet Scam Works?

Proyonet is yet another website within a wide-ranging network of interconnected crypto fraudulent webpages. The operators employ different brand names and sites, like Proyonet.com, to capture victims. However, these false sites share the same designs, terms of service, and About Us information. This exposes their sources as parts of the identical fraudulent network, which endorses the same mode of scam under various disguises. The deceivers just duplicate the identical deceptive website under diverse names to deceive users into thinking they are joining a fresh venture. However, in actuality, it’s the same system of scammers orchestrating the misleading commitments and attempts to take deposited money. The operators cleverly employ psychological strategies and appealing invitations to carry out their deceitful plans.

Step 1: Spreading

To initiate the scam, criminals set up and fill accounts on popular social media platforms. They primarily aim at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Subsequently, the advertising campaign begins. Using bots and paid ads (when achievable), fraud actors intensify the presence of their deceptive activities to potential victims. This approach permits them to cast a broad net and connect with their aimed audience. The latter typically consists of cryptocurrency enthusiasts searching for opportunities to make profits.

Users receive a stimulus to register, enticed by the promise of getting crypto benefits valued at hundreds of dollars, all for free. To augment the appeal of the offer, fake claims of sponsorship by a celebrity are added. As you may guess, these claims are entirely baseless.

Step 2: Gaining Traffic

People who demonstrate interest go to Proyonet.com via links featured in advertisements or bot-generated posts. The website uses captivating visuals, design aspects that appear legitimate, and assertions of possessing a valid license, all aimed to convey an initial image of credibility.

Step 3: Data Gathering

To collect their prizes, users are required to deliberately sign up on Proyonet and get instructions to submit sensitive and personal data during the sign-up procedure. This includes linking their cryptocurrency wallets, sharing email addresses, giving phone numbers, sending in identification papers, and more.

Step 4: Requesting funds

Once enrolled, users observe substantial amounts of cryptocurrency, valued at thousands of dollars, within their Proyonet wallets. Nevertheless, as it usually happens with such bonuses, you can’t withdraw them before topping up your account. Typically, a funds transfer of $100 is required to withdraw the sign-up bonus. This stipulation serves as the enticement that eventually results to the money loss.

Step 5: Disappear

The moment the deposit is sent, the scammers cease all contact. They proceed to block users, delete accounts, and disappear with both the deposited funds and essential personal data. The fictitious prizes continue to be perpetually uncredited, as they lack real existence. They operate exclusively as a phishing maneuver. This method forms the foundation for the scammers’ ability to mislead victims and embezzle hard-earned earnings through their deceptive internet-based crypto fraud.

Signs of Scam

I gathered several facts that point at the scammy nature of the Proyonet.com. Actually, there are a lot of scams that fall under the same points, so they are pretty much universal.

• False Celebrity Sponsorship. Proyonet often resorts to fake endorsements from celebrities such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mr. Beast, and Mark Zuckerberg. This fraudulent tactic extends to claiming partnerships with reputable companies like Coinbase, Binance, or MetaMask, despite lacking any genuine affiliations.
• Cryptocurrency-Only Payments. Proyonet.com exclusively accepts payments in cryptocurrencies, rejecting traditional bank transfers and other methods. This approach not only masks the company’s identity but also eliminates the possibility of seeking refunds.
• Dubious Company Information. Proyonet raises suspicion by withholding essential ownership, location, and registration details. Furthermore, the absence of legitimate contact information and the recent establishment of domain and social media pages intensify skepticism.
• Unsubstantiated Hype. Proyonet.com employs groundless hype tactics, fabricating events like securing contracts with Coinbase or receiving endorsements from Elon Musk. These manipulative techniques aim to instill false confidence and encourage further investments.
• Potential Pyramid Scheme. The scam relies on a structure resembling a Ponzi scheme, leveraging a referral system spread through social media. However, only initial participants benefit, often at the expense of subsequent investors.
• Implausible Claims. Promising returns of 50-100-200%, Proyonet preys on the desire for quick profits. Yet, the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market makes such gains highly unlikely, definitively labeling Proyonet as a scam.

What Should I do as a Victim?

If you had to deal with Proyonet site and fell victim to that scam, there are still some steps to take. They will make further scam attempts harder, and also boost the knowledge about that scam among folks.

• Immediate Reporting. Your initial step should involve promptly notifying local authorities specializing in financial fraud. Extend your reach by reaching out to wallet providers and engaging with social networks’ technical support teams. These actions serve to raise the bar for the scammers’ operations.
• Share among Friends. Amplify your efforts by informing your close friends about the scam. Similar to informing authorities, this dissemination of information restricts the scammers’ potential victim pool.
• Preserve Crucial Information. Compile a comprehensive evidence archive by capturing screenshots and archiving all relevant website-related data. Collect the website URL, screenshots of the main page, login interface, end-user license agreement (EULA), account top-up menu, and wallet addresses. These records could provide vital clues for authorities in their pursuit of the scammers.
• Exploring Refund Options. While most banks’ refund policies may exclude cryptocurrency payments, it’s advisable to explore potential refund avenues under specific circumstances. Maintain hope until you obtain confirmation of the loss.
• Transform Loss into Knowledge. Turn your financial setback into an opportunity for growth. View your loss as an investment in understanding the strategies employed by crypto scam sites. Familiarize yourself with their telltale characteristics, the methods they employ to entice individuals, and the extravagant promises they make. Equipped with this insight, you’ll be well-prepared to spot and evade future traps without suffering additional financial setbacks.

Scan your system for possible malware infections

Beware of cross scams! Scam actors can use your trust to make you download some stuff or interact with certain documents. It may be a trap that installs malware to your system. There are no moral barriers or limits for these scoundrels.

Throughout the timeline of the scam, fraudsters may get in touch with you with particular documents. Alternatively, they may suggest you to set up “cryptocurrency wallet applications” or “browser extensions” to streamline access to your crypto savings. As we earlier determined, these scoundrels have no plan of returning your funds. So, what do these emails and browser extensions represent? You guessed it right – that is another element of the scam designed to throw you into willingly installing destructive programs onto your system.

Both extensions and files added to email messages can serve as a carrier for different malicious code. In this case, I foresee the presence of spyware and stealers among all forms of threats. While it is not mandatory for scammers to distribute malware, the likelihood is always above zero. As previously mentioned, their morality is of negligible importance, and their dignity is already deeply compromised. They have nothing to lose and intend to boost revenues.

Frequently asked questions