The lure of easy money
Through Facebook’s bustling channels and whispers on the messaging app, Kenyans are being lured by an investment scheme allegedly linked to Marathon Digital Holdings that promises returns. Potential investors are drawn into a web of stories about renting out "cryptocurrency machines" as an investment that promises substantial daily returns without any effort. The scheme, which operates under the names Mara, Marathon Digital Holdings and Marathon Cloud Limited, promises wealth and urges people to recruit others to take a piece of the pie.
However, a closer examination of the program's two core websites, marake.com and marake.org, reveals a stark reality. These platforms, while claiming to be affiliated with the real Marathon Digital Holdings, are actually promoting a classic Ponzi scheme. The narrative of cryptocurrency machine rentals and the lure of easy profits are strategies designed to lure individuals into a cycle of recruitment and investment without any tangible return.
Similar scams happen frequently! Renting Cryptocurrency Machines with Guaranteed Returns Is a Red Flag
web of deception
Additionally, the real Marathon Digital Holdings, known for its large-scale Bitcoin mining operations, confirmed that it has no sales or presence in Kenya and dissociated itself from fraudulent activities conducted in its name.
The signature promise of guaranteed daily returns for leasing crypto machines is a red flag, a common feature of crypto scams designed to deceive and exploit. The Central Bank of Kenya has repeatedly warned of such deceptive investment opportunities, stressing the importance of vigilance and due diligence in the face of growing digital fraud.
Similar scams are popping up across Africa
The scheme is not an isolated incident, with similar scams popping up across Africa. The operation of GHash Mining has been exposed as yet another Ponzi scheme that collapsed after failing to deliver on its lofty promises. Over 1 million members were defrauded, including 300,000 active members in Kenya. The GHash Mining scam is a stark reminder that the digital currency space Unregulated investment opportunities carry risks.
The lure of getting rich quick in the cryptocurrency space continues to attract many, but reality is often far from the dream. As digital currencies gain prominence, the shadow of deception grows longer, casting a pall over legitimate operations and ensnaring the unwary in a web of lies. It's a cautionary tale in the digital age, where vigilance is the price of hope and the promise of easy money is often a mirage in the desert of reality.
