Analysis performed by the Digital Forensic Analysis Lab (DFRLab) of the Atlantic Council assume tank means that the notorious cryptocurrency-theme
Analysis performed by the Digital Forensic Analysis Lab (DFRLab) of the Atlantic Council assume tank means that the notorious cryptocurrency-themed Ponzi scheme OneCoin used faux critiques on TrustPilot and Quora to lure traders.
In keeping with a report published on Jan. 29, OneCoin acquired an anomalous variety of five-star critiques on TrustPilot after the media began negatively overlaying OneCoin in October 2019.
OneCoin’s TrustPilot critiques over time. Supply: DFRLab
Per the report, of the 579 TrustPilot critiques of OneCoin, 90% had been optimistic and about 400 of the five-star scores had been revealed in a single month. DFRLab states that OneCoin additionally acquired some one-star scores, however these had been by far outnumbered by optimistic critiques.
Indicators of inauthentic exercise
Researchers had been unable to ensure whether or not the accounts behind the critiques had been inauthentic or automated because of TrustPilot’s design, however mentioned that their exercise was suspicious:
“October 2019 spike in five-star scores, nevertheless, indicated an irregular inflow of favorable critiques simply as OneCoin’s public relations and authorized woes mounted. The likelihood stays that the inflow for each scores and critiques was natural, although the timing and excessive bias was extremely suspicious.”
DFRLab additionally discovered profiles praising OneCoin on question-answer platform Quora which confirmed “inauthentic behaviour, resembling no profile footage, no biographical data, inconsistent posting instances, and an unique curiosity in OneCoin-related discussions.”
The researchers present one profile, by which the proprietor described herself as a “cryptocurrency knowledgeable and investor” however solely answered questions on OneCoin. The account was lively from January to March 2018, and its peak exercise was when OneCoin was most lively. The report reads:
“As OneCoin’s authorized challenges mounted, the corporate’s pyramid advertising scheme garnered vital consideration. Its digital advertising ways, nevertheless, acquired significantly much less scrutiny.”
OneCoin is likely one of the most well-known scams within the cryptocurrency house. The official OneCoin web site solely ceased operations in early December 2019. Throughout the identical month, the New York Southern District Courtroom granted a continuance within the lawsuit in opposition to David Pike — the CFO of a non-public fairness fund — over his alleged hyperlink to the rip-off.