In the digital age, the ever-growing field of online investment platforms has become a breeding ground for many operations, some of which may not be what they seem. This article aims to explore two particular cases that have recently come under scrutiny: “Microsoft Expert Exchange” and two related investment entities, “Bitgrowth.ltd” and its successor “Bitgrowths.ltd“, both operating under the umbrella of “Bit Growth Ltd.”
We delve into these platforms, scrutinizing their legitimacy and the risks they pose to unwary investors.
On July 15, 2023, we received the following complaint:
I lost money on two online investment sites: Microsoft expert exchange and BITGROWTH.ldt. They said they are doing online trading for their client and handing over profit to them.
So what are Microsoft expert exchange and BITGROWTH.ldt, and are they scams?
Warning: Don’t Fall for the ‘Microsoft Expert Exchange’ Scam
In the ever-evolving world of technology, scammers never miss an opportunity to exploit the unfamiliar or the misunderstood.
Recently, we’ve noticed a concerning trend: scammers claiming to represent an online investment service known as “Microsoft Expert Exchange.”
We want to clear the air and help protect our readers from falling into such traps.
According to our research, “Microsoft Expert Exchange” refers to a community or platform where Microsoft-certified professionals share insights, offer consultancy, and render services like upgrading, migration, and optimization for Microsoft technologies like the Microsoft Exchange Server. What’s important to note is that this platform is associated with IT solutions and not investments or trading.
Disturbingly, reports have emerged of individuals misrepresenting themselves as part of the “Microsoft Expert Exchange,” but in the context of online investments. This disconnect between the Expert Exchange and what these individuals claim it to be is a red flag. The scam complaints we’ve examined suggest a deceptive operation where cybercriminals are masquerading under a legitimate-sounding service.
To complicate matters, there are legitimate websites, such as Experts Exchange, which provide technical support for Microsoft products. Unfortunately, scammers have reportedly misused this site to send phishing emails. In such instances, the scammer, posing as a Microsoft employee, alerts the victim of a supposed problem with their Microsoft account. They then bait the victim into providing personal information or lure them to a fake Microsoft website through a provided link.
Get in touch with our affiliated Cryptocurrency Forensic Specialists at CNC Intelligence for free by filling out the form below.
Protect Yourself from Such Scams
Protecting yourself from these scams requires a bit of diligence:
- Never reply to emails from unknown senders. If in doubt, don’t respond.
- Don’t click on links within suspicious emails. They can lead you to phishing websites designed to steal your personal information.
- Verify the sender’s email address. You can verify the email address by hovering over the sender’s email. If it doesn’t align with a legitimate Experts Exchange employee, it’s a scam.
- Be wary of requests for personal information. Legitimate companies rarely ask for personal information via email.
- When in doubt, reach out to Microsoft directly. If you’re unsure about the authenticity of an email, reach out to Microsoft via their official contact points.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by a Microsoft Expert Exchange scam, report it directly to Microsoft by following the instructions on their website.
Please remember that ‘Microsoft Expert Exchange’ is not an official service or product offered by Microsoft. Scammers likely employ this name to create the illusion of a legitimate Microsoft service.
Microsoft has warned about tech support scams where scare tactics are used to deceive people into paying for unnecessary technical support services. These scams often aim to steal personal or financial information, install harmful malware, or both.
In light of this, remember: Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls or send unsolicited emails to request personal or financial information or to provide technical support. Be wary of unexpected pop-up windows or phone numbers provided in error messages — real Microsoft error messages never include a phone number.
If you suspect you’ve been the target of a technical support scam, you can report it at www.microsoft.com/reportascam. By staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves and help stop these cybercriminals in their tracks.
BitGrowth.ltd
The domain bitgrowth.ltd was registered on September 10, 2022, for one year through NameCheap, Inc. A privacy service provided by Withheld for Privacy ehf protects it.
Its Semrush Authority score is 2%, with one backlink from scam-detector.com.
It is currently not hosted, and the domain is offline.
FAQ Page
On Google, the FAQ is still indexed and cached.
The following encapsulates the crucial elements listed in their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section:
- E-Currency Account: Bitgrowth.ltd provides links for individuals without an e-currency account to establish free PM, BitCoin, and USDT accounts at www.perfectmoney.is, www.blockchain.info, and www.trustwallet.com respectively.
- Withdrawals: The platform claims funds are instantly credited to your e-currency account upon request.
- Profit Calculation: Bitgrowth.ltd asserts that profits are calculated daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or yearly, depending on the chosen plan, and are credited to your available balance at each day’s end.
- Multiple Accounts and Investment Limitations: Bitgrowth.ltd prohibits users from maintaining multiple accounts, with the risk of freezing all funds if multiple accounts are detected.
- Risk Management: Bitgrowth.ltd states that their program involves no risk, claiming to employ real traders who use members’ funds for significant investments. Despite this, they advise users to align investments with their financial objectives and avoid placing short-term money in aggressive investments.
Company Information
- Address: 23 New Drum Street, London, England, E1 7AY
- Phone: “Coming Soon!”
- Email: admin@bitgrowth.ltd
- Company number: 13866195
- The copyright line reads “© 2020 bitgrowth.ltd.”
- Telegram: @Bitgrowth_support.
Bitgrowth.ltd Reviews
Numerous sources have highlighted Bitgrowth.ltd as potentially deceptive, with operations tied to high-risk sectors like cryptocurrency, investments, and possibly even gambling. Scamdoc.com, for instance, reports a “very low trust index” for the website, advising usage only by seasoned users, if at all.
A detailed review of bitgrowth.ltd by Webparanoid showed concerns due to elements of a design similar to previous suspicious websites, the high-risk nature of the site as an investment platform, the absence of social media links, relatively new domain age, the presence of many dubious websites on the same web server, and low visitor count.
In an “Earn More Cash Today” article, the author, Yhang Mhany, assesses Bitgrowth.ltd, a cryptocurrency trading and investment platform. Despite Bitgrowth offering different investment plans and promising quick profits on investments, and a referral program that enables users to earn passive income, there are red flags indicating that Bitgrowth might be a scam. These include the lack of clear owner information, duplicated content across different websites, and a low trust score. Given the unpredictability and volatility of the cryptocurrency market, the author advises users only to invest what they can afford to lose.
BeerMoneyForum
Moreover, users on forums like BeerMoneyForum.com are questioning the legitimacy of Bitgrowth.ltd.
According to a BeerMoneyForum post by a user named HYIPWIZARD, Bitgrowth.ltd is a high-yield investment program (HYIP) run by supposed experts in the cryptocurrency market. The HYIPWIZARD user advises forum readers to research Bitgrowth.ltd thoroughly and emphasizes that investments should be limited to what they can afford to lose, highlighting the inherent risks.
The investment plans offered by Bitgrowth.ltd include:
- 9% return after 24 hours
- 33% return after the same 24 hours
- 75% return after 2 days
The minimum investment amount is $50. Bitgrowth.ltd also offers a referral program with up to a 7% commission. Accepted payment methods include Bitcoin, Ether, Payeer, Perfect Money, and USDT (Tether).
Scam Detector
Scam Detector’s VLDTR® tool, designed to determine the legitimacy of a business, gave the website bitgrowth.ltd a middling score of 58.2. The website is related to the investment sector and is labeled “Active. Mediocre. Common,” suggesting it’s been operational for a while with mixed reviews.
In terms of specifics, the domain was established on 10th September 2022. The site has low popularity ratings and is not found on any blacklist. However, the lack of an HTTPS connection raises security concerns. The site’s proximity to suspicious websites scores 26/100 and has assorted threat scores ranging from 1/100 to 13/100 for spam, malware, phishing, and overall threat profile.
The review mentions subpar website design and the absence of metadata, undermining its online presence and credibility. Despite being in the attractive investment niche, the quality of bitgrowth.ltd is questionable due to these factors.
Bitgrowths.ltd
We were able to find BitGrowth’s new domain: bitgrowths.ltd.
Bitgrowths.ltd was registered on June 30, 2023, for one year through Spaceship, Inc. Withheld for Privacy ehf protects it, while Contabo GmbH hosts it.
The “Contact Us” section indicates that the company is located at 20 Balcombe Street, Marylebone, London, United Kingdom, NW1 6ND.
The administrative contact appears to be reachable at admin@bitgrowths.ltd.
Telephone: “Update Soon !” [sic]
Social media links are broken.
Bitgrowths.ltd identifies itself as a UK-based online investment company initiated on May 18, 2020. It comprises a team of finance professionals focusing on high-yield securities in major global stock markets and the Forex Market. The company claims over 92,105 accounts, $67,933.41 in total deposits, and total withdrawals reaching $31,100.60.
By analyzing the FAQ page of bitgrowths.ltd, we can determine that the website is a clone of bitgrowth.ltd.
In addition to investment plans, Bitgrowths.ltd offers a 4-level referral commission program with varying rates from 1.5% to 7%, depending on the investment level.
The company claims to have robust DDos protection, Geotrust Green EV-SSL & Sitelock for security, and round-the-clock support.
According to their About Us page, the company’s registered address is 23 New Drum Street, London, England, E1 7AY.
Investment Plans
They offer four main investment packages:
- A plan with a 9% return after 24 hours requires a minimum investment of $50 and a maximum of $509, including the principle in the returns.
- A plan offering a 33% return after 24 hours, demanding a minimum investment of $510 and a maximum of $4999, with the principle included in the returns.
- A plan promising a 75% return after 48 hours, with a minimum investment of $5000 and a maximum of $59,999, and the principle included in the returns.
- A plan suggesting a 108% return after 72 hours, requiring a minimum investment of $60,000 and a maximum of $150,000, with the principle included in the returns.
When evaluating Bitgrowths.ltd, we encounter several red flags commonly associated with fraudulent investment schemes:
- Remarkably High Returns: Bitgrowths.ltd promises unusually high returns in short timeframes (24 to 72 hours), something that genuine investments rarely guarantee.
- Assured Returns: Investments are fundamentally unpredictable, and legitimate schemes seldom assure particular returns, especially at the lofty levels pledged by Bitgrowths.ltd.
- Information Scarcity: The website provides limited information about the firm’s operations, investment approaches, or management team. This lack of transparency often indicates fraudulent activity.
- MLM Structure: Bitgrowths.ltd advertises a 4-level referral commission program, reminiscent of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) or Ponzi schemes, where older investors’ returns are financed by new ones.
Bit Growth Ltd (13866195)
Bitgrowths.ltd, and previously Bitgrowth.ltd, claim to be registered in the UK under company number 13866195.
We verified with the UK Companies House that BIT GROWTH LTD, a private limited company, was registered in the UK with the company number 13866195. It was incorporated on 23 January 2022, with its registered office at 23 New Drum Street, London, England, E1 7AY. The nature of the company’s business was activities of investment trusts (SIC code: 64301).
However, the company was dissolved on 27 June 2023, three days before Bitgrowths.ltd was registered.
The company’s director was Mr. Jude Wyatt, appointed on the day of incorporation. He held significant control over the company with an ownership of 75% or more shares. His correspondence address was 26 Teville Road, Worthing, United Kingdom, BN11 1UG. He was born in June 1974 and is a British national residing in the UK.
Microsoft Expert Exchange & BitGrowth Review – Bottom Line
It’s no secret that the rise of the digital age has introduced an alarming number of opportunities for cybercriminals to defraud unsuspecting victims. With the ease of setting up online platforms and the allure of anonymity, they continue to devise increasingly sophisticated schemes to swindle people out of their hard-earned money. The purported ‘Microsoft Expert Exchange’ and ‘Bitgrowth.ltd’ are prime examples of these digital pitfalls.
The misappropriation of Microsoft’s brand in the ‘Microsoft Expert Exchange’ scam serves as a reminder of the pressing need for continual consumer education about the ever-changing landscape of online fraud. A general rule of thumb: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always cross-check the legitimacy of the sender and any platform involved, never share personal information without verification, and always stay vigilant about unsolicited emails or messages.
As for Bitgrowth.ltd and its successor Bitgrowths.ltd, the tale is all too familiar. Their promises of high, guaranteed returns in a short period and other red flags like limited company information mirror the classic characteristics of investment fraud. These platforms usually rely on an influx of new investors to pay off the old ones, leading to a fragile, unsustainable system destined to collapse.
While it can be tempting to get swept up in the excitement of potentially high returns, it’s crucial to remember the inherently unpredictable nature of investments. A legitimate investment opportunity will never guarantee a specific return, especially within an implausibly short timeframe. Reputable platforms are transparent about their operations, have robust security measures, and are ready to provide detailed information about their investment strategies and management teams.
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