We received a complaint regarding the website Koganx.com.

• Amount Lost: $4,056.30
• Scam Description: This is a job advertisement scam on Instagram for Kogan and Protiviti Sydney using the platforms Koganx and Protivitinp. Victims are lured via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp and asked to complete daily tasks with increasing financial demands. They are tricked into transferring USDT (Tether cryptocurrency) with promises of a commission that is never paid.

If you encounter job ads for Kogan or Protiviti Sydney on Instagram using the platforms Koganx or Protivitinp, avoid them! They are part of a scam where victims must transfer USDT and cannot withdraw funds. Victims report being blocked and trapped with demands for more money.

If these individuals have scammed you, please share your story to help others avoid this fraud.

Domain Analysis

The scam involving the domain koganx.com primarily targets individuals seeking employment opportunities through social media platforms like Instagram. Victims, such as international students, are lured by job advertisements for reputable companies, specifically Kogan and Protiviti Sydney, which utilize the platforms Koganx and Protivitinp. Upon engaging with these ads, victims are redirected to Facebook Messenger and subsequently contacted via WhatsApp by individuals who only provide their first names.

The fraudulent scheme involves assigning victims daily tasks, each promising a 1% commission for completion. However, these tasks, particularly the “package tasks,” quickly escalate in cost, requiring substantial top-ups with USDT (Tether cryptocurrency). Victims are manipulated into believing these tasks are part of legitimate e-commerce activities designed to enhance merchants’ product visibility. As the victims progress, the financial demands increase, with some tasks necessitating more than 3000 USDT. The scammers ensure that victims remain trapped by claiming that commissions cannot be withdrawn until all tasks, especially the final ones, are completed. This creates a vicious cycle of financial demands, leading victims to exhaust their savings.

A specific case details how a victim was forced to transfer 981.85 USDT on the Koganx platform and 3582 USDT on the Protivitinp platform, leaving them with no funds and in significant distress. The scam drained the victim’s savings and resulted in the freezing of their bank and Binance accounts due to multiple transactions involving USDT purchases via Binance from various merchants. The victim’s bank, ANZ, identified the scam and initiated disputes on all transactions made in AUD to buy USDT, blocking the merchants’ bank accounts. The situation was further complicated by the merchants lodging disputes against the victim’s Binance account, demanding the return of USDT to facilitate refunds to the victim’s bank account.

Koganx.com Review

The website koganx.com presents itself as a legitimate e-commerce platform affiliated with Kogan, an established Australian company. The homepage encourages users to log in or create an account, with options to select various languages, suggesting a global reach. The website is designed to appear professional, featuring icons, structured meta tags, and scripts typical of modern websites.

Upon closer examination, the site’s content includes a detailed ‘About’ section, claiming that Kogan was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It purportedly offers various products, including electronics, home appliances, household items, hardware, and toys. However, the website lacks detailed contact information, such as physical addresses, phone numbers, and direct email contacts, which is unusual for a legitimate e-commerce platform.

The critical summary of the content reveals a few key points. The website focuses on user registration and account creation, emphasizing logging in. It attempts to build credibility by associating itself with the well-known Kogan brand, detailing its supposed history and range of products. However, there is no evidence of actual products listed or any operational e-commerce functionalities, such as product browsing or purchasing options, which raises concerns about the site’s authenticity.

Red Flags

Serious red flags indicative of a scam are prevalent throughout the website. Firstly, the site lacks verifiable contact details, such as a physical address or direct customer service contact information, which are critical for any legitimate business.

Another significant concern is the absence of product listings and operational features typical of an e-commerce platform, despite claims of a wide range of products.

Additionally, the domain registration details show that the website was only created recently, in May 2024, which contradicts its claim of being operational since 2006.

Furthermore, the domain is registered through a registrar known for privacy protection, and the registrant details are heavily redacted. While this practice is sometimes legitimate, fraudulent entities often use it to avoid accountability. Scam websites frequently use quick registration and immediate claims of an established history to build credibility quickly.

Koganx.com Reviews

The website koganx.com presents several red flags that indicate it may be a scam. From the search results, multiple reviews on Trustpilot highlight serious concerns. Users have reported being contacted via WhatsApp and asked to log in with a code, which leads to their money being taken. OlyaMancuso, who rated the site 1 out of 5 stars, explicitly warns, “Koganx.com is the biggest SCAM. They will contact you via WhatsApp and ask you to log in with a code. They will take YOUR money away. Be aware !!!!! SCAM.”

Similarly, another user, Sharon C, gave a 1-star rating and said, “SCAMM BE AWARE THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AWAY ASK YOU TO COMPLETE TASK.” Both reviews suggest a consistent pattern of deceit, where users are lured into completing tasks under the guise of job opportunities, only to have their funds stolen.

Further analysis from scam detection sites like ScamMinder and Scam Detector corroborates these claims, advising users to exercise caution when interacting with koganx.com. The site has a poor rating on these platforms, with ScamMinder assigning a score of 15/100, indicating high risk.

Bottom Line

Based on the comprehensive evidence and user testimonials, koganx.com exhibits numerous characteristics indicative of a scam.