Update (December 12, 2017): US authorities have finally begun cracking down on USI-Tech. In a statement released on December 20, 2017, the Texas State Securities Board announced that it had moved against USI-Tech, serving the operation with an emergency cease-and-desist order. According to Texas Regulators, those named in the order (Clifford Thomas from Maryland and Michael Rivera from California) had violated state securities registration standards, and failed to disclose information based on which investors could make an informed decision about the feasibility of the USI-Tech pitch. Regulators have also pointed out that the operation peddles daily returns in classic HYIP fashion, while encouraging existing members (quite a few of whom have posted comments below) to bring others into the fold, matching yet another trait of classic Ponzi schemes.
USI (United Software Intelligence) Tech is very peculiar operation, which has recently started to probe the crypto currency vertical with an extremely scam-suspicious offer. What is so peculiar about USI Tech? If you take a look at their website and you actually do some research about the “products” they offer, you won’t find a single sign telling you that this is indeed legitimate. Everything about every facet of the operation screams “scam” and a “shameless pyramid scheme,” yet there are many people out there who promote it, doubtlessly in the hopes of picking up affiliate money in the shape of commissions and rewards. There’s a thread on USI Tech at bitcointalk.org too, where all the genuine posters express suspicion and skepticism, but no one actually delivers any kind of proof to combat the buzz generated by a couple of “promoters.” At this point, calling USI Tech a 100% scam would be far-fetched on account of this lack of evidence, but the fact remains that everything about the business model the operator pushes is wrong.
It appears that usi-tech.info, the official website of the operation, has started out as a run-of-the-mill auto trading scam. It peddles some sort of shady software which is supposed to dominate Forex trading, automatically generating massive and consistent revenues for its users, in exchange for a one-time fee. Sounds too good to be true? You bet it does. The way the auto-trader is promoted is highly suspicious too. The website features a highly scammy promotional video, and it makes outrageous promises, without delivering any kind of insight into how these feats of greatness are accomplished. We don’t really find out anything about the company/people behind the operation either. The site does have an “impressum” page, where a Dubai company registration number and an address is given. The address is but a PO box at a hotel though, so it does absolutely no favors to the operation on the credibility front.
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A truly dedicated investigator will actually find out though who this operation really belongs to, although it isn’t easy by any means, as those promoting the scheme will always do their best to keep this bit of information under wraps.
The person under whose name the usi-tech.info domain has been registered is a certain Joao Felipe Fernandez Severino, a Portuguese national, who has been barred from financial activity in Portugal. This person was involved with another scam called AMC INVEST – apparently USI Tech’s first incarnation. AMC Invest offered 10% interest per month on investments and it ended up scamming hundreds of people before it was blown up by the authorities. People were arrested in connection with this case and some of them remain in custody.
If you come across a YouTube video posted by a certain OJ Jordan, in which he interviews the alleged CEO Ralf Gold and the UK rep, take it with a grain salt. This OJ character is apparently in on the scam as well.
Why do so many people seem to provide positive feedback on USI tech though? The fact that a EUR120 referral reward is offered to every new “member” one brings into the fold, may have a lot to do with it.
While on the USI Tech homepage we are told that their trading bot is not the type built on a couple of straightforward technical indicators, like most of its peers, no specifics are provided in this regard at all. We are supposed to take their promises and statements at face value and that’s it. The auto trader supposedly works with the MT4 platform, so it probably makes use of the technical indicators of the platform. The bottom line on this trading bot angle is that it’s most likely a shameless (and quite unoriginal scam).
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any shadier with the operator, you learn about USI Tech’s Bitcoin HYIP/Pyramid scheme, which promises fabulous returns of 1% per day for 140 days on one’s BTC investment. All one really needs to do to get in on this deal is to hand these trustworthy people his/her bitcoins. “Earning opportunities” abound after the investment is actually made too. Those who bring friends of theirs into the USI fold, get a 10% commission on the Bitcoin packs these friends purchase and – in classic multi-level marketing meets pyramid-scheme fashion – a 3% on the referrals those referred by them make.
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If one has any doubt in his/her mind about the true nature of this operation, in the ridiculous videos through which they promote their Ponzi scheme, the marketers of USI Tech use a series of pyramid diagrams just to make everything crystal-clear. There may indeed be a good dose of irony at work here.
Joining this Bitcoin Ponzi scheme is obviously free of charge, unlike the auto trader deal detailed above. All the perpetrators really need are their victims’ Bitcoin deposits.
Again, if you log onto YouTube or run a Google search, you will see scores of people promoting this scam. The above detailed affiliate scheme does quite a bit to explain why that is the case. Furthermore, Ponzi schemes like the USI Tech Bitcoin one, may actually pay a few of their victims for a while, from the funds deposited by their referrals. Some of these schemes may actually run as long as new people keep joining by the droves, but sooner or later they will indeed collapse, as the math just never adds up for them.
While bitcointalk forum users are cautiously suspicious in USI Tech’s regard for the time being, that’s hardly the case at Reddit, where people don’t shy away from calling this Ponzi scheme what it truly is.
Now, if you think that you are the only one who fell for this scam, think again. The domain usi-tech.info enjoys an Alexa global rank of 21,933 at the time of writing, which indicates this is a highly popular website. It’s mostly visited by people from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and Canada.
USI Tech Review Conclusion
The more closely you dissect USI Tech and its ridiculous offers, the more convinced you shall be that you are indeed looking at a combination of several different underhanded promotional methods and scams. We have an auto trading scam and a Bitcoin Ponzi scheme in the same package, powered by the evergreen appeal of multi-level marketing, and of course, by the never-ending supply of human ignorance.
Verdit: USI Tech is a SCAM!
Blacklisted sites: usi-tech.info, usiview.com, usitech-int.com & bitcoincashflow.net
Now, as you can see below and also in various forums, there are many positive reviews of USI Tech online. The reason quite simply might be that they offer 35% commissions on 12 referral levels in classic Ponzi fashion. If you have been scammed by them, please share your story with us by replying below. You should probably also report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center to prevent other people from getting scammed!
Update (November 6, 2017)
USI Tech have apparently realized that the only way to keep their system running is to constantly make announcements, release new features and have public appearances. This way, the public is kept hyped and new money keeps flowing into the system. Thus far, USI Tech have apparently paid their participants, but some of their hype-generating statements have been revealed to be nothing but lies. For instance, the operation has NOT been cleared by the SEC for the US market. That is nothing but a lie. USI Tech is not registered with the SEC in any shape or form: this can be verified by searching the Edgar database. In fact, it looks like some people have already reported the operation to the SEC. The only reason it has not yet been investigated, is the limited nature of the resources the regulator has at its disposal. If it keeps growing the way it currently does though, USI Tech may just earn a spot higher up on the SEC priority-ladder. For the time being, take a look at this document and see what the SEC’s attitude is towards operations like USI Tech.
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The operation has slowly been phasing out its Forex-robot angle, and it is now almost exclusively focused on the crypto currency packages. It has begun explaining its outlandish return rates through the generation of free energy with the aid of a magnetic generators, and the near loss-less re-conversion of heat into electricity. There’s an all-too-familiar artificial intelligence angle tossed in for seasoning too, so it’s safe to say that this one is getting wilder by the day.
Let us not forget that USI Tech have begun issuing their own crypto tokens, too.
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Update (January 24, 2024)
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, details charges against Horst Jicha, the CEO of a crypto investment platform called USI Tech. Jicha, a German national, has been charged with securities fraud and conspiracies to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He was arrested on December 23, 2023, as he entered the United States.
The indictment alleges that USI Tech was a multilevel marketing scheme disguised as a cryptocurrency investment platform. It was initially launched in Europe and later introduced in the United States in 2017. Jicha, as a co-founder and CEO, falsely guaranteed high returns and misrepresented the legality of the platform’s offerings. After facing regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. in early 2018, USI Tech abruptly ceased operations in the U.S., leaving investors unable to access their funds and resulting in substantial financial losses. It’s estimated that around $150 million in Ether and Bitcoin was transferred to addresses controlled by Jicha after the platform shut down.
Victims of this scheme are encouraged to contact the FBI at USITechFraud@fbi.gov. The charges are currently allegations, and Jicha is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud and General Crimes Sections, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin Farrell, Genny Ngai, and Daniel Marcus leading the prosecution.
This case highlights the U.S. government’s commitment to prosecuting financial fraud, particularly in emerging financial opportunities like cryptocurrency.
I bought 3 packages almost 4 months ago and planning to add more because i always get paid everyday as what i expected. I know someone whose account was already expired and able to get all his money 100% capital plus 40% gain. USI is not a scam. As far as i know they already put up an office in Phils. and got their SEC registration there.
SEC registration is a lie. They have apparently been reported to the SEC.
Have you actually withdrawn money and had it deposited into your bank account from USI? It may be legit but it does have the earmarking of a ponzi scheme. So…any money in your bank account that you made via USI?
I’m taking out money every couple of days. It’s everthing they say it is.
But the money you have been paid is from new members and not from trading. USI is a ponzi and will one day crash and burn.
Has anyone not been paid after 140 days on just their packages? I don’t plan on promoting USI until I see if they pay.
Everyone has gotten paid that I met. You get paid daily, not after 140 days.
Buy getting paid, you mean they have withdrawn funds from USI and had them deposited into their wallet or bank, right?
Yes we get paud everyday. I have gotten my seed capital after two months because of bitcoin appreciation.
I just paid for one package to wallet address they gave me. It was showing funds received, so I clicked the dashboard but now I don’t see them in my balance nor I see my package. I try to create a support ticket but when clicked on save then it just say loading and screen just get hung forever. So I guess there is no way to get to support. So not again that I got scamed. Are they scame? Still don’t want to believe that it could be a scame, I did my DD through YouTube and everyone seems to be praising them there. I feel very disappointed and heart broken. In the comments above some people are still praising them, may they were hired reps from usitech.
Nobody hired anyone to post here. You need to get with your sponsor so they can show you how to use the website. Sometimes websites are slow, sometimes confirmations are slow. Sometimes support gets backlogged. But your tokens will be where they should and you will get paid as they stated. Don’t let FUD overcome you. Relax. Reach out to your support team, that’s why their there, that’s why they get a commission. It takes time to teach people how to use the site. If you picked a sponsor that doesn’t have time for you and your success pick another one. I get tired of explaining everything to people who get into USI and their sponsor never taught them how to transfer, how to buy and rebuy, how to share their link, how to best grow their bitcoin. They just followed a link and are clueless about everything else except for what they find on YouTube. Pick your sponsor wisely. Nothing wrong with USI tech. Next month they will have changes to the site and hopefully it will be more user friendly and you won’t have a hard time finding the links to see what your looking for… since your sponsor obviously didn’t show you.
so true for i too love USI Tech … why they are getting a bad rap here is beyond my control .. n i am very shocked n pissed off now to say the very least … 8+ yrs is one hell of a long time to be in a Biz IF IT WAS A SCAM!! …and many of our partners are getting paid… I only have 4 pkg n one old one… but i am being paid… now with new url things like moving to a new home … are in a bit of an array … n is being fixed as we speak … 🙂 I feel very confident in USI TECH too …..FAKE NEWS SAYS OTHERWISE …..
Jay, they have a new customer service number now, as well as a new backoffice with a new link. I’m sorry that your upline doesn’t seem to be updating you. Give them a call directly and they will take care of you. Please update us on the progress, here when you get a chance. +1-702-552-1640
And the new link is: [affiliate link removed]
i just signed up USI Tech, I didn’t buy any package yet, try to call this number ( 1-702-552-1640 ) – the number is not in service, i tried 4-5 time and I get this “i am sorry you call cannot be completed ….” . I am still in process of DD . Thanks for all the input.
The support is working perfectly I always receive reply when I contact them.
Can’t understand why this has happened to you. I know at least 300 people in usi that have not had their problem solved
More than two weeks ago, I bought two packages on two different days. The second package never showed up in my account. After opening a ticket on the website and several follow ups, I received an emai that the matter was referred to the responsible department. After no resolution and several phone calls that were answered by a call center in the Philippines, again I was told not to worry, it would be taken care of. This is not how reputable businesses work. It still hasn’t been taken care of and this doesn’t seem to be a priority for them.
Furthermore, I watched a video with one of the owners where he refused to give the name of the cloud mining company that USI-TECH is contracted with, saying that if he did then everyone would go directly to the mining company. That’s pure deception. If you do any real research, you will find that making a profit mining is becoming more and more difficult and profits are shrinking. There are no legitimate companies that are paying near these returns and certainly not guaranteeing any return. This is a Ponzi scheme by definition with no real product. It won’t last.
Hi Cliff – support has been an issue. I understand why you’d be concerned.. the fact is – they’ve had such a massive growth that they just weren’t geared up for it.
A new support team is in place now – along with a phone numbers you can call (I saw one posted above).
I too had a pack that went missing.. but they did follow up and got it all sorted for me..
I strongly suggest you do two things – 1. talk to whoever your upline is, 2. lodge another support ticket (or call them). I’d be happy to help you personally but not sure if leaving my details here is such a good idea!
Cheers
Lesley (Australia)
* This comment came with an affiliate link, which we removed, indicating it’s probably fake.
Yes, I got my package bit it will be a long wait before I can do anything with it. Meanwhile the only way to make anything in it is to recruit. So if you are not good in recruiting, then you can bring in more to invest but then you have a long wait ..
nope Not true.. U do Not need to rickie recruit anyone … u can simply purchase your own $65 BTC PKGS …. n it will bring u in 40% on your Capital in 7 mths time … from there u can withdraw it if u choose but most simply put it in REBUY MODE … Compound interest ….every 7 mths … IF u hve a dl partner U will get 10% on all their purchases at same time they buy BTC PKG n if they do the Forex SW … about 140 Euro … 🙂 EITHER WAY JAY … U STILL EARN $ WITH USI TECH …. most folks start out just for themselfs n in time decide to share when they see they are making $ … i am so supprised your sponsor is not assisting u on these simple matters…. ours is marvelous … as is USI TECH of course….just leave it all in there n be sure u have the REBUY BUTTON ON ….n let it do its thing 🙂 kching
I am Lesley..youve taken my comment from somewhere. ..there
was no affiliate link…youve made this up with my name in it…who is the scammer here?
The first comment by Lesley has a different email address and IP… so how do you explain that? Trust me, we do not have time or need to invent comments, we get plenty every day, from both scammers and victims. If the authorities will ask, we won’t have any problem to provide them with all the emails and IPs of the scammers and spammers posting on our site. We’d actually LOVE that!
Ok firstly… both comments were mine – I have the new NBN on at my house (which is Australian for Nightmare Broadband Next-to-nospeed).
So i often use my portable wifi – so yes different IP addresses.
Secondly – I have a personal email address I use with FB and one I use with my business.
THe first comment would have had a link to the support porttal.. I would never leave an affiliate link here – would be a complete waste of my time and energy.
So – your accusation of me being fake – is wrong… as are several of the facts in your article.
It’s fine – you’re not a professional investigator…
Best of luck.
USI TECH is now in 8+ yrs of biz … n Growing stronger day by day n with our New URL n BO … Transfer of accounts being done … when it is complete … 🙂 for every one …. I am sorry to hear u had trouble with your pkg…. for we had a few with issues n they were taken care of myself included … n my dl partner ..all updated correctly …. it is your Sponsor too whom needs to assist you on how to do things correctly .. ie buying pkgs .. or forex sw .. (optional of course ) etc …..USI TECH is to OLD to be a ponzi as u say ….we just had a great celebration in UK … Convention here is the video 🙂 many successful people there … youtube.com/watch?v=Yrk1b8xNXlI&t=1028s
as for myself I only have 4 pkgs one is old n all are being paid 5x a week …i am very happy with USI TECH ….hope u will be if not already by now too…..errors will be made by humans it is up to humans to have it corrected …when informed ….n they have been doing so …. good luck with your account ..contact Your Sponsor for advice n send in another support ticket if u still need help …. tc
lol 8 years, not doing this it hasn’t! Live and learn, live and learn!
USI-Tech is not a scam. Myself and several people I personally know, are making good returns…140% return on packages purchased…as well as commissions on referrals.
Nobody has been scammed by USI-TECH. It is a legitimate company with a powerful software and means to generate income through bitcoins. Time will tell. I use USI-TECH as a part of my portfolio and they are the best in my opinion.
Hi John
where are you based pl`s ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I m looking at this usi tech ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I went to a promo in sydney australia ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,are you making a bundle of money , or just ticking ower
cheers Paul
They pay as agreed. You get according to what you put in.
How does US approved this company from entering their place? As I am aware, US was one of the most regulated country in the planet.
Huh
Did you forget the that USI last week got a stamp of approval that they are in compliant to do business in the USA. This is very hard to do. I guess the FTC links Ponzi.
really, I dont think so look here: secsearch.sec.gov/search?utf8=%3F&affiliate=secsearch&query=USI+Tech
Butcrac, the search you didn’t bring up anything regarding the company USI-Tech. It instead brought up PDFs that have the letters “usi” together, as in “using” or “perusing”. None of them are about the company USI-Tech.
I’m not suggesting you get involved in the company USI-Tech. Just correcting the facts.
Search for the word “using” then…
USI Tech has not been prosecuted as running a ponzi scam yet, therefore it is not mentioned in SEC site. Whatever it is, to add credibility to the company, USI Tech should publish its audited financial statements to those “loaned” money to them. The financial should disclose the usage of borrowed funds and proper allocation of its source of income. In the absent of the financial statements, whatever the management commented should be cautious…
I thought Ponzi schemes are illegal in the USA. Why are they doing live events there? Who can we report them to? Can you please find out how they are able to do business in the USA and post your findings here please.
Is anyone that has been scammed? No replies.
Crickets*
No one has been scammed in USI-Tech. This article is a scam.
Note that this comment was written by a USI-Tech affiliate.
If it is a Ponzi scheme, everyone is being scammed. The fact that some people have actually withdrawn money so far does not mean that it isn’t a scam.
The fact that my wife of 13 years hasn’t slept with someone else does not mean that my marriage isn’t a scam.
Same goes with my friend returning my car, my brother paying back the $500 he borrowed, and distrusting that people will remember to drive on the right side of the street tomorrow.
I like to live each day basically so overly cautious that when an opportunity does present itself, I distrust it out of sheer habit.
I’m not absolutely sure how to take that but I’ll reply on the basis that it was sarcasm. Forgive me if it wasn’t.
That is so not the same thing. In a working ponzi scheme, people who get in early make money. People making a profit out of USI-Tech is exactly what you would expect at this stage of a successful ponzi. People making money right now says nothing at all about whether or not you should trust USI.