臭名昭著的新西蘭金字塔計劃發起者被定罪

New Zealand Pyramid Scheme Promoter Convicted of Fair Trading Act Violations

紐西蘭金字塔計劃發起人因違反公平交易法被判有罪

North Shore District Court has convicted Shelly Cullen, the self-proclaimed "biggest scammer in New Zealand," on five charges under the Fair Trading Act for her role in promoting a sophisticated pyramid scheme.

北岸地方法院已根據《公平交易法》對自稱「紐西蘭最大騙子」的雪莉·卡倫（Shelly Cullen）宣判五項罪名成立，罪名是她在推動複雜的傳銷計劃中發揮的作用。

The Commerce Commission alleges that Cullen targeted Māori and Pasifika communities in New Zealand with the "Lion's Share" cryptocurrency-based scheme during 2020 and 2021. It is estimated that approximately 83 percent of participants in the scheme lost their investments.

商務委員會稱，卡倫在2020 年和2021 年期間針對紐西蘭的毛利人和太平洋島民社區實施了基於加密貨幣的「Lion's Share」計劃。投資。

Vanessa Horne, General Manager of Fair Trading at the Commerce Commission, condemned Cullen's actions as "brazen disregard" for vulnerable individuals. Cullen had boasted publicly of her intention to "make history as one of the biggest scammers in New Zealand," Horne said.

美國商務委員會公平交易部總經理凡妮莎·霍恩譴責卡倫的行為是對弱勢群體的「公然無視」。霍恩說，卡倫曾公開吹噓她打算「成為紐西蘭最大的騙子之一，創造歷史」。

"Pyramid scheme cases are taken seriously due to the significant harm they inflict on our communities," Horne emphasized. "Members are often misled about potential financial returns and risk levels. When these schemes collapse, the consequences for participants and their families can be devastating."

霍恩強調：“傳銷案件受到嚴肅對待，因為它們對我們的社區造成了重大傷害。” 「會員經常在潛在的財務回報和風險水平方面受到誤導。當這些計劃失敗時，對參與者及其家人來說可能會造成毀滅性的後果。”

Horne warned that other pyramid schemes continue to circulate, including a new one currently being promoted by Cullen in New Zealand known as "MaVie." The Commerce Commission urges the public to exercise caution around such schemes, especially in light of Cullen's conviction for her role in the Lion's Share pyramid scheme.

霍恩警告說，其他傳銷計劃仍在繼續傳播，其中包括紐西蘭卡倫目前正在推廣的一種名為「MaVie」的新傳銷計劃。商務委員會敦促公眾對此類計劃保持謹慎，特別是考慮到卡倫因在獅股傳銷計劃中所扮演的角色而被定罪。

Pyramid schemes are prohibited under the Fair Trading Act. However, Horne acknowledged that some individuals may not be familiar with the defining characteristics of these scams.

《公平交易法》禁止傳銷。然而，霍恩承認，有些人可能不熟悉這些騙局的定義特徵。

"Pyramid schemes are constantly evolving, utilizing social media and cryptocurrencies to appear as legitimate revenue-generating opportunities," Horne said. "Typically, they involve purchasing a membership or making an upfront investment with the promise of recruiting new members as the primary means of generating profit, rather than the sale of genuine goods or services."

霍恩說：“金字塔計劃不斷發展，利用社交媒體和加密貨幣作為合法的創收機會。” “通常，它們涉及購買會員資格或進行前期投資，並承諾招募新會員作為產生利潤的主要手段，而不是銷售真正的商品或服務。”

The Commerce Commission remains vigilant in its efforts to combat pyramid schemes and protect consumers from financial exploitation. Members of the public who suspect they may have been involved in a pyramid scheme are encouraged to report the matter to the Commission.

商務委員會在打擊傳銷和保護消費者免受金融剝削的努力中保持警惕。鼓勵懷疑自己可能參與傳銷的公眾向委員會舉報此事。