臭名昭著的新西兰金字塔计划发起者被定罪

New Zealand Pyramid Scheme Promoter Convicted of Fair Trading Act Violations

新西兰金字塔计划发起人因违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.

北岸地方法院已根据《公平交易法》对自称“新西兰最大骗子”的雪莉·卡伦（Shelly Cullen）宣判五项罪名成立，罪名是她在推动复杂的传销计划中发挥的作用。

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.

商务委员会称，卡伦在 2020 年和 2021 年期间针对新西兰的毛利人和太平洋岛民社区实施了基于加密货币的“Lion's Share”计划。据估计，该计划的参与者中约有 83% 损失了投资。

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.

美国商务委员会公平交易部总经理凡妮莎·霍恩谴责卡伦的行为是对弱势群体的“公然无视”。霍恩说，卡伦曾公开吹嘘她打算“成为新西兰最大的骗子之一，创造历史”。

"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."

霍恩强调：“传销案件受到严肃对待，因为它们对我们的社区造成了重大伤害。” “会员经常在潜在的财务回报和风险水平方面受到误导。当这些计划失败时，对参与者及其家人来说可能会造成毁灭性的后果。”

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.

霍恩警告说，其他传销计划仍在继续传播，其中包括新西兰卡伦目前正在推广的一种名为“MaVie”的新传销计划。商务委员会敦促公众对此类计划保持谨慎，特别是考虑到卡伦因在狮股传销计划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》禁止传销。然而，霍恩承认，有些人可能不熟悉这些骗局的定义特征。

"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."

霍恩说：“金字塔计划不断发展，利用社交媒体和加密货币作为合法的创收机会。” “通常，它们涉及购买会员资格或进行前期投资，并承诺招募新会员作为产生利润的主要手段，而不是销售真正的商品或服务。”

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.

商务委员会在打击传销和保护消费者免受金融剥削的努力中保持警惕。鼓励怀疑自己可能参与传销的公众向委员会举报此事。