DANNY DE HEK Entrepreneur Decision Maker Connector Podcaster EducatorOn January 21, 2025, YouTube terminated my channel, “The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger,” citing violations of their sex and nudity policy.

The decision has left me, Danny de Hek, shocked and disappointed, as my channel—with 1,900 videos exposing cryptocurrency-based Ponzi schemes—has been a beacon of public awareness and justice.

What Happened?

YouTube’s message read:

“We have reviewed your content and found severe or repeated violations of our sex and nudity policy. Because of this, we have removed your channel from YouTube.”

While YouTube allows appeals, previous experiences with their automated systems and opaque policies give me little hope for reinstatement.

Context: The Strikes That Led Here

December 2024 Incident

In December, during an interview with Ryan “Ryzn” Conley discussing WEB3, Conley exposed his hairy bottom on camera. While the exposure was brief and not explicit, technically, it could be considered nudity. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention as I was live-streaming and chose to leave the video online, believing it to be no different from other content commonly seen on YouTube—like half-naked individuals in G-strings. However, YouTube flagged the video and issued a Community Guidelines strike. I appealed the strike, but it was upheld, with an expiration date of February 7.

January 20, 2025 Incident

While live-streaming a Zoom meeting hosted by Megan Lynch—known for promoting scams—my broadcast was infiltrated by “TUGMAN,” an individual who posted explicit content. Due to YouTube’s processing limitations, I couldn’t edit the footage immediately and set the video to private. Despite these precautions, YouTube issued another strike. Lynch, with her significant online following, publicly urged her supporters to report my channel, an effort that appears to have succeeded in silencing my voice.

A History of Attacks and Challenges

Over the years, my work as “The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger” has faced relentless pushback from scammers, fraudulent actors, and even platforms unwilling to fully address the challenges of tackling crypto-based Ponzi schemes. This resistance has manifested in various forms, from platform bans to coordinated smear campaigns and legal threats.

Subscriber Manipulation and Targeted Attacks

My subscriber count on YouTube saw inexplicable fluctuations, surging from 8,500 to 25,000 within weeks and later climbing to 28,000. I suspect these fluctuations were driven by bots deployed by scammers attempting to flag my account as suspicious. Despite notifying YouTube, no meaningful action was taken, raising concerns about their automated moderation systems.

Legal Battles

In 2023, a scammer filed a $3.8 Million Defamation lawsuit against me in New Zealand’s High Court. My legal team’s robust defense led to the case being withdrawn mere hours before the hearing. The judge later awarded me 90% of my costs, condemning the scammer’s tactics.

This legal battle showcased the importance of standing up against baseless accusations, even in the face of significant personal and financial risk. While emotionally taxing, it reaffirmed my commitment to exposing scams and protecting victims.

  • Facebook: My account was disabled with the following message:

“We’ve disabled your account. We’ve reviewed your account and found that it still doesn’t follow our Community Standards on fraud and deception. You cannot request another review of this decision.”

While I understand Facebook’s decision, it’s ironic given my efforts to expose scams rather than commit fraud. Years ago, I managed to set my account name to “Danny” to maintain anonymity, which may have been flagged as deceptive. I suspect multiple false reports by scammers contributed to the ban.

  • Zoom: My account was terminated after exposing illegal multi-level marketing (MLM) activities conducted via their platform. Zoom’s official statement read:

“We uncovered behavior on your Zoom accounts that violates our Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Guidelines… including sharing private information and disrupting meetings.”

Despite providing evidence of scams, including government documents and victim testimonies, my actions to expose fraud were flagged as breaches of Zoom’s policies. The irony of banning a user combating scams while allowing scam meetings to continue is disheartening.

False Claims by Craig Wotton and Rory Conacher

This battlefield often feels like a solo fight, but I believe we are making a difference. These individuals make a living by misleading people, and exposing them remains my mission. By spreading false information, such as claiming credit for my YouTube channel’s termination, they only highlight their lack of credibility and raise even more red flags about their promises to help victims recover lost funds.

Recently, an email has been circulating from individuals, including Craig Wotton and Rory Conacher, claiming credit for my YouTube channel’s removal and promoting a class-action lawsuit to recover scam victims’ funds. However, their operations have been discredited in detailed blogs I have published:

These false claims further discredit their activities and highlight the red flags surrounding their promises to victims. The email circulating also calls for additional defamation complaints against me, urging others to join their cause, which only underscores their desperation to suppress my efforts.

Trespass Notice and Moira Sutherland KINCAID

Two months ago, two policemen arrived at my door to deliver a trespass notice from Moira Sutherland KINCAID. The notice informed me that I am not allowed on her property. I vehemently deny ever being there. In one of my videos, I mentioned knowing her address, as I’ve been transparent about exposing the identities of scammers. KINCAID is heavily involved with “We Are All Satoshi,” a Ponzi scheme associated with Sam Lee, who has been charged in connection to the $1.9 billion Hyperverse scam. KINCAID frequently appears in Australian and New Zealand Zoom meetings promoting this flagged scheme, which has been denounced by regulatory bodies like the State of California, NZ FMA, and MoneySmart in Australia.

Additionally, I have evidence of KINCAID actively encouraging people in Christchurch to get involved in crypto investments, which I can only imagine were likely connected to “We Are All Satoshi.” This further demonstrates her role in promoting fraudulent schemes and reinforces the need for regulatory intervention.

Ironically, KINCAID is a former police officer, reportedly working in a police call centre. When I suggested authorities investigate her activities, the response was dismissive, claiming they did not want to get involved. This lack of action is as baffling as it is concerning, especially given the scale of the fraud being promoted.

The Broader Implications

My YouTube channel’s termination represents more than personal loss. It’s a blow to the fight against cryptocurrency scams that have defrauded countless individuals. My team of “Avengers” has:

  • Exposed scams like Hyperverse, “We Are All Satoshi,” and Trade Technology.
  • Built a database shared with law enforcement across six countries.
  • Disrupted Zoom meetings promoting illegal activities, such as “Boomerang” and “9Pay.”
  • Investigated 114 Ponzi schemes and scams currently operating.
  • Compiled 394 profiles of individuals promoting these schemes.
  • Tracked 70 Australians actively using Instagram posts to generate leads for these scams.

Public Support and Media Coverage

My efforts have received significant media attention over the years, including features in:

  • The New York Times, which highlighted my journey from a small-scale YouTuber to a leading voice in exposing crypto-based Ponzi schemes.
  • Bloomberg Businessweek, which interviewed me for a short documentary expected to be released in January 2025.
  • ABC Australia, which published an in-depth article about Sam Lee, quoting me extensively and using my videos in a documentary-style exposé of his activities.
  • The Guardian, which featured me in a series of 14 articles about Hyperverse, underscoring my expertise and dedication to exposing fraudulent schemes.

Reflections and Gratitude

I acknowledge that my actions, as a vigilante fighting scams, have occasionally breached the terms and conditions of various platforms. However, my sole purpose has been to expose scammers and protect victims. I work closely with law enforcement agencies and global crime-fighting networks, who use my videos and the database I’ve built to investigate these fraudulent activities.

Support my work by buying me a virtual coffee on BuyMeACoffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dehek. Your contribution fuels my creativity and inspires me to produce great content. Thank you for your generosity.

The journey of exposing scams has been emotionally and mentally taxing. Despite threats, lawsuits, and de-platforming, I remain committed to justice. However, I question the sustainability of continuing this fight under current conditions.

To my supporters: your encouragement has been invaluable. Whether or not YouTube reinstates my channel, I will explore alternative platforms and strategies to continue exposing scammers.

Conclusion

The termination of “The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger” reflects systemic flaws in how platforms handle reports and appeals. While scammers exploit these weaknesses, genuine efforts to combat fraud are stifled. I urge YouTube and other tech giants to enhance transparency and collaboration with individuals dedicated to public good.

For now, the fight continues—on different platforms, through new strategies, and with unwavering resolve.