Fake DePIN Computing Power Sharing Node Equipment Fee Scam

Who Gets Targeted

Retail investors looking to earn 'passive income' from idle devices, mostly middle-aged individuals and retirees new to cryptocurrency, as well as crypto novices jumping on the 'DePIN bandwagon.' They are easily swayed by pitches such as 'explosive demand for AI computing power' and 'monthly payback of xx%,' yet lack the tools and experience to verify the underlying project technology. Coupled with the anxiety of missing out on a wealth window, they become prime targets.

骗局怎么运作

• Packaging hot concepts: Scammers post 'DePIN node equipment' sales listings in communities, claiming that the devices connect to a decentralized computing power network that can be shared for AI training, yielding hourly dividends. Pitches include 'intelligent computing power is mining' and 'more like gold than Bitcoin,' accompanied by fabricated earnings backend screenshots to make it look like a legitimate trend.
• Offline hype to build trust: Renting hotel conference rooms to host 'project briefings,' inviting so-called 'authoritative experts' or individuals posing as 'Datuk' to endorse the event, and showcasing sample machines and powered-on 'data panels' on-site. The meetings emphasize 'huge equipment demand and limited inventory,' inducing investors to place orders on the spot.
• Collecting 'equipment fees' and 'node activation fees': Requiring investors to pay in cash, Tether (USDT), or Bitcoin, with individual device costs ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. After payment, only an electronic receipt or private key screenshot is provided, with no formal contract, invoice, or company header, and payment channels are frequently changed.
• Early small-scale rebates to reassure victims: Displaying 'daily earnings' in the backend and allowing investors to make a few small withdrawals, making them mistakenly believe the system is operating normally. They are then encouraged to make additional purchases or recruit new users under the guise of 'equipment upgrades' or 'capacity expansion,' forming a multi-tier downline structure.
• Ripping off and running away: Once the funding pool reaches its target or a surge of withdrawals occurs, the operators shut down the official website and communities, delete the app, or use excuses such as 'hacked' or 'exchange crashed.' The earnings displayed in the investors' backend turn into unwithdrawable numbers, while the equipment itself is merely a shell or low-performance hardware completely incapable of the claimed computing power.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 Promising 'guaranteed principal and high returns' or 'static mining monthly returns exceeding 10%,' without explaining the true source of computing power and refusing to provide on-chain contract addresses.
• 🚩 Device prices far exceeding the hardware cost of similar specifications, such as a USB 'accelerator' selling for $1,000, requiring purchase in whole batches.
• 🚩 Demanding payment in cash, cryptocurrency, or transfers to personal accounts, refusing corporate contracts and invoices, with receipts limited to screenshots.
• 🚩 Manufacturing a sense of authority through offline briefings, shilling groups, and overseas 'Datuk' endorsements, while failing to find the project party's real office location or R&D team.
• 🚩 Setting up additional barriers like 'handling fees,' 'tax bills,' or 'unlocking fees' during the withdrawal process, with customer support giving the cold shoulder or removing users from chat groups once questioned.

真实案例

• On April 22, 2026, Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau busted a 'BitDe' mining accelerator scam syndicate. The group sold USB 'accelerators' for approximately $1,000 each, claiming they accelerated Bitcoin mining, but they were actually empty hardware shells. Police arrested the prime suspect, Mr. Jia (real name desensitized), at a briefing site in a Taipei hotel, seizing a large batch of equipment with initial estimates of ill-gotten gains exceeding NT$1 million. (Source: [https://news.ebc.net.tw/news/society/548167](https://news.ebc.net.tw/news/society/548167))
• In the same case, the syndicate also brought in a person posing as a 'Malaysian Datuk' named Mr. Yi to attend the investment briefing and endorse the project. Multiple investors were invited to join near the venue through 'business school' pitches; afterward, the platform shut down and withdrawals became impossible, prompting police to successively interview victims. (Source: [https://news.ebc.net.tw/news/society/548167](https://news.ebc.net.tw/news/society/548167))
• According to Taiwan's Liberty Times and EBC News, when the syndicate's 'mining accelerator' was dismantled, it was found to contain only an ordinary circuit board with no processing chips. Most victims were middle-aged investors who spent money on useless 'electronic bricks,' and the prosecutors are investigating the case under aggravated fraud charges. (Source: [https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/paper/1752024](https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/paper/1752024))

Official Stance

• In April 2026, Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau held a press conference announcing the crackdown on the 'BitDe Mining Accelerator' scam syndicate, warning the public not to blindly trust 'guaranteed return' mining equipment promotional meetings.
• The Taiwan CIB stated in an official press release that the syndicate's tactics of 'impersonating a Datuk and using empty shell equipment' constitute a typical investment scam, urging the public to consult and verify through the 165 Anti-Fraud Hotline.
• Following secondary questioning, the Shilin District Prosecutors Office in Taiwan applied to the court for detention warrants against the prime suspect on fraud charges; police are simultaneously tracing the cash flow and reminding victims to report cases promptly.

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ Before purchasing any so-called 'node equipment,' check whether the project party has open-source code, whether people are discussing it on GitHub, and whether the computing power can connect to public DePIN networks. Anything lacking technical traces should be treated as high risk.
• ✅ Verify projects through official channels such as Taiwan's 165 or mainland anti-fraud centers, and search for '[Project Name] + scam' in both English and Chinese. Read victim posts rather than just promotional copy.
• ✅ Insist on using formal payment channels and keep contracts, invoices, and order screenshots; immediately terminate the transaction and call the police if the other party requests a transfer to a private account or cryptocurrency.
• ✅ If you find you have already paid, secure evidence first (chat history, transfer hashes, device photos), call 110 or 165 to report the crime, and simultaneously contact exchanges for on-chain tracking to freeze funds before they are laundered.