Fraudulent AI Computing Center Cloud Mining Ponzi Scheme: A Ponzi scheme disguised as state-supported intelligent computing, selling fake computing power shares and mining yields

Who Gets Targeted

The primary victims are small and medium-sized investors and retirees aged 30 to 55 who have some savings but lack basic technical knowledge, as well as retail investors who blindly follow market trends. Psychologically, they suffer from anxiety about missing out on the AI era's dividends and are eager to achieve wealth accumulation by participating in so-called official intelligent computing projects or high-yield cloud mining investments. This demographic is easily deceived by fabricated state licenses, sophisticated frontier technology jargon, and small, timely returns in the early stages. Driven by high promises and herd mentality, they lose all sense of caution and ultimately invest their life savings into pure 'air' projects.

骗局怎么运作

• Conceptual Packaging Phase: Criminal gangs first register shell companies with names that sound state-owned or high-tech, then build deceptive intelligent computing center investment websites or cloud mining clients. They claim to provide enterprise-level computing power leasing services in line with the national 'East Data, West Computing' strategy, or claim to possess exclusive core algorithms for AI computing mining, targeting the general public who lack fundamental computer knowledge.
• False Endorsement Phase: The gangs forge official red-headed documents from central or local financial regulators and industrial departments, business licenses, and so-called blockchain computing operation permits. Some domestic and international syndicates even impersonate well-known overseas AI unicorn companies for fraudulent branding. They hire 'internet water armies' in social media groups and live-streaming rooms to create the illusion of official compliant operations and scarce computing resources.
• Investment Inducement Phase: They launch subscription packages for computing power shares or cloud mining machines ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan, which investors can purchase via bank transfers or direct cryptocurrency deposits. Fraudsters use highly seductive scripts to promote absolute capital safety, daily dividends based on mining yields, and annualized returns as high as 50% to 200%, while setting up multi-level referral commission mechanisms.
• Robbing Peter to Pay Paul Phase: In the early stages, the project pays small dividends on time to build trust, further inducing victims to invest large sums and recruit friends and family. Since there is no actual GPU server operation, later dividends rely entirely on the principal of new victims, forming a typical Ponzi scheme structure strictly monitored by the operators.
• Exit Scam Phase: When new funds are insufficient to pay promised interest, or when the operators reach their target (e.g., over 100 million yuan), they suddenly stop withdrawals using flimsy excuses like international situation changes, system maintenance, or regulatory freezes. They then shut down servers, disband chat groups, and the core operators destroy key data and flee abroad, leaving victims with nothing.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 Advertisements openly promise guaranteed principal, high interest, and 'passive income' from computing power dividends, with annualized returns far exceeding normal commercial and financial logic.
• 🚩 The platform lacks official national financial licenses or computing power operating qualifications, yet sells computing power leasing and cloud mining products to the general public.
• 🚩 Deposit channels are usually QR codes from unknown third-party payment companies or private bank accounts, or they only accept specific cryptocurrencies to evade fiat currency regulation.
• 🚩 Claims of investment or technical cooperation from well-known tech giants or AI companies, which cannot be verified by any official announcements on those companies' websites.
• 🚩 A clear multi-level referral structure that relies on participants recruiting others to earn high commissions, with account returns heavily dependent on the capital injection of new recruits.

真实案例

• According to the anti-fraud media Panxun.cc, the 'Lianhe Intelligent Computing Center' hosting dividend scheme claimed to have proprietary computing power and offered high daily dividends. It attracted over 110,000 members before collapsing. The operators siphoned over 100 million yuan through fake computing shares, stopped withdrawals in 2026, and fled, leaving investors with total losses. (Source: https://panxun.vwt.cc/article/6474.html)
• In 2026, multiple anti-fraud media outlets exposed the 'Honeycomb AI' (Fengchao AI) cloud mining project. Investigations revealed the platform falsely claimed to hold multiple national computing operation licenses and sold non-existent cloud mining machine shares. After months of collecting funds, the platform cut off all withdrawals under the guise of 'system upgrades,' and the operators fled.
• International criminal gangs illegally impersonated VAST.AI, a well-known AI unicorn that recently raised 1 billion yuan, to issue a fraudulent investment app. The project fabricated computing investment funds and launched multi-level dynamic rebate packages, attracting significant investment across various communities. It was later exposed by anti-fraud agencies after widespread withdrawal failures.
• In July 2026, a fake VAST.AI computing investment app spread across multiple regions, claiming the real VAST.AI had just completed a 1 billion yuan financing round. The scam required a minimum entry of 500 USDT and promised daily returns, using multi-level marketing tactics in Hubei, Yunnan, and Jiangxi. (Source: https://www.paiu.cn/article/7924.html)
• The 'Lianhe' intelligent computing hosting scheme, which started in September 2024, used the shell of Shenzhen Yintou Digital Technology Co., Ltd. to package AI computing leasing. It sold server usage rights for 60,000 yuan each with promises of high returns. By the time it collapsed, it had 110,000 members, and the operators absconded with over 100 million yuan. (Source: https://panxun.vwt.cc/article/6474.html)

Official Stance

• On February 6, 2026, the People's Bank of China and seven other departments jointly issued the 'Notice on Further Preventing and Handling Risks Associated with Virtual Currencies' (Yinfa [2026] No. 42), reiterating that any virtual currency speculation, regardless of the technological innovation guise, is illegal.
• In June 2026, the Chongqing Municipal Government website published an alert on tech-finance scams, explicitly warning citizens that investment models promising high dividends through 'AI servers' are financial traps, and listed six types of 'pseudo-tech' illegal fundraising, including cloud mining.
• On August 5, 2026, the People's Daily Economic and Technology Channel, in conjunction with relevant departments, officially released a 'Risk Warning on Illegal Financial Activities Involving Virtual Currencies,' specifically mentioning the crackdown on illegal virtual currency activities conducted under the guise of 'computing power wealth management' and 'intelligent mining'.

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ Thoroughly verify the public registration and approval systems of national industrial and commercial and local financial regulatory departments. Any project claiming state approval or central bank computing licenses must have its credentials verified via official government websites.
• ✅ Be highly vigilant against any promises of guaranteed principal and high returns that defy market economic laws. Maintain absolute rationality when faced with 'AI computing mining' projects promising high annualized returns, and do not be swayed by high-tech jargon or short-term rebates.
• ✅ Do not download or install unknown financial applications, and never transfer money to personal bank accounts or unverified payment addresses. Legitimate computing leasing services are typically aimed at large enterprises with formal corporate contracts and are never sold to retail investors.
• ✅ If you identify a multi-level marketing structure, immediately preserve key evidence such as website URLs, promotional materials, and transaction records. Report the matter promptly via the 12315 hotline or the National Anti-Fraud Center app to public security and local financial regulators.