By Bill W. Cooper
Thousands of Liberians have fallen prey and lost millions of Liberian and United States Dollars across the country to an online platform identified as “SMART AI Limited” through a scam game.
Late Sunday, August 13, 2023, according to some of the victims, several citizens, who were doing the online business with the platform, realized that the company had shut down and they could not access their various accounts, opened through Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia.
Thousands of Liberians who suffered from the scam had been involved with the platform, a Crypto Currency business which deals with online marketing through Orange and Lonestar GSM Companies.
According to the victims, the company had a six digit (399477) deposit code with Orange Liberia, while the Lonestar deposit number was 0880667847, with a name, Pah Leah, attached with a few other numbers.
Accordingly, a few citizens won and cashed out some money, while others refused to cash out theirs and kept increasing their incomes, with the belief that their money would grow into astronomical sums.
It is said that the General Manager for the company is not from the United States, contrary to SMART AI’s claims, but rather, he is from Mexico, as proven by the cell number +505-487-7376.
However, after the company shockingly shut down, many of the victims blamed the Liberian Government for its alleged failure to protect its citizens from a scam online business.
They stressed that the government’s alleged failure has caused a huge loss of millions of dollars for its people.
According to the latest fraud victims, there was no reason to have doubted the legitimacy of SMART AI, on grounds that the company was operating through Orange and Lonestar, including the display of a notarized certificate, believed to have been obtained from the Liberia Business Registry.
The citizens also indicated that they all got convinced to continue working with the platform, based on the fact that they could still see their funds in their accounts, while advertising online, sharing links, and encouraging others to join; they were also promised both part-time and full-time employment status, including a promise to travel to the US.
In a more frustrating situation, the victims disclosed that some had deposited as much as L$500,000, others thousands of United States Dollars, crying that the monies were intended for their kids’ school fees, businesses, and other savings from social clubs and churches.
In furtherance, many of the citizens, who had fallen victim to this scam game in Monrovia and other parts of the country, staged a protest action against the Liberian Government at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police.
They also vowed to continue their protest until they can get a redress from the Weah administration.
