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”’Danny de Hek”’ (born 19 January 1970) is a [[New Zealand]] based [[YouTuber]], [[OSINT]] researcher and an independent [[Investigative journalism|investigative journalist]] known for exposing [[Ponzi scheme|Ponzi schemes]] and [[Cryptocurrency|crypto]] [[Fraud|frauds]].<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Segal |first=David |date=2022-11-11 |title=The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger (Published 2022) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/business/crypto-ponzi-scheme-hyperfund.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> He is known online as Crypto-Ponzi-Scheme-Avenger.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Sarah |date=2023-12-13 |title=Investors lose millions as crypto schemes operate unchecked in Australia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/14/crypto-currency-schemes-investors-losing-millions-regulation-hyperverse-warning-ntwnfb |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
”’Danny de Hek”’ (born 19 January 1970) is a [[New Zealand]] based [[YouTuber]], [[OSINT]] researcher and an independent [[Investigative journalism|investigative journalist]] known for exposing [[Ponzi scheme|Ponzi schemes]] and [[Cryptocurrency|crypto]] [[Fraud|frauds]].<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Segal |first=David |date=2022-11-11 |title=The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger (Published 2022) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/business/crypto-ponzi-scheme-hyperfund.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> He is known online as Crypto-Ponzi-Scheme-Avenger.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Sarah |date=2023-12-13 |title=Investors lose millions as crypto schemes operate unchecked in Australia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/14/crypto-currency-schemes-investors-losing-millions-regulation-hyperverse-warning-ntwnfb |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
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== Early |
== Early == |
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Danny de Hek was born on 19 January 1970 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is [[Dyslexia|dyslexic]] and grew up being a part of a [[religious cult]] which he was eventually disassociated from. He was an online [[drop shipper]].<ref name=”:0″ /> |
Danny de Hek was born on 19 January 1970 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is [[Dyslexia|dyslexic]] and grew up being a part of a [[religious cult]] which he was eventually disassociated from. He was an online [[drop shipper]].<ref name=”:0″ /> |
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== Scam |
== Scam == |
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An email from a friend in the late [[2010s]], offering an investment opportunity inspired de Hek to become a scam investigator.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title=Christchurch’s ‘Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger’ |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/business/christchurchs-crypto-ponzi-scheme-avenger |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=Otago Daily Times Online News |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, de Hek produced more than 130 videos on Ponzi schemes and crypto scams.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-28 |title=The Kiwi YouTuber taking down the crypto scammers from his Christchurch home |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018868864/the-kiwi-youtuber-taking-down-the-crypto-scammers-from-his-christchurch-home |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> Part of his work also involves anonymously dropping into [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] meetings run by accused scammers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=‘Ordinary’ Aussie dad’s insane double life |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/the-everyday-aussie-avengers-leading-a-double-life-scamming-the-scammers/news-story/f25bb57e377a020560fcbde3f51fc0a7 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250216221925/https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/the-everyday-aussie-avengers-leading-a-double-life-scamming-the-scammers/news-story/f25bb57e377a020560fcbde3f51fc0a7 |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=news |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
An email from a friend in the late [[2010s]], offering an investment opportunity inspired de Hek to become a scam investigator.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title=Christchurch’s ‘Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger’ |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/business/christchurchs-crypto-ponzi-scheme-avenger |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=Otago Daily Times Online News |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, de Hek produced more than 130 videos on Ponzi schemes and crypto scams.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-28 |title=The Kiwi YouTuber taking down the crypto scammers from his Christchurch home |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018868864/the-kiwi-youtuber-taking-down-the-crypto-scammers-from-his-christchurch-home |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> Part of his work also involves anonymously dropping into [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] meetings run by accused scammers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=‘Ordinary’ Aussie dad’s insane double life |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/the-everyday-aussie-avengers-leading-a-double-life-scamming-the-scammers/news-story/f25bb57e377a020560fcbde3f51fc0a7 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250216221925/https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/the-everyday-aussie-avengers-leading-a-double-life-scamming-the-scammers/news-story/f25bb57e377a020560fcbde3f51fc0a7 |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=news |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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Latest revision as of 22:10, 22 November 2025
New Zealand YouTuber
Danny de Hek (born 19 January 1970) is a New Zealand based YouTuber, OSINT researcher and an independent investigative journalist known for exposing Ponzi schemes and crypto frauds.[1] He is known online as Crypto-Ponzi-Scheme-Avenger.[2]
Danny de Hek was born on 19 January 1970 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is dyslexic and grew up being a part of a religious cult which he was eventually disassociated from. He was an online drop shipper.[1]
An email from a friend in the late 2010s, offering an investment opportunity inspired de Hek to become a scam investigator.[3] As of 2023, de Hek produced more than 130 videos on Ponzi schemes and crypto scams.[4] Part of his work also involves anonymously dropping into Zoom meetings run by accused scammers.[5]
One of de Hek’s investigations was the Hyperverse investment scheme, run by Sam Lee.[6] In 2024, the US charged crypto entrepreneur Sam Lee with running a $2 billion Hyperverse Ponzi scheme.[7] De Hek has been a target of multiple defamation law suits and threats, including from a cryptocurrency entrepreneur based in Texas, Stephen Andrew McCullah, who withdrew his 3.47 million court action after de Hek fought back.[8]
