
Josif Kruti, a resident of the city of Divjaka, told A2 CNN, details of how hundreds of his fellow citizens fell prey to the online pyramid scheme, where they were lured by so-called agents, to invest in the TXEX platform, with the promise that the profits would be doubled.
"I heard about these schemes a year ago. It started to be rumored in Divjakë and people who knew us were discussing among themselves, and people who knew us because we had been with my wife, a teacher for 30 years. We seemed a bit surprised and surprised at first by this online initiative. My wife and I had a bitter experience during the years 96' – 97' and therefore we didn't even dare. Even when they told us that it is very easy, with an ID card you register. We never dared, although we also had pressure from the boy, in a good sense, as we don't know how to earn money without work, without sweat. Even the boy's friends talked about investing money in these online pyramids. No, I knew them as former students, young boys who have graduated and are well educated, and when we discussed in coffee chats, I would say to them: "Guys, how dare you, how are you acting" – and they would jokingly tell me: "Oh my gosh, because a million didn't make money, because somewhere you are winning." Over two-three friends and meccaques prayed for my name, so that we can register, what you have is sure but we never accepted", confessed Kruti.
He further revealed that there were at least four people who acted as agents to lure people, mostly their relatives, into investing in this pyramid scheme first and then luring other people with word of mouth and the promise of quick profits.
"There were three or four as main agents who operated. Or they invited their people convincing them that I am winning, I am sure, the profit adds up quickly. And since March, it was being discussed hard at a table, someone said that 4 million old lek is coming, there will be no qameti. Someone else did not dare, some others threw en masse. On the other hand, I learn that in the last week when it was going to close, 2-3 of my friends said we threw two million and we were burned. Someone else obobo I put 4 million, I threw away all the savings. It has received a kind of fall and touch. They used to say that you earn quickly, for a month or two months, it is enough to follow a certain schedule, to apply, to be there, to open the program itself. I know that they had become drunk after that at a certain time. And they stayed, quit every job, and stayed at that time where they saw how the money was going," Kruti revealed to A2cn.
According to Kruti, the initial entry into the scheme was made with amounts ranging from 1 million to 4 million old lek. and the investment was carried out through bank subsidiaries.
"Those who promoted were from different professions. Employees in Divjaka, farmers, economists, both with higher education and in the field of education, teaching. And they begged me to come and try with a million with mine and I refused. There are opportunities in bank branches and the bank then passed them on to the address of the TXEX scheme, as far as I know. I think the money is in the bank. I don't know here or in Kosovo. I know that they said that money is passed. The amount came online and was often shown and then the money passed", said Kruti.