9xProfits lost its primary website domain, 9xprofits.com, which now displays a DNS error. A WHOIS lookup identifies the domain status as "clientHold," a designation ICANN states is typically applied during legal disputes, non-payment, or pending deletion.
The "clientHold" status can signal a variety of issues. ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, reserves this status for unusual circumstances. The 9xprofits.com domain was registered in May, with typical domain registrations lasting one year. This timeline makes simple non-payment an unlikely cause for the current hold.
Regulatory bodies in New Zealand and Texas recently issued enforcement actions against 9xProfits. New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and the Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) have both flagged the scheme. It remains unclear whether either jurisdiction initiated the domain freeze. Domain seizures are a common tactic used by law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, to disrupt illicit online operations. In one instance, the Justice Department announced the seizure of a stolen-password database used in bank account takeover fraud. Another operation saw federal authorities seize 145 domains linked to the BidenCash cybercrime marketplace.
Despite the .COM domain's disruption, 9xProfits continues to operate through 9xprofits.org, which was not publicly active before. This backup domain now serves as the platform's main online presence. Visiting the .ORG address reveals a promotional banner and confirms the involvement of Ron Cartey, a figure previously associated with multiple MLM crypto Ponzi schemes.
ScamTelegraph previously reviewed 9xProfits in September 2023, noting it as a fictional executive trading bot Ponzi scheme. Cartey's addition appears to be a recent development. Cartey first emerged as CEO of BNB Robot in 2022, another MLM crypto trading bot Ponzi. He is believed to be a UK national residing in Thailand.
Cartey's past ventures include 3T Networks, Elef, an NFT grift Ponzi that later collapsed, and MayoTrade. He often collaborates with Daniel Schwartz. Schwartz's involvement with 9xProfits, however, has not been confirmed.
The ongoing operation of 9xprofits.org, alongside Ron Cartey's confirmed involvement, indicates a continued effort to promote the scheme despite regulatory actions and the loss of its primary domain.