The Colorado Securities Division confirmed on January 20, 2015, that it launched an investigation into Achieve Community, an online platform alleged to operate as a Ponzi scheme. The division, part of Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), stated its focus is protecting investors from unregistered securities offerings. DORA's mandate includes safeguarding investor confidence and overseeing the state's capital markets. This involves enforcing the Colorado Securities Act, which requires investment products and those who sell them to be registered unless specific exemptions apply.

Achieve Community's model involves affiliates investing $50 with the promise of a $400 return. No external revenue sources exist. The operation pays earlier participants with money collected from new investors, a hallmark of a Ponzi scheme. This structure likely violates state securities registration laws.

Following the public announcement of the investigation, co-owner Kristi Johnson ceased providing official updates to investors for three days. Her partner, Troy Barnes, issued a statement dated January 23, 2015, which avoided any mention of the regulatory inquiry. Instead, his message urged participants to disregard "negative" information and focus on the future.

Barnes' statement advised "Achieve Community" members to avoid discussing the scheme on social media and to leave any "unofficial" groups, reporting them if they seemed "bad." He claimed the platform would pay out "Millions" and that participants would soon be "enjoying our families and friends In style." He added that "Karma will take care of all those bad people" who questioned the operation. Barnes also mentioned he was still calling members from his "huge list."

Calling a confirmed regulatory investigation "gossip" represents a significant dismissal of official scrutiny. Such a characterization could lead to further complications for the scheme's operators as the investigation proceeds. The directive to suppress discussion in private groups also suggests an attempt to control information and prevent investors from comparing experiences or raising concerns outside the owners' influence.

Ponzi schemes rely entirely on a continuous influx of new money. When recruitment slows or stops, the payment structure collapses, leaving later investors with significant losses. The "millions" Barnes promised can only materialize for early participants by extracting capital from those who join later. Individuals Barnes encouraged to "remain positive" are often the ones who ultimately lose their investments when these schemes fail.

Colorado law provides for civil and criminal penalties for securities fraud, including restitution for victims. Individuals who believe they have been defrauded by Achieve Community can contact the Colorado Securities Division for assistance.