Marius Pedersen, an operator tied to the collapsed DigAdz Ponzi scheme, appears to be a key figure in AdMaximo, a new revenue-sharing program that launched its prelaunch on May 4. The company promises returns of 115% on member investments but offers no clear information about its ownership or physical location.
The AdMaximo website provides no details about its operators. Its domain, registered March 26, 2015, initially listed a "Walter Watson" with a fictitious Spanish address before being obscured by a privacy service. Affiliates promote Watson as a Swedish entrepreneur with multi-level marketing experience, yet no public record of such an individual exists outside AdMaximo's own marketing materials.
Simon Derman created the "AdMaximo Company's Official Group" on Facebook on May 4. The AdMaximo site links directly to this group. Walter Watson, the supposed founder, is not listed as a member. Instead, Derman and Marius Pedersen dominate the group's activity.
Pedersen previously operated DigAdz, a Ponzi scheme that offered 150% returns on dollar investments before its collapse. He was also connected to AdBonuz, another Ponzi run by Songphon Phapatha, who also used the alias "beejay" for DigAdz. Derman himself was an investor in DigAdz.
AdMaximo's direct rebranding from DigAdz remains unconfirmed, but the two platforms once shared the same IP address on their hosting servers. They have since moved to different machines. Pedersen's social media activity also coincided with AdMaximo's launch. On April 18, he posted about "2 Exciting Projects Coming Soon!" Twelve days later, he announced a "New Revshare Program... starting Prelaunch May 4th." AdMaximo's prelaunch began shortly after.
AdMaximo offers no retail products or services. Its revenue model relies entirely on affiliates marketing memberships to other affiliates. Members invest $40, with the promise of receiving $46 in return. Recruiting new members earns the recruiter a 10% commission, or $4, from their investment. A monthly membership costs $1.95, or $9.99 for six months, bringing the initial outlay to $41.95 for a minimum investment.
AdMaximo states it is "not an investment site or illegal program." But its refund policy contradicts this claim. "All purchases are Non-Refundable," the policy reads. "We share the revenue from your purchase with all members, so we cannot afford to offer refunds." The company uses the term "Share Packs" for these investments, claiming they "mature at maximum and give you 115% in return." Purchases do not mature; investments do.
This structure indicates a classic Ponzi scheme. Without genuine external revenue, the daily payout obligations depend solely on new investor funds. When the influx of new money ceases, the scheme cannot meet its promised returns and inevitably collapses. Past investors often lose their entire principal and are then targeted for the operator's subsequent ventures.
The company's terms and conditions also require members to consent to marketing emails. "You agree to maintain a valid email address and your account is only activated once you have verified your email address by clicking a link in an email sent to you. By doing so you are bound to accept email from AdMaximo which will include system messages and marketing information."
AdMaximo represents Marius Pedersen's third known Ponzi operation.