Ben Quigley is reportedly launching Evolution Gifting Communities in August 2021, asking participants to "gift" $500 into the scheme. The operation uses a JotForm registration form to collect names, building a waiting list for prospective members before its planned launch next month.
The JotForm registration requires individuals to confirm readiness to send $500 into the "community" by early August 2021. It also mandates participants establish at least two of four specified money transfer accounts: PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle. A separate "Full Member Enrollment Form" is promised prior to the actual transfer of funds. These "gifting communities" often operate on a board or matrix system, where participants fill specific positions. Once a board is complete, the person at the top receives payments from the new recruits, and the board splits, perpetuating the cycle.
Quigley previously operated Kevlar Gifting Communities, which experienced two collapses. He cashed out of Kevlar just before its second failure, then remained out of public view for a time. In the past month, Quigley has been promoting iHub Global across various social media platforms.
"Gifting communities" like Evolution Gifting Communities recruit participants to send money directly to other members, rather than selling a genuine product or service. This structure aligns with illegal pyramid schemes, where profit depends on recruiting new people who in turn recruit more. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general consistently warn against such arrangements. Regulators define a pyramid scheme by its reliance on recruitment for income, not by the labels it uses.
The requirement for multiple payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, and Zelle is common in these schemes. Such platforms typically prohibit their services from being used for illegal activities, including pyramid schemes. Users involved in such transactions risk account suspension or closure, and funds may be frozen or seized by the payment processors. Beyond the FTC, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also pursued actions against investment schemes disguised as gifting circles, citing violations of securities laws.
Participants often enter these schemes believing they will quickly double or quadruple their initial "gift" through recruitment. However, the vast majority of participants lose money as recruitment becomes mathematically unsustainable. Early entrants might see returns, but the structure ensures later participants bear the losses, making it a zero-sum game for most. Individuals who participate risk losing their initial funds and may face legal consequences for operating or promoting an illegal scheme, depending on their level of involvement and local laws.
Consumers concerned about gifting schemes can report them to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, or contact their state's Attorney General.