Fortron, a new digital currency scheme, launched its website on August 14, 2020, with domain registration obscured through a privacy service. This anonymous launch immediately raised red flags, suggesting a connection to previous fraudulent operations. The operation closely mirrors Forsage, a known gifting and Ponzi scheme that gained traction earlier this year on the Ethereum blockchain.
Evidence confirms Fortron is a direct successor to Forsage. Owners and key figures behind Forsage openly discussed Fortron on their official YouTube channel, signaling a coordinated effort to migrate users. Forsage, founded by Lado Okhotnikov, combined a gifting model with a Ponzi structure, a pattern now replicated in Fortron. Forsage's website traffic has recently plateaued, a common precursor to collapse for such schemes, prompting the launch of Fortron as a means to prolong operations.
Fortron offers no tangible products or services. Participants can only market membership in Fortron itself. The compensation plan is identical to Forsage's, substituting the Tron (TRX) cryptocurrency for Ethereum. The scheme utilizes matrix structures, specifically 3x1 and 2x2 cyclers. A 3x1 matrix requires three positions to be filled, while a 2x2 matrix expands to two levels with two and then four positions.
An initial investment of 100 TRX grants a position in both the 3x1 (FTR3) and 2x2 (FTR4) matrices. These positions are filled through direct and indirect recruitment of other participants. When all positions within a matrix are filled, a cycle commission is paid, and the participant's position re-enters a new matrix of the same size. Both FTR3 and FTR4 have twelve tiers, which must be purchased sequentially and manually.
Commissions are structured as follows: for FTR3, the first two positions filled are direct gifts. The third position's 50 TRX is forwarded to an upline, effectively gifting it to them. Tier 1 positions cost 50 TRX and yield 100 TRX plus a new Tier 1 position. Tier 2 positions cost 100 TRX, paying 200 TRX and a new Tier 2 position. This pattern continues through Tier 10. For instance, Tier 4 positions cost 400 TRX and pay 800 TRX, while Tier 10 positions cost 25,600 TRX and pay 51,200 TRX.
The FTR4 matrix operates similarly but with a 2x2 structure. The first level positions are direct gifts. The second level positions are also direct gifts. The total payout for a FTR4 cycle is 400 TRX for Tier 1, 800 TRX for Tier 2, and 1,600 TRX for Tier 3. Tier 4 pays 3,200 TRX. This tiered commission structure incentivizes continuous recruitment and investment, characteristic of Ponzi schemes.
The FTR4 cycler commissions across its twelve tiers are detailed: Tier 1 (costing 100 TRX) pays 200 TRX and a new Tier 1 position. Tier 2 (costing 200 TRX) pays 400 TRX and a new Tier 2 position. Tier 3 (costing 400 TRX) pays 800 TRX and a new Tier 3 position. Tier 4 (costing 800 TRX) pays 1,600 TRX and a new Tier 4 position. Tier 5 (costing 1,600 TRX) pays 3,200 TRX and a new Tier 5 position. Tier 6 (costing 3,200 TRX) pays 6,400 TRX and a new Tier 6 position. Tier 7 (costing 6,400 TRX) pays 12,800 TRX and a new Tier 7 position. Tier 8 (costing 12,800 TRX) pays 25,600 TRX and a new Tier 8 position. Tier 9 (costing 25,600 TRX) pays 51,200 TRX and a new Tier 9 position. Tier 10 (costing 51,200 TRX) pays 102,400 TRX and a new Tier 10 position. Tier 11 (costing 102,400 TRX) pays 204,800 TRX and a new Tier 11 position. Tier 12 (costing 204,800 TRX) pays 409,600 TRX and a new Tier 12 position.
Participants who wish to progress through the tiers must purchase the next tier manually. This tiered structure requires ongoing investment, with early investors potentially profiting from later entrants. The scheme relies on a constant influx of new money to pay out existing members, a hallmark of unsustainable Ponzi operations. The anonymous nature of the website and the reliance on cryptocurrency for transactions make tracing funds and holding operators accountable extremely difficult. Those who have lost money in similar schemes are often advised to report the activity to relevant financial regulatory bodies, though recovery is rarely guaranteed.