A man aged 37 was arrested on suspicion that he contributed to cheating eight persons by a pyramid scheme for promoting the internet application MafaLike. The caused damage was estimated at 670,000 lei, IPN reports.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), the eight persons were recruited by the suspect through the internet. In the absence of contract, the victims were hired to give “likes” to MafaLike on different platforms, being promised by €2 for each “like”.

“The number of likes depended on the type of “package” based on which the latter were to work. For example, for the premium package for which the victims met with the suspect to give him cash, the cost was €3,600 and the men were to give at most 60 likes to the application a day. The proposed minimum package started from the tax of €100. Moreover, the incomes of these were to increase further if they persuaded other persons to join in,” said PCCOCS.

Consequently, the eight victims installed the application that indicated the sums they paid to the suspect and started work. Some of them worked for a period of three months before they realized the suspect would not pay them anything and the paid taxes would not be refunded to them. Therefore, they denounced the man to the police.

The victims of the scheme, aged between 33 and 43, held different posts, such as driver, company manager and dispatcher. The investigations continue. Those who were cheated by the company that works under the logo “MafaLike” are urged to inform the authorities.