Cybercrime Southeast Europe Newsletter No. 116

AI, Crypto and Task-Based Platforms – Montenegro Warns of New Investment Fraud Models

Montenegro’s Police Directorate has warned of a growing risk from online platforms promising quick profits through AI projects, cryptocurrencies, digital tasks and different membership levels. The warning has gained additional significance following reports filed in late August and September concerning DistributeX and similar platforms.

The warning, issued by the Police Directorate on August 18, 2026, concerns financial schemes promoted through social media and communication platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp.

Unlike traditional investment fraud, where victims are typically approached by a supposed broker and encouraged to trade on financial markets, newer schemes may look very different.

Users may be offered opportunities to earn money by completing simple digital tasks, investing in purported AI projects, purchasing “AI chip” packages, acquiring crypto assets or activating different membership levels.

The common element is often the same – users are first required to deposit their own money.

A small payout may be the beginning of the fraud

One particularly important part of the police warning concerns initial withdrawals.

Some fraudulent schemes may allow users to withdraw a small amount at the beginning.

This can create confidence that the platform is genuine and that the profits displayed on the account actually exist.

Once trust has been established, users may be encouraged to deposit increasingly larger amounts in order to “unlock” additional tasks, activate higher membership levels or increase their earnings.

Problems may only become apparent when the user attempts to withdraw a larger amount.

At that point, additional payments may be demanded for purported taxes, verification charges, “gas fees” or other costs that allegedly have to be paid before the funds can be released.

DistributeX – reports follow the warning

The model described by the authorities has not remained merely a theoretical risk.

In late August, individuals in several Montenegrin cities filed reports concerning persons associated with DistributeX and similar platforms over suspected financial fraud.

According to information published in Montenegro, users reported that they had not received money promised through a system involving payments and the completion of various tasks.

These tasks reportedly included generating a certain number of clicks to promote the platform and recruiting additional participants in order to “unlock” the next level, where larger payments were supposedly available.

Police acted on the reports and informed the competent state prosecutors, while reviews of individual complaints remain ongoing.

When AI becomes a marketing tool for an old type of fraud

Terms such as “AI”, “AI trading”, “AI chip” and “automated trading” can create the impression that sophisticated technology is generating the advertised profits.

The terminology used to market an investment, however, does not explain where the money used to pay participants actually comes from.

The same applies to balances displayed on a platform.

A screenshot showing an account balance, increasing numbers on a dashboard or a video of another user claiming to have made money does not establish that the funds actually exist or can be withdrawn.

Additional caution is warranted where earnings also depend on recruiting new participants.

A person sharing a referral link may receive a direct financial benefit when another user registers or deposits money. The fact that a friend, acquaintance or online promoter is already using a platform therefore does not establish that it is legitimate.

From CGInvest to new AI and task platforms

The August warning was not the first issued by Montenegrin authorities this year.

In June, police warned about the fraudulent investment platform CGInvest, which used photographs, names and purported statements of government officials, as well as state symbols, to create a false appearance of legitimacy.

Advertisements associated with the platform reportedly promised guaranteed daily earnings of EUR 80 or more from an initial investment of only EUR 220 or 250.

The same underlying concept can now appear in a different form – through AI projects, digital tasks, cryptocurrency and membership systems.

Technology and platform names may change, but the fundamental questions remain the same: who operates the platform, where the money goes, how the advertised returns are actually generated and whether users can withdraw their funds without making further payments.

Anyone who has already transferred money should preserve complete communications, platform names and links, usernames, telephone numbers, email addresses, bank and cryptocurrency transaction records, screenshots of their account and any requests for additional payments.

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