Unethical companies engaging in astroturfing on Nomad Gate

[tkrunning (Thomas K. Running)]

Over the years we’ve caught more companies than I can count attempting to engage in astroturfing or other kinds of unethical self-promotion. This is by far the most serious breach of the forum rules we observe, as it undermines the trust each and every one of you have in the content posted on Nomad Gate. And what use is Nomad Gate if you can’t trust the intentions of other users on the platform?

For this reason we spend a lot of time behind the scenes sniffing out non-genuine “experiences” being shared.

In attempt to discourage this behavior I will use this thread to name and shame the responsible companies, in accordance with the terms they agreed to when creating a Nomad Gate account:

In those same terms we reserve the right to publish information about the companies engaging in these practices on our platform:

Are these businesses scams?

I will leave it up to each one of you to determine whether you would want to do business with these kinds of companies. Some of them may be legit businesses that had a misguided marketing strategy.

But personally I’d be very skeptical of any positive reviews or other online content mentioning these businesses. We’ve seen plenty of examples of glowing Google and Trustpilot reviews made by users with the same “names” as the fake accounts they used when astroturfing on Nomad Gate.

Companies

1. MovingTo / Zoark

[tkrunning (Thomas K. Running)]

MovingTo / Zoark / Dean Fankhauser

This one is quite “impressive”. Dean Fankhauser aka @bomeandean posts as himself, referring to the company Movingto in the third person.

Well, let’s have a look at their website… Who do we find listed as the CEO and co-founder?

I’m as shocked as you are.

And there are more now-deleted posts:

So what’s an hustling Aussie supposed to do when their ridiculous attempt at astroturfing their company using their own name fails? Well, why don’t you have your Philippine assistant (sorry, Social Media Strategist you found on Upwork) continue your work?

@chell.rubio, I must say I’m a bit disappointed that you only highlight your Reddit astroturfing on your Upwork profile. Where’s the mention of your hard work on Nomad Gate?

Though, $70K earnings over five years isn’t bad. Typical GV investor right there.

Is that you, Rachelle aka widetide? I guess all that Reddit posting is bringing in the big bucks.

Well, sorry to break the news to you Dean, but we now block any mention of Movingto. That’s what happens to astroturfers. That’s how we blocked Rachelle’s post before it was even posted.

But I guess Rachelle caught on eventually, so she decided to astroturf for another company:

Suspicious that the word guide just linked to the home page of Zoark’s website. Let’s go take a look at their about page:

Surprised Pikachu, indeed.

There’s a familiar face (though honestly amazing hair style!), again joined by his wife, Ana Fankhauser. And Head of Legal, Ariane Real.

Tell me, Ariane, are there no laws against astroturfing or fake reviews in Portugal? Something, something, EU Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, something? Or the Portuguese Advertising Code (DL 330/90)?

And it makes total sense that a Philippines-based Social Media Strategist would consult with Zoark about their products catering to US Golden Visa investors using their IRA retirement funds to fund their investments. Nothing suspicious here at all.

Well, continuing our Watergate-level journalistic investigation, let’s have a look at the footer of Zoark’s webpage:

Oh, so it really still is Movingto? I am shocked.

What’s interesting is that a Singaporean company lists the address of a Regus center in Lisbon as their primary address, instead of their registered address of Singapore Business Federation Center 160 Robinson Road #14-04 Singapore 068914.

But I guess that makes sense, since they clearly operate out of Portugal they at least have officially registered as a branch there and pay all their corporate taxes there. Right? And the CEO and his wife definitely aren’t pretending that their locally sourced income is actually foreign sourced under the NHR to commit tax evasion. So at least they have some of their integrity intact, right? Right?

Well, a team so clearly skilled at hiding their astroturfing efforts would never put proof of tax evasion in plain sight, so that definitely can’t be it. I’m sure they would show up if making a search through the Portuguese business register.

Anyway, dear Dean, despite your otherwise clearly honorable business ethics, you and your companies are not welcome on Nomad Gate. F■■■ off.

[gwytb (Mark Rogan)]

Wow, an impressive work of investigative journalism!

[watsonhal2016 (Watson)]

An outstanding bit of research and reveal. Hopefully will serve well as as the “head on the pike” at the village entrance did in the old days.

[i.o]

Oh my god I had the SKETCHIEST experience in an initial interview with them. It almost turned me entirely off the whole GV process because when I went on Reddit and even FB I kept on seeing comments that felt too similar to truly be individual testimonials. Lmao this is so satisfying to read after thinking I was just conspiracy pilled and judging them too harshly based off of one conversation and weird emailing.

[PTbound (A L)]

@tkrunning

There’s a familiar face (though honestly amazing hair style!)

With AI even I can have amazing hair like that