Is Up2Give a Scam? Cash-Gifting Pyramid Scheme Exposed

Welcome to Our Up2Give Review!

Seen an advert or has someone recommended Up2Give as the perfect way for you to earn thousands of dollars with Bitcoin???  Then you definitely need to read this review.

First off, it’s great to see that you’re doing your research before buying into any “seemingly good” product.

That is how you avoid scams and find only legitimate ways to make money online!

To be completely transparent with you, we’re not associated with Up2Give in any form. We’re not here to pitch or sell you anything.

Instead, we are going to take you through what we found out about Up2Give including how the program works, how you are going to make money with Up2Give and the more important questions – Is Up2Give a Scam or not…?

Let’s get into the review…

Up2Give Review Summary

Product Name: Up2Give

Founder: Jerry Lopez and Andreas Kartrud

Product Type: Cash Gifting MLM (Pyramid Scheme) company

Price: 0.005 BTC or $48/month

Best For: No One! (SCAM)

up2give-homepage

Summary:  Up2Give promotes themselves as the answer to your money-making dreams, but the reality is a much darker picture.  It is a cash-gifting pyramid scheme where the only way to make money is to recruit new people into the same scheme.  This is illegal in many countries. 

The owners are known to have shady pasts and have both been involved in illegal pyramid schemes and businesses that have been closed down for the same.  You will not earn the money of your dreams with this scheme, far from it. 

Avoid it at all costs!!

Rating: 1/100

Recommended? No

Table of Contents

What is Up2Give?

At first glance, you might be forgiven for thinking this a legit company with a humanitarian background that is helping people. 

But that is just a front.  Up2Give is a MLM or Multi-Level marketing company that is operating a cash-gifting scam that is disguised as a crowdfunding platform for philanthropic donations.

up2give-homepage

Their marketing is very misleading, but the only people they are going to be helping is themselves.  The platform relies on recruitment, a cash-gifting system disguised as an MLM.

The founders are Jerry Lopez and Andreas Kartrud.  Both are well-known in the industry, but that isn’t a good thing when it comes to these two…

Jerry Lopez

Jerry Lopez introduces himself as a public speaker, a personal development coach as well as an international team builder.  He has history with an MLM company called LyfeStart International.  It was only in operation for six months before it was shut down, that was in 2014.

After this, he moved to another MLM called Sayi Health and then he moved onto Dunamis Global Tech.  This was a crypto currency MLM company that went under, before Oynx Lifestyle bought it out.

Jerry Lopez

It is safe to say, he hasn’t seen much success with any company he has been associated with…

Andreas Kartrud

Andreas Kartrud

Kartrud doesn’t have a better back story either.  He introduces himself as a professional network marketer, success coach and mentor.

He has worked with a company called Wo Token Wallet, which was a crypto scam program

The Up2Give Product Line

Well, the short answer is that there is none.  A legit MLM company would have products or services for you to promote and earn money from.  But Up2Give is not a legit MLM company.

The only thing you have to promote is the membership into the cash-gifting system.

Even their landing page says they have nothing to sell.  But this makes Up2Give a Pyramid Scheme and not an MLM.

Pyramid Schemes are illegal, and I would bet money it wouldn’t be long before the FTC are investigating this company.

Does Up2Give Work?

I have to say no, Up2Give is similar to other crypto MLM’s and other cash-gifting scams such as:

If you look into the details of each of these companies, you will find that they have the same method of scamming people as Up2Give.

Companies like this do not affiliate themselves with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).  It isn’t always a red flag if they are not affiliated with them, but it makes it easier for them to do illegal things like cash gifting, etc.

That is why we do the research on these schemes so you can get the right information about them – and more importantly, tell you if they are a scam or not.

Haven't Made Your First $1 Yet?

Studies have shown that more than 70% of the people who want to make money online have not made their first dollar yet. So, you’re not alone!

How to Make Money with Up2Give

Their compensation plan shows that the only way you will be making money is by recruiting more people into the scheme.  There are no products or services for you to promote and earn commissions off.

That is what cash gifting is all about.  Any new recruits you can bring in will be paying the commission directly to you.  The more people you can recruit, the more money you can earn.

Compare that to legitimate MLM companies that offer you several different options to make money.  Up2Give does not give you any other option but to recruit.  (A Clear sign it is a cash-gifting scam).

Getting Started with Up2Give

To join Up2Give as a member, you are going to need to pay with bitcoin.  You will need to pay at least 0.005 Bitcoin per month.  This works out to about $48.79 using the conversion rate at the time of writing this (Feb 2020).

But in order to get to the 2×6 Matrix, you would need to pay 1.345 Bitcoin each month.  This works out to about $13,043 per month.

That is how expensive this program really is, and that is why they can get you to think that you can earn big money by promoting this.  (it is the hope that someone is going to pay that, and you will receive that each month!!)

Up2Give Compensation Plan

These schemes try to keep their compensation plans as confusing as they can, so you don’t really figure out how they work, and you just accept anything that they have written in their sales videos.  That way, they can take your money without you asking too many questions.

Their sales pitch is filled with facts and figures that may or may not be relevant to how it works at all.

But here is what we could find out about their compensation plan…

Initial Recruitment

Like we said earlier, you would need to pay 0.005 BTC to get into the program.  This amount is gifted to the person who recruited you.  As this system works on an invitation only basis, if you haven’t been referred, they will help you find someone to pass that money onto.

To move to the next stage of the compensation plan, you will need to recruit two new people who would both have to pay the 0.005 BTC.  This is passed to you.  This then gives you 0.01 BTC, which then gets you into the 2×6 matrix.

Residual Commissions

This is all about building your downline or your team to make you passive income.  This is the part that resembles a Pyramid Scheme:

Team Building Structure

Once you have recruited those two people and have the 0.01 BTC, you will get into the 2×6 matrix, which looks like the image above.

As it is a cash gifting scheme, the money is passed up to the sponsor, who also has to pass up to their sponsor and likewise.

The sales video will tell you that you could be the one at the top of the pyramid where you could earn 64 BTC (a fantastic amount of money, if this was legit). But the reality is, you will not!!

What We Liked About Up2Give

I would to tell you that you could earn easy money through recruiting people via this site, but I cannot with good conscious do that. 

This a scam and you are likely to lose any money that you invest into this scheme. 

It is a Cash-Gifting Pyramid Scheme!!

What We Didn't Like About Up2Give

Here is what we didn’t like about Up2Give:

#1 Only Source of Income is Through Recruitment

AS soon as we found out that the only source of earning any money with UP2Give was recruiting, we knew this was a Pyramid Scheme.  It has a 100% focus on recruiting new people.  This makes it illegal in many countries around the world, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the FTC or other regulatory agencies find it before too long.

The below image is a great guideline on how to spot a Pyramid Scheme.  It is from the FTC and it basically describes UP2Give really well with the points they make:

ftc-pyramid-scheme-signs

Whilst we only looked at the recruitment aspect of Up2Give today, you are very likely to lose money by signing up with this scheme.

#2 The Owners Reputation is Questionable

The owners behind UP2Give have a shady past and have been known to have been involved in cryptocurrency scams before.  It has been known for these scammers to close down one business and then open a new one (which is basically the same) to try and keep the FTC off their radar.

Whilst there is no guarantee that this is the case with UP2Give, it just seems too likely a fact to be ignored.

#3 This Will Collapse, What Happens to Your Money?

Pyramid Schemes collapse as soon as the source of capital is gone, i.e. Everyone stops joining it.  Once the recruitment aspect stops, there will be no more income for you to benefit from.  There is no profit being generated through this system and, you could be the last person who signs up.  You pass your money onto the person above you.  But there is no income to pass to you…

That is the biggest fundamental problem with Pyramid Schemes.  The person at the top is sitting pretty, the people at the bottom are losing their money and not earning anything.

Once the scheme has closed down and moved on, you are no better off because you have lost your money and nothing to show for it.  Best off, keeping well away.

Haven't Made Your First $1 Yet?

Studies have shown that more than 70% of the people who want to make money online have not made their first dollar yet. So, you’re not alone!

My Up2Give Review - Final Conclusion

The short answer is… Yes, it is a scam.

Based on our research, it is an illegal recruitment only scheme or Pyramid Scheme. 

There is so much focus on recruitment without any products or services being sold on the platform. It is a pay to play platform, with no guarantee of earning anything.

The owners have been known to have been involved in Pyramid Schemes before, and they have both had businesses closed down prior to launching UP2Give.  It is highly likely that this could happen with Up2Give or they close it down prior to it being found out.

The income generated from the platform is non-existent.  The money only really servers to make the owners more money.  They have little regard for if it makes you any money.

Remember to start off with, your payment will probably be going to the owners as your sponsor…

In my opinion, you need to stay away from this platform.  Invest your time and money into a much better (and safer) option:

How We Make Money Online

We are not a fan of MLM, not because it is illegal or that it isn’t profitable, but because it is really restrictive, and the expensive costs involved.

That is why we recommend Affiliate Marketing.  It is our top recommended business model for anyone wanting to make money online.

The reasons are simple…

  • You don’t have to recruit anyone to make money
  • You have the freedom to promote any products or services you want and not get restricted by only promoting products from one MLM company
  • NO face-to-face Selling is involved
  • It is FREE to get started

In fact, with affiliate marketing we are close to earning a 4-figure monthly passive income stream.  With the right help and guidance, you can too.  Click below to find out about our top recommended training platform for learning affiliate marketing:

Thanks for checking our out Up2Give Review.  If you have any questions or any experience with this program or any similar program we would love to hear from you.  Write them in the comments below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Up2Give

0.05 BTC or $48 a month
0.1

Overall Rating

0.1/10

Pros

  • Nothing

Cons

  • Pyramid Scheme
  • Cash Gifting Scam
  • Owners Shady Past

14 thoughts on “Is Up2Give a Scam? Cash-Gifting Pyramid Scheme Exposed”

  1. Hello John, I must say that this article is very helpful and informative. I heard about Up2Give, my friend told me about it so I decided to do a little research on it. I am glad I stumbled upon your article because you explained everything right, I will definitely stay away from this. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

    Reply
  2. I can’t believe that the only way you can possibly make money is by recruiting. I know the wording is centered around “gift giving” but if that was truly the business model, then members would be able to join for free and give whatever amount they felt like giving, even if it’s less than a dollar. 

    Bottom line is Up2Scam seems shady and people should steer far from it.

    Reply
    • Agreed Nate,

      totally a scam that is there to fleece you of your hard earned money with the promise of it earning you a passive income.  If only!

      Making money online requires hard work and time, which people don’t seem to want to do.  But it is really the only way to make legit money online.

      all the best

      John

      Reply
  3. Hey John,

    I just read the article on your top recommended program for affiliate marketing; a company called Wealthy Affiliate.  I found the article very easy to read, and I think I have a good handle on how affiliate marketing works.  The first thing I need to ask you is, do you think affiliate marketing is saturated?  Am I already too late to the party?

    I often think to myself, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it’s too good to be true.”.  I mean, how long does it take before you start making any money?  This whole thing almost sounds like an internet version of Amway or something.

    More research is definitely needed on my end at this point, but I would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

    Regards,

    Michael

    Reply
    • Hi Michael,

      thanks for checking out our blog.  Affiliate Marketing is nowhere near saturation.  The internet population is growing, there are now more than 4.2 billion people online, many of them needing help with finding the right products and services for their needs and they are turning to affiliate marketers.  More and more companies are waking up to the fact that potential customers are doing this and are starting affiliate programs.  You are not “too late to the party”.

      The key to success will be picking the right niche, getting the right support (Wealthy Affiliate) and getting started sooner rather than later.

      Earnings will depend on how much time and effort you put in, and picking a niche that you know or love.  The reason is by picking a hobby or interest you enjoy, you are will be in a position to help people.  Affiliate Marketing gets more success from helping people, rather than selling to people.

      If you follow our recommended step-by-step training, then you could be earning money within 3 – 6 months.  This is not a get rich quick scheme, but it is a real legit opportunity to make money online.  It is a business model, not a push-button system.

      I get what you are saying, about it sounding too good to be true.  There are well over a million members within Wealthy Affiliate.  They are all benefitting from class-leading training and because the community is so active and helpful with owners that help you too – it is hard not to be overly positive around talking about Wealthy Affiliate.

      I understand that an overly positive review is sometimes a sign that a scheme is a scam, but Wealthy Affiliate is far from it.  Kyle & Carson, who are the owners, have built a fantastic affiliate marketing training program that includes all the tools you need to get started.  The training has proven success stories from members who are earning money within their chosen niche.  There are members who are earning money whilst travelling the world and blogging whilst they do, There are super affiliates who are promoting Wealthy Affiliate who are earning 6-figure salaries.  Like I said, it can be hard to find negative bits to describe to show it is real and legit.

      But the one thing I would say to alleviate your worries, is that the free WA Starter membership is designed for new people to sign up (with no credit card needed) and fully experience the platform themselves.  There is no time limit on the free starter membership.  There are some premium features that are given to you for 7 days for you to trial the premium membership.  But the free membership is a full membership with 2 free websites included with no time limit.

      Kyle and Carson want you to be sure WA is for you, before you decide whether the premium membership is for you.  That is all about them ensuring you know what you are signing up for.

      This is not Amway or similar.  Wealthy Affiliate is about aided you to become successful with affiliate marketing.  The only reason it won’t work is because you do not follow the training and you don’t take action.

      There is no risk with the starter membership, but it is the best way to see what Wealthy Affiliate has to offer…

      All the best

      John

      Reply
  4. This has two things going against it for me. The first and most obvious is that it is clearly a scam. I can’t believe they think that someone will realistically pay the equivalent of $13,000 a month to be a part of the program. Good gosh! It’s not wonder it is illegal in some countries as it is outright theft! The second is that it is an MLM. I have heard nothing but negative (and actually experienced negatives) with MLM’s and wouldn’t go anywhere near one now. Thanks for this review on Up2Give. It’s a hard “no” from me!

    Reply
    • Hi Steve,

      thanks for checking out our review.  This is clearly a scam, but that doesn’t make all MLM’s a scam.  The biggest problem with MLM is how they pitch their platforms.  If you have experience with network marketing, recruitment and selling then the right MLM opportunity might be good for you.

      The reason why most people fail at MLM is because they are not experts at these things, and due to the immense pressure to sell straight away, it becomes something that people have a negative view.  I am not personally an fan of MLM, but that doesn’t mean they are all a bad thing.  Here are some tips towards improving sales within MLM, and it is all around learning the skills you need.

      Our top recommendation is Affiliate Marketing and that is because it lacks a lot of the negative things of MLM, in fact it is a really good business model built on helping people.  It still requires time and effort to get right, but done correctly you can earn a lot more than you would on any MLM and you wouldn’t be losing money to scammers like with Up2GIve.

      thanks

      John

      Reply
  5. Thank you so much for this detail review of up2give. Everyone who are interested in joining up2give should read this frist. Because they will find all the important background for this program.

    People will avoid to join some program which is wasted money and time. This business mode of up2give will not last very long. 

    The only source of income is through recruitment is really a bad idea for this kind of business.It is very nice of you to show us the guideline on how to spot a pyramid scheme, most people especially for beginners who want to make money online should check this guidelines before they join any program.

    Finding a true legit program to build an online business is really hard for people who just begin to search opportunities online, thank you so much for providing this reviews. It is a very thorough reviews, Impressive.

    Reply
    • Hi Leo,

      thanks for checking out our blog and for sharing your thoughts too!

      It can be hard for those just starting out, especially when they see a scheme that is promising them the money of their dreams.  Other then learning the hard way and losing your money, if people are researching the platforms properly, they will find genuine platforms that can help them make money online.  

      But the key point is, legit platforms like Wealthy Affiliate will be honest with you around your expectations and the reality.  It takes time and hard work, and if you are desperate, these are words you do not want to hear.  

      So that is why they learn the hard way as they click on the scheme that says they could be earning thousands tomorrow, only to find that they should have took the long (correct) road, rather than keep trying to find shortcuts.

      thanks again Leo

      John

      Reply
  6. Hello; in a world where almost every move one makes cost money, the working /spending public must take hold of how they spend money lightly.

    Almost every second browse you make on the Internet there is a scam trap waiting to catch you. They are the most popular. Up2give is only another one of them. The action calls for “Research, Research, Research”! And Research wisely! It is evident, these two men will not give up on their scheme to defraud people, it is paying them big money.

    As one is closed for whatever the reason the start another. It is time Cyber authorities clamp down on their activities and strip them, send them into confinement. So clean business can thrive while helping people.

    Do you know that scammers have money, that they are paying to what I called a large staff to write reviews and make videos about them that are eye and ears catchy? 

    Yes; they do; Here is where research needs to be tactful.

    DorcasW

    Reply
    • Hi DorcasW,

      thanks for sharing your experience with us all.  You are right, just because you see a positive review you still need to be wary, especially if they are claiming there is nothing wrong at all.  Everything needs some improvement as time goes by.

      But these scams are out there to line these people’s pockets with no care towards whom they hurt.

      If only the FTC had the time and resources to find all of these scams, then it might be different.  But if we can educate more people on how to do their research correctly, then it might be different and people would not fall for these scams.  If nobody fell for them, they the scammers wouldn’t have a chance of succeeding.

      all the best

      John

      Reply
  7. i would hardly believe that anyone would be able to convince me to pay over 10,000 usd for a platform or a program. it is better invested in something that i sure and i can monitor. there is no doubt that up2give is a scam and it is not reliable. thank you for this post

    Reply
    • Hi Benny,

      thanks for checking out our post.  Definitely not a product that is here to benefit you.  They are just wanting to line their own pockets!

      All the best

      John

      Reply

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