I've been offered income or a diploma
Fraud schemes by type: sellers of documents, pyramid schemes, "easy money", fake investments.
an independent reference on digital safety and online fraud
Make Coin — a reference on digital safety and online fraud
Ads promising "guaranteed income", a "turnkey diploma" or "risk-free investments" turn up online all the time. Behind them there is almost always the same thing: someone asks you to pay now for something you will never legally receive. Make Coin is an independent reference that explains how these schemes work, how to protect your email, bank and gaming accounts, and what to do if you have already been scammed or hacked.
The louder the promise and the stronger the pressure to hurry, the more reason to stop. Checking takes minutes; lost money and data often never come back.
Where to start
I want to protect my accounts
Step-by-step guides: two-factor authentication, password managers, checking your email for breaches.
I've been scammed or hacked
First steps: call your bank, change your passwords, report to the police, keep the messages.
I don't understand the terms
Glossary: phishing, money mule, chargeback, pyramid scheme, FRDO and other terms in plain language.
Reference sections
- Practical guides
Step-by-step guides: two-factor authentication, password managers, breach checks, phishing, diploma verification. Also home to the article catalogue.
- Tools
Types of protection tools: password managers, authenticator apps, hardware keys, breach checks, backups.
- Comparisons
Comparing second-factor methods and ways of storing passwords: strengths and weaknesses.
- Troubleshooting
What to do if your email or account was hacked, you sent money to scammers or your card details were leaked.
- Security
Common fraud schemes: sellers of documents, pyramid schemes, "easy money", phishing, fake tech support.
- Glossary
Glossary: accounts and passwords, money and fraud schemes, documents.
- FAQ
Answers about this reference, about diplomas and documents, and about money and account security.
Check an offer in five steps
Who is selling
Find out who is behind the offer: is there a clearly identifiable legal entity, an address, a track record? An anonymous seller on a messaging app is already a reason to be wary.
What is promised
Guaranteed high income, a document without study or exams, a prize from a draw you never entered — these are signs of a scam. Legitimate services do not guarantee the impossible.
How you are asked to pay
A request to transfer money to a private individual's card, pay in cryptocurrency or make an advance payment "to reserve" should stop you before you pay.
What official sources say
Check the facts where they are officially kept: in Russia, a diploma via Rosobrnadzor or the university, a financial firm via Bank of Russia materials; elsewhere, via the national authority.
What happens if it is a scam
Picture the worst outcome: money lost, passport details handed over, a forged document in your hands. If the risk is unacceptable, do not pay.
Common questions in brief
Can I get a diploma or certificate from you?
No. An education document is issued only by an educational institution after study and final assessment. Anything sold "turnkey" is a forgery; in Russia, making, selling and using one is prohibited by Article 327 of the Criminal Code.
What should I do if I have already paid scammers?
Call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card, keep the messages and receipts, and report it to the police. More in the troubleshooting section.
How can I verify a diploma?
In Russia, details of issued education documents are entered in the federal register FRDO, kept by Rosobrnadzor; you can check a diploma via the Rosobrnadzor service or by asking the issuing university. Elsewhere, ask the issuing institution or the national authority.
Do you sell money-making courses?
No. We sell nothing, promise no income and give no investment advice. This reference explains how to recognise such offers.
About the project
Make Coin is an independent reference on digital safety and online fraud. This domain used to host ads for the sale of documents and casino advertising. The current reference is not affiliated with them, does not continue them and explains how to recognise such schemes.
We write about how fraudulent offers work, what account protection tools exist and what to do if something has already happened. We do not pose as a bank, the police or a government agency, we do not name specific companies or people, and we do not cite unverifiable figures.
Related sections
- Security
Common fraud schemes: sellers of documents, pyramid schemes, "easy money", phishing, fake tech support.
- Practical guides
Step-by-step guides: two-factor authentication, password managers, breach checks, phishing, diploma verification. Also home to the article catalogue.
- Troubleshooting
What to do if your email or account was hacked, you sent money to scammers or your card details were leaked.
Sources
- Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Arts. 159, 159.3, 159.6, 172.2, 327)
- Rosobrnadzor — FRDO (Federal Register of Education Documents)
- Bank of Russia — financial literacy materials
Laws, bank rules and service features change. This information is based on official sources as of the preparation date — check the current versions of laws and the instructions of the services themselves.