DANNY : DE HEKThere’s a new scam making the rounds, and like most of them, it’s hiding behind a shiny promise of the future.

Tarracos claims to be building “the first social metaverse” — but let’s call it what it really is: a recruitment-driven Ponzi scheme wrapped in crypto-flavoured buzzwords and metaverse fantasy. If you’ve ever fallen for one of these before, this one will look familiar. If you haven’t — this is your warning.

Buy a Virtual Apartment — Get a Ponzi Position

I’ve spent the last few days digging through every page of the Tarracos website, watching their videos, reading their Terms & Conditions, dissecting their affiliate program, and comparing it to every other scam I’ve exposed over the years. This one checks all the boxes — and then invents a few new ones just for flair.

The first thing they want you to do is “join early access” by buying into one of their so-called digital properties. The cheapest starts at €10 (Chelsea), then €20 (Val Glaciel), and €35 (Costa Fija). The site tempts you with vague perks like VIP-only areas, fully customisable avatars, and vehicles like a “kicksled” or “action boat.” But here’s the catch — you’re not buying a product. You’re buying a position in their financial funnel.

Affiliate Commissions Disguised as Gaming Perks

The more you pay, the higher the property tier, and the more you’re encouraged to recruit others to do the same.

And recruit you must. Tarracos revolves around an affiliate system where users are incentivised with 25% to 50% commissions on all purchases made by their referrals. Want to unlock that Premium Affiliate status? You’ve got to pay first. Only then do you get your unique referral link and the ability to start earning commissions. If that sounds like a pay-to-play pyramid scheme, it’s because it is.

“Custom Features” Are Just Cosmetic Distractions

They’ve gamified the whole thing with nonsense like “The Industrian” and “The Island Hopper,” badges, themes, and made-up digital features like “glass floors to view sea life.” But don’t be distracted. This isn’t a metaverse. There’s no functioning game, no community, no ecosystem. Their YouTube channel has just three videos — two of which are music-backed fluff. The only actual guide is a basic Steam install tutorial. Not a single frame of actual gameplay exists.

A Web of Deception — From Stolen Identities to Ghost Admins

The rest of their business model leans heavily on deception and classic scam tactics. They’ve stolen the identity of real people to list as executives (Mary T. Duda, for instance, has no affiliation with this scam whatsoever). The real admin? A South African developer named Xander Hattingh, tied to the platform through LinkedIn and email tracebacks. BehindMLM did a great job uncovering this, and they deserve credit for raising the alarm.

The Legal Web They Don’t Want You Reading

Their Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Refund Policy are all structured to block accountability. Everything funnels through a Cyprus-registered shell company, which conveniently shields the operation from most international complaints. Refunds? Forget about it. Their policy denies all requests for used services, affiliate payments, or “change of mind.” Auto-upgrades forcibly spend your commissions on higher-tier properties whether you like it or not. And the FAQ confirms commissions are only paid weekly — if you’re still in the system and still recruiting.

Conclusion: There Is No Metaverse — Only the Funnel

This isn’t a social platform. It’s not a game. It’s not a metaverse. It’s a recruitment engine built to extract real money from hopeful victims and funnel it upward — while dangling the fantasy of future digital rewards that will never arrive.

So if someone sends you a link to Tarracos, promising easy money, cool avatars, and a chance to be part of something revolutionary — walk away. Don’t give them your money. Don’t give them your time. And whatever you do, don’t give them access to your friends through that affiliate link.

This is not the future of gaming. It’s the latest mutation of the same old scam.

You’ve been warned.

About the Author Danny de Hek, also known as The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger, is a New Zealand-based investigative journalist specializing in exposing crypto fraud, Ponzi schemes, and MLM scams. His work has been featured by Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Guardian Australia, ABC News Australia, and other international outlets.

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