DANNY : DE HEKThey tried to deplatform me. They tried to smear me. They even got my website taken down for a few days along with my LinkedIn account (which is still restricted). But I’m still here – and now, my website is protected by the same infrastructure that protects Google.com.

That’s right. After a fake legal complaint from a scammer triggered a takedown of my site, Google Project Shield stepped in to protect me. They recognized my work as valuable independent journalism, the kind worth defending with the same tech that shields Google.com, Election Watch, and major human rights organisations.

This is a huge win for me and I am incredibly grateful to Google and the folks at Project Jigsaw. This is a message to every scammer, fraudster, and thief hiding behind AI-generated threats: You can’t silence me. You just made me stronger!

From Zoom Crasher to Criminal Network Disruptor

My name is Danny de Hek, and for the last few years, I’ve been exposing scammers, Ponzi schemes, crypto frauds, and MLM predators who prey on everyday people. What started with crashing ponzi scheme recruitment Zoom calls has turned into a pretty much full-time job as an investigative journalist (although with some gonzo elements to my work as I myself will admit). I now collaborate with whistleblowers, coordinate with victims, and provide intelligence to law enforcement agencies like the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Law enforcement officials have literally called what I am doing to scammers “psyops.”

In the past few months, my work has been featured in:

  • Bloomberg News – A 20-minute exposé documentary, viewed over 700,000 times
  • The New York Times, The Guardian Australia, ABC News, and more
  • Leading newspapers in India and Pakistan reporting on my ongoing efforts to expose scam software houses (which have led to raids in Karachi)

The Attacks Are Escalating

Here’s what they’ve done to try to shut me up:

  • June 2025: My website (dehek.com) is taken offline after scammer Shavez Anwar (aka Shavez Ahmed Siddiqui) files a fake, AI-generated takedown request to WP Engine (owned by Silver Lake).
  • Same week: My BuyMeACoffee account is suspended with no recourse.
  • Earlier this year: I lost my Medium blog, my podcast was removed, and my inbox flooded with legal threats.
  • Several DDoS attacks have been launched against my website.
  • My LinkedIn account was restricted after the fentanyl trafficking scammers Burhan Mirza and Azneem Bilwani filed fake reports alleging I was defaming them.

The irony? These platforms are silencing a journalist who’s trying to stop people from getting scammed! I know my methods can be unconventional but my focus with exposing criminals is to investigate and name and shame perpetrators once I have solid evidence of wrongdoing. My work has saved people from losing millions of dollars. With the Pakistani scammers I’ve outed, many websites being used to scam victims have been taken down, and I’ve helped past victims find and sue the software house owners who have all the money.

I am also soliciting informants from Pakistan and passing on valuable information to the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and other law enforcement partners. The pressure from the U.S. government has led to Pakistan-based scam software houses being raided – thanks to my efforts.

Google Project Shield: I feel alive!

Let me explain for the scammers still reading: Google Project Shield is a security service designed to protect journalists, election monitors, and human rights defenders from being silenced online.

It blocks DDoS attacks. It filters out abuse. And it makes sure important stories stay online.

The fact that Google offered protection is a big deal for me. I’m not just someone who makes videos or writes blogs — I am putting my neck on the line and exposing some of the most egregious scams victimizing people. I have received many death threats.

You Can’t Sue Someone Who Has Nothing to Lose

Some of you think a lawsuit will scare me. Here’s the truth: I don’t make money from this. I average around $300/month from YouTube. I build ecommerce websites to pay the bills. My content is public service, not profit.

So no, you won’t win a defamation case against me. But I will make sure the world knows what you’re doing.

What’s Next: Stronger, Louder, Unstoppable

Yes, I’ve lost some platforms. But I’ve gained some things too.

My website is now protected. My voice is louder than ever. And the scammers know it.

If you support this kind of work, here’s how you can help:

  • Subscribe to my YouTube channel and share my content
  • Tell friends and family about common scam tactics
  • Report fraudulent platforms when you see them
  • When your favourite scam baiter/YouTuber gets their accounts shut down, help raise awareness, don’t ignore their messages

You may not be able to stop scammers alone. But with the right voices, the right tools, and the right support — we can fight back.

This is only the beginning.
Game on.

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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My work exposing crypto fraud has been featured in: