Why did so many people believe in Lightning Shared Scooter Co. (LSSC)? On the surface, the pitch looked genius: you “buy” an e-scooter, the company “rents” it out, and you earn daily passive income.

It was sold as the Uber of scooters, except easier and far more profitable.

Early investors bragged about doubling or tripling their money in weeks, and families across the globe convinced themselves this was the future of urban transport.

For many, it didn’t feel like speculation — it felt like owning a piece of a booming industry.

How Much Money Was Lost in This China Scooter Scam?

While exact figures are impossible to pin down, conservative estimates suggest tens of millions of dollars globally have been siphoned through LSSC. Reports collected from Reddit alone show thousands of small investors losing between $1,000–$10,000 each, spread across North America, South America, Eastern Europe (especially Poland and Serbia), and Asia. At one point, LSSC’s Telegram channels boasted over 900,000 members, showing just how widespread the scam became before collapsing.

Why Did the China Scooter Ponzi Collapse?

Like all Ponzi schemes, LSSC depended on a steady stream of new recruits to keep payouts flowing. The “earnings” weren’t rental income from scooters — none have been proven to exist at any commercial scale — but deposits from newer victims. Once recruitment slowed and regulators in Canada began issuing warnings in June and July 2025, the cracks appeared:

  • Withdrawals froze or were delayed.
  • Websites kept changing (lssc-canada.ca, thelssc.com, lssce.com, lightsha.com, etc.).
  • New deposits were required just to “unlock” existing balances.

By August 2025, the scheme was effectively dead, with victims locked out of their funds.

Is There Any Hope of Recovering Money From This China Scam?

Unfortunately, recovery chances are slim to none. Investigators and victims have described LSSC’s payment systems as using rotating crypto wallets that changed every two hours. Funds were routed through largely unregulated exchanges, making clawback nearly impossible. While regulators in Canada (BCSC, AMF, ASC, FCAA, FCNB) have all blacklisted the company, those warnings typically arrive far too late to help people already defrauded.

Where Was This Scam Really Run From? (China Links)

While branded as a “Canada‑based” business, LSSC is widely suspected to have been operated by China‑linked scam networks, using the same playbook seen in other scooter Ponzi operations. These networks specialize in fake apps, shell companies, and aggressive international recruitment rings.

The Many Names and Domains of This China Scooter Scheme

Over its short lifespan, Lightning Shared Scooter Co. operated under a confusing web of business names and domains to appear legitimate and dodge regulators. These included LSSC Canada Inc., LSSC Edmonton Ltd., LSSC Marketing Inc., LSSC Expansion #1 Ltd., Lightning Shared Scooter Limited, and Lightning Shared Scooter Co., Ltd.

Victims reported seeing websites under: thelssc.com, lssc‑canada.ca, lssce.com, lssc6.com, lightsha.com, lightacer.com, and even lightapp.cqyydsb.com. This kind of domain‑hopping is a classic hallmark of online Ponzi schemes, designed to stay one step ahead of takedown requests and blacklists.

The Rebrand Pattern – From LSSC to Yuechi Sharing Technology Ltd. (China-Based Successors)

One of the clearest signs LSSC was never a real business is how it morphed into new names the moment its reputation collapsed. Victims have documented the same operators running projects under Andes Mobility, SELEAD, LTEC, and Light Speed Shared Scooters.

On May 26th, 2025, I published an investigation into Yuechi Sharing Technology Ltd. (YS), which showed nearly identical red flags. YS promised profits from supposed scooter fleets, but the business model mirrored LSSC’s exactly: slick marketing, fake apps, crypto‑only deposits, tiered “investment” levels, and heavy reliance on recruitment.

The lesson? After one scheme implodes, many victims don’t walk away — they simply switch into the next rebrand, often lured by the very same recruiters. That’s how this cycle, often driven out of China, keeps repeating.

Recruitment: The Engine of the China Scooter Ponzi

LSSC didn’t spread through ads or app stores — it spread through family, friends, and WhatsApp/Telegram groups. Victims were promised bonuses and higher returns if they recruited others. Some even pressured relatives at family gatherings to “get in before it’s too late.”

The results were devastating: households turned against each other, friendships destroyed, and reputations ruined when the money vanished.

Who Should Be Held Accountable for the China Scooter Scam?

It’s not just the faceless operators abroad. American, Canadian, and international recruiters actively pushed this scheme, posting fake testimonials online and persuading loved ones to invest. One name that surfaced from victims was “Francois,” reportedly acting as a manager who reassured investors just before the collapse.

Meanwhile, authorities in Salinas, California confirmed that dozens of local and global promoters pitched LSSC directly, with some persuading people to part with tens of thousands of dollars. These recruiters must be named and shamed. Even if they now claim to be victims, anyone who knowingly profited by recruiting others into an illegal scheme bears responsibility.

Timeline of the Collapse

  • Early 2024 – LSSC emerges with its “scooter rental” pitch.
  • Spring 2025 – Telegram recruitment drives; 900k+ members claimed.
  • June 19, 2025 – Alberta Securities Commission issues first warning.
  • June 23–24, 2025 – BC and New Brunswick regulators blacklist LSSC.
  • July 4, 2025 – Quebec and Saskatchewan issue alerts; withdrawals freeze.
  • August 2025 – Total collapse; victims locked out of funds.

Why This China Scooter Ponzi Model Will Return

The ugly truth is that this scam worked. Tens of millions were stolen before LSSC collapsed, which means the operators now know the model is profitable. Variations of this scooter scam — under new names and new domains — will almost certainly resurface from China and beyond.

Unless victims and regulators spread awareness, the same playbook will trap fresh investors. It’s a repeatable formula: fake scooters, fake apps, crypto deposits, domain-hopping, and endless recruitment.

Call-to-Action

If you or someone you know invested in LSSC, share your story. Every testimony helps build a stronger case against the individuals and networks behind this fraud.

  • Did you recruit or were you recruited?
  • How much did you lose?
  • Which app or website did you use?
  • Were you redirected to another “scooter investment” like Yuechi Sharing Technology Ltd.?

Contact me directly via my website: dehek.com/contact

By pooling information, we can expose the scammers, warn future victims, and pressure regulators to act faster.

The bottom line: There were never any scooters. Just another Chinese Ponzi scheme disguised as innovation.

Disclaimer: How This Investigation Was Conducted

This investigation relies entirely on OSINT — Open Source Intelligence — meaning every claim made here is based on publicly available records, archived web pages, corporate filings, domain data, social media activity, and open blockchain transactions. No private data, hacking, or unlawful access methods were used. OSINT is a powerful and ethical tool for exposing scams without violating privacy laws or overstepping legal boundaries.

About the Author

I’m DANNY DE HEK, a New Zealand–based YouTuber, investigative journalist, and OSINT researcher. I name and shame individuals promoting or marketing fraudulent schemes through my YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Every video I produce exposes the people behind scams, Ponzi schemes, and MLM frauds — holding them accountable in public.

My PODCAST is an extension of that work. It’s distributed across 18 major platforms — including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, and iHeartRadio — so when scammers try to hide, my content follows them everywhere. If you prefer listening to my investigations instead of watching, you’ll find them on every major podcast service.

You can BOOK ME for private consultations or SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, where I share first-hand experience from years of exposing large-scale fraud and helping victims recover.

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