alert The fund can't be withdrawal from Epik.com via Masterbucks wallet

[enamebroker]

It happened on 23rd Aug 2022 and this matter lasted almost one month without any process. Masterbucks.com declined my fund withdrawal and disabled the button of fund withdrawal. And I contacted Epik.com and got no further action even if Rob Monster got involved in it for two weeks. All the time I was told in email by management review.

What is wrong with Epik.com? Do you think it is normal to disable fund withdrawal? How can I get back my fund from Epik.com? Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[bmugford]

Just wanted to update.

Looks like I have been paid in full from Masterbucks into my bank account on 11/21/22. I see the money in my bank account so yeah, this is great news.

Again, I did NOT have much in Masterbucks, the payment requested was only about $9 but good to see that they have paid me. I hope everyone else gets paid as well.

Thanks.

-Omar

I am glad you got paid.

Looking at the complaints on here, Trust Pilot, Twitter, etc. it seems like the actual queue is not first-come first-served.

It seems like they are prioritizing small balances and US debts. The vast majority of people that have reported they are still owed money appear to be from outside the US.

This would make sense for Epik as they have the most exposure when it comes to US debts, but if that is what is happening it is not really fair to everyone else who has had pending withdrawal requests for a much longer period of time.

Brad

 

[johnsmith53]

This is not looking good

 

[bmugford]

Epik owe us $70,000 for over 5 weeks. This was for the use of escrow services. They have released the domains to the buyers but refuse to pass over the monies citing 'business funding issues'. This is criminal.

Epik is soliciting new business while they are not able pay existing customer debts.

There doesn't seem to be any mention of this issue while soliciting that new business.

That is not good.

It's not really much of an "escrow" company when they turn over ownership of an asset and stiff you on payment.

Again, this is why the escrow field is heavily regulated. Without it, you get nonsense like this and "commingled" funds.

I would not deal with any company that spouts some self-governance BS in lieu of proper licensing and oversight.

Brad

 

[Igor Gabrielan]

Has Epik already frankly started writing that they need the escrow money for their own business?

 

[Igor Gabrielan]

Earlier it was written here that it is a shame to be deceived twice.
Isn't it a shame to fall into Epik's trap now, when there are wonderful revelations of the essence of Epik's activities on this forum and Trustpilot?

 

[wallet2it]

Epik seems a lot like FTX now don’t have fund to pay customers….

Epik Bankruptcy coming!

So wish they are publicly traded; I would have shorted the hell out of their stocks

 

[Derek Peterson]

Epik seems a lot like FTX now don’t have fund to pay customers….

Epik Bankruptcy coming!

So wish they are publicly traded; I would have shorted the hell out of their stocks

Now that you mention it, didn't Epik purchase a crypto exchange? Does anyone remember the name of it?

 

[Igor Gabrielan]

If I didn't know that Epik has no money, I would think that they bribed Trustpilot, because Trustpilot started putting obstacles for negative comments on Epik.

 

[carob]

Now that you mention it, didn't Epik purchase a crypto exchange? Does anyone remember the name of it?

https://www.namepros.com/threads/th...asterbucks-wallet.1284050/page-7#post-8713302
Reg. NameAMPLIFYX HOLDING LIMITED
TypeLTD - Private Company Limited by Shares

Registered in Ireland and possibly in trouble with regulators for not submitting long overdue annual report there.

 

[william]

I am glad you got paid.

Looking at the complaints on here, Trust Pilot, Twitter, etc. it seems like the actual queue is not first-come first-served.

It seems like they are prioritizing small balances and US debts. The vast majority of people that have reported they are still owed money appear to be from outside the US.

This would make sense for Epik as they have the most exposure when it comes to US debts, but if that is what is happening it is not really fair to everyone else who has had pending withdrawal requests for a much longer period of time.

Brad

This is very possible. I was thinking when the delays came about why they don't simply just pay the small payouts to prevent any issues from those customers. I think they represent the majority anyway. There are probably only a handful of people that are owed large amounts. But hopefully we are wrong, and they will pay everyone in a timely matter.

 

[Igor Gabrielan]

It is not known what is more dangerous, a swarm of not-so-evil wasps or a few wolves with sharp teeth.

 

[william]

It is not known what is more dangerous, a swarm of not-so-evil wasps or a few wolves with sharp teeth.

I understand your frustration and situation, but if I was in your shoes, I'd try to be productive with my efforts to get my money. I think putting some pressure on them is great and sharing your experience on social media can definitely improve your chances. But, there's a fine line between harassment and sharing your experience to try to find a resolution. People are much more willing to help the latter.

 

[Igor Gabrielan]

Interestingly, MC considers all five-star reviews useful.
It must be Monster.

 

[Chris Hydrick]

Epik seems a lot like FTX now don’t have fund to pay customers….

I've been following the FTX story, and can't help but notice both issues seemingly stem from a "commingling" of funds.

I'm not sure how common the phrase commingling is, but it seems to be a focal point in both the epik domaining issue, and the FTX mainstream issue.

DailyDot.com

Royce said that when he took over as CEO of Epik, “there was kind of a lot of commingling and the separation of operations wasn’t there.”

WashingtonPost.com

In his filing Thursday, Ray ... noted a “potential commingling” of assets between Bankman-Fried firms, including possibly his trading arm Alameda Research and FTX.com,

...

Epik Bankruptcy coming!

It might be worth noting, epik's self reported hole when "new management" took over was apprx $4.5 million, with the debt now having been allegedly lowered to $800k.

Epik as a registrar is still processing domain orders, and working as a functional registrar. I'm not sure to what degree FTX is operating since they filed for bankruptcy, but FTX's reported hole is somewhere in the $# billions.

...

Despite FTX bankruptcy filing, reports are showing SBF is still trying to raise funds to bail the company out of bankruptcy. Although reporting seems to describe attempts by SBF may be efforts at mitigating legal proceeedings. ie CNBC reported Justin Danilewitz saying, "...mitigating client losses can be a tactic to look better in the eyes of the court... That’s often highly advisable if a defendant is in a real pickle and the proof is compelling — it’s a good idea to try and make amends as promptly as possible,”

I'm not sure if @Rob Monster new KingdomVentures.com that supposedly provides "Kingdom Capital for Kingdom Investments" is attempting to save Epik by similar fundraising methods, but based on some info on their (KingdomVentures.com) website, I don't think the theory is too far fetched (albeit just speculation).

From KingdomVentures.com current home page::

...

Also similar, when sh!t hit the fan, SBF resigned as CEO. Around the time sh!t hit the fan at epik, Rob seemingly resigned as CEO.

I'd be curious to hear what others think of Epiks chance of bankruptcy is...? Or what the legal ramicifactions will be (if any) towards epik or epik management/owner(s).

...

I understand your frustration and situation, but if I was in your shoes, I'd try to be productive with my efforts to get my money. I think putting some pressure on them is great and sharing your experience on social media can definitely improve your chances. But, there's a fine line between harassment and sharing your experience to try to find a resolution. People are much more willing to help the latter.

@Igor Gabrielan -- I too understand and empathize with your situation, but I also 100% agree with @william that energy needs to be focused in proper legal direction, and away from harassment level frustrations.

If I am to understand correctly, english isn't your first language, and you are not is the USA, but if you are able to attend zoom meetings, you might gain some insight by sharing your experience in next Monday (November 28th) or any future domain social zoom meet ups. Subscribe at TheDomainSocial.com to get an invite link.

I noticed somebody sharing the name of a knowledgable domainer had posted in the DNW epik podcast, and while I'm not sure if that's the same Todd who attends the domain social zooms, but if it is, you might do well picking his brain for what he would do if he was in your situations.

 

[bmugford]

I've been following the FTX story, and can't help but notice both issues seemingly stem from a "commingling of funds".

I'm not sure how common the phrase commingling is, but it seems to be a focal point in both the epik domaining issue, and the FTX mainstream issue.

DailyDot.com


WashingtonPost.com


...



It might be worth noting, epik's self reported hole when "new management" took over was apprx $4.5 million, with the debt now having been allegedly lowered to $800k.

Epik as a registrar is still processing domain orders, and working as a functional registrar. I'm not sure to what degree FTX is operating since they filed for bankruptcy, but FTX's reported hole is somewhere in the $# billions.

...

Despite FTX bankruptcy filing, reports are showing SBF is still trying to raise funds to bail the company out of bankruptcy. Although reporting seems to attempt by SBF may be efforts at mitigating legal proceeedings. ie CNBC reported Justin Danilewitz saying, "...mitigating client losses can be a tactic to look better in the eyes of the court... That’s often highly advisable if a defendant is in a real pickle and the proof is compelling — it’s a good idea to try and make amends as promptly as possible,”

I'm not sure if @Rob Monster new KingdomVentures.com that supposedly provides "Kingdom Capital for Kingdom Investments" is attempting to save Epik by similar fundraising methods, but based on some info on their (KingdomVentures.com) website, I don't think the theory is too far fetched (albeit just speculation).

From KingdomVentures.com current home page::

Show attachment 227400

...

Also similar, when sh!t hit the fan, SBF resigned as CEO. Around the time sh!t hit the fan at epik, Rob seemingly resigned as CEO.

I'd be curious to hear what others think of Epiks chance of bankruptcy is...? Or what the legal ramicifactions will be (if any) towards epik or epik management/owner(s).

...





@Igor Gabrielan -- I too understand and empathize with your situation, but I also 100% agree with @william that energy needs to be focused in proper legal direction, and away from harassment level frustrations.

If I am to understand correctly, english isn't your first language, and you are not is the USA, but if you are able to attend zoom meetings, you might gain some insight by sharing your experience in next Monday (November 28th) or any future domain social zoom meet ups. Subscribe at TheDomainSocial.com to get an invite link.

I noticed somebody sharing the name of a knowledgable domainer had posted in the DNW epik podcast, and while I'm not sure if that's the same Todd who attends the domain social zooms, but if it is, you might do well picking his brain for what he would do if he was in your situations.

Show attachment 227401

The commingling of customer funds is, at best, an egregious violation of trust.

Commingling can occur between business funds and personal funds. It can also occur between general business funds and customer funds.

Customer funds are supposed to be off limits. This is true with escrow, crypto, stocks, etc.
These assets are not a companies slush fund to do with as they please.

You can get in massive trouble for commingling funds like this. This could be related to laws, regulations, licensing, etc.

The protection a business structure provides is limited. It is also one of the quickest ways to expose yourself to personal liability AKA "piercing the corporate veil".

We will probably never get the entire story about Rob's exit as CEO.
Was it even voluntary? The timing is rather suspicious.

Also, as far as what debts Epik actually owes, who knows.

All we have is what they have said. Other things that have been said have turned out to be far from truthful.

Brian also said Masterbucks customers were notified before the system went down. According to all reports, that is objectively not true.

Brad

 

[Lox]

July 21, 2022 NTD Interview (FreedomFest 2022).

 

[Chris Hydrick]

July 21, 2022 NTD Interview (FreedomFest 2022).

Minute mark 4:20

Interviewer asks, "Who are your flagship clients?"

Robs response, "So, we're known as being the provider of lets say Gab, Gettr, Parler, Americas Frontline Doctors, and really just a much larger array of indenpendent bloggers."

Remember when Rob was trying to pitch to wikipedia that Epik is known as a registrar for domain investors? I didn't hear Rob mention domain investors, domain escrow, masterbucks, nameliquidate, or any other domainer services. He mentions they serve over 110,000 customer accounts, doesn't mention many likely domainer accounts, yet the image he keeps pitching seems to be centered around supporting far right clients. Is that approach tailored to his saught after investor client, hoping to attract an investor who cares more about being a free speech absolutist, than the actual technology, operations, and finances behind the company? Pathos > Logos appeal?

I mean, technically speaking, how much of epiks growth was related to as what rob says "an acceleration of growth as people become much more discerning about the very practical risk of being deplatformed" post 2018/gab, verse how much of Epiks growth was from domainer customers. Almost as if there's an attempt to use domainer customer numbers, to prop up and support the marketing/investor headline of epik being the savior of free speech.

 

[Chris Hydrick]

https://www.namepros.com/threads/th...asterbucks-wallet.1284050/page-7#post-8713302
Reg. NameAMPLIFYX HOLDING LIMITED
TypeLTD - Private Company Limited by Shares

Registered in Ireland and possibly in trouble with regulators for not submitting long overdue annual report there.

July 21, 2022 NTD Interview (FreedomFest 2022).

Minute 8:40

Rob, "We acquired a licensed crypto exchange called Amplify.io. We built a proprietary NFT marketplace called fraktion, fraktion with a k...."

This was also mentioned in the famous "shitty russian code" video chat transcribed by @Molly White

Rob --

" ... We acquired an Irish crypto exchange, you can check it out. It's called Amplify.io. I'm told it's pretty secure. You guys can try and hack it. Amplify.io. And it's domiciled in Ireland. It's licensed as a crypto exchange. We ended up acquiring that company in April of this year. We're working on an NFT platform called Fraktion, f-r-a-k-t-i-o-n. But all Reg. D, Reg. S compliant stuff. We hired a full-time in-house lawyer, that lawyer brings in other lawyers as needed. Before you got here, I mentioned that we raised $32 million in outside growth capital from a guy who didn't ask for a board seat and it's all common stock. I'm overwhelmingly the majority shareholder and there are no other board directors at this time. We had two board directors, they were both Jewish, they both resigned because of the Gab stuff... "

When pressing the support tab on Amplify.io, I am redirected to a ZenDesk.com notification that says, "Oops, this help center no longer exists The company you're looking for is no longer using our help center. We suggest reaching out to them directly via their official website." ... oops!

Also it looks like Amplify originally launched using AmplifyExchange.com prior to changing to Amplify.io. And while Amplify.io is regged at Epik, AmplifyExchange.com is registered at GoDaddy, but forwards to amplify.io. Maybe for resilancy purposes? Just kinda odd considering the argument epik has against big tech and GD.

 

[cooljub]

Interviewer asks, "Who are your flagship clients?"

Robs response, "So, we're known as being the provider of lets say Gab, Gettr, Parler, Americas Frontline Doctors, and really just a much larger array of indenpendent bloggers."

Remember when Rob was trying to pitch to wikipedia that Epik is known as a registrar for domain investors? I didn't hear Rob mention domain investors, domain escrow, masterbucks, nameliquidate, or any other domainer services.

To be fair, he was at FreedomFest here, not NamesCon.

 

[Lox]

is known as a registrar for domain investors?

I think: RM focus was on (marketing>) building a relationship, rather than making a business. He gravitate toward supporting the behaviors/cultures he don't know well. If you do the math, it’s easy to see why many figureskaters hits wall and that building a relationship attract di$honest and yes-man (incompetent) attitude.

Just ToL

Regards

 

[Chris Hydrick]

To be fair, he was at FreedomFest here, not NamesCon.

That's true. It was likely a tailored response to the audience.

Still, I find the Amplify.io/Substratum.net stuff very interesting.

Not sure how much of that acquisition has been publicised. The company (subtratum.net) that built amplify.io (albeit linkedin only shows one employee at present time, which is a developer from nigeria) released a tweet of the acquisition, and some twitter comments suggest that substratum had burned through $14 mil prior to Rob/Epik aquiring Substratum/Amplify.

Timeline:

25 SEP 2017:: $SUB coin released by substratum.net with a $10mil marketcap (according to coinmarketcap).

08 JAN 2018:: $SUB coin surged to a $557mil marketcap, with $62mil in 24 hour trading volume.

15 OCT 2018:: Medium.com runs an article titled, "Substratum and it’s new Amplify Exchange is starting to look like a Major Money Grab". --- This is after the $SUB coin had fallen to a $42mil marketcap with $595k in 24hr trading volume.

20 AUG 2021: Substratum tweets they've been acquired by Epik.

14 NOV 2021:

Spoiler

https://twitter.com/x/status/1459991204637155329

11 AUG 2022:

Spoiler

https://twitter.com/x/status/1557981138131603456

Today, 22 NOV 2022: $SUB coin shows a marketcap of $269k, with a 24hr trading volume of $74.

...
Wasn't FTX also buying distressed companies following the luna collapse? Sometimes (as was confirmed in ftx buying out binances stake in ftx) FTX paid out in part using their native FTT token. Thus. no telling how many masterbucks FTT tokens were doled out in their acquisitions.
...

Would be very interesting to know how much Substratum was acquired for, or if this company acquisition was paid out via MasterBucks.

 

[Chris Hydrick]

While searching twitter for information relating to masterbucks, I found this well aged thread between @EJS and epiks (former) Senior VP of Communications Rob Davis (Intelliname):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1314599661622231040

...

Spoiler

https://twitter.com/x/status/1445065981567639552

 

[Derek Peterson]

I understand your frustration and situation, but if I was in your shoes, I'd try to be productive with my efforts to get my money. I think putting some pressure on them is great and sharing your experience on social media can definitely improve your chances. But, there's a fine line between harassment and sharing your experience to try to find a resolution. People are much more willing to help the latter.

Don't listen to him Igor. This William guy doesn't seem sincere or lacks understanding and common sense of who and what Rob Monster is. Rob will do nothing because you were nice to him. He only acts out of fear of consequences and greed. Also, it is important to warn people, and you are doing a good job at that. It really sickens me to see people get their money and then just ignore everyone else, they took payout in exchange for silence. That is how such ponzi schemes continue to grow.

You should do what you can to put legal pressure on him but I understand that isn't easy from Ukraine. I know of several other international people currently in your situation. I will reach out to some attorney friends today to see what we can do on your behalf. If we sue Rob on your and others' behalf I will. I think we can and I'd be happy to do it.

@Epik.com Did yo hear that Rob. I'm gonna sue you for $100s of thousands of dollars, maybe millions, and you know I won't stop. I won't ever stop. I will get the money back for these people even if I have to personally come and cut those kitchen cabinets right out of your new kitchen remodel and sell them on Ebay myself.

 

[Derek Peterson]

Don't listen to him Igor. This William guy doesn't seem sincere or lacks understanding and common sense of who and what Rob Monster is. Rob will do nothing because you were nice to him. He only acts out of fear of consequences and greed. Also, it is important to warn people, and you are doing a good job at that. It really sickens me to see people get their money and then just ignore everyone else, they took payout in exchange for silence. That is how such ponzi schemes continue to grow.

You should do what you can to put legal pressure on him but I understand that isn't easy from Ukraine. I know of several other international people currently in your situation. I will reach out to some attorney friends today to see what we can do on your behalf. If we sue Rob on your and others' behalf I will. I think we can and I'd be happy to do it.

@Epik.com Did yo hear that Rob. I'm gonna sue you for $100s of thousands of dollars, maybe millions, and you know I won't stop. I won't ever stop. I will get the money back for these people even if I have to personally come and cut those kitchen cabinets right out of your new kitchen remodel and sell them on Ebay myself.

If you are still owed money by Epik/Masterbucks/Rob Monster please email me at [email protected] and I will contact you privately to let you know what we are planning and how we might be able to get your money back.

 

[Derek Peterson]

Dear ALL MasterBucks customers, past or present, whether you are still owed money or not,

Please post the interest rate (annual rate of return) you were promised for your MasterBucks holdings and what country you are from. This will help us put together some very important pieces.