Pyramid Scam Fleeces Millions Across US Cities

The Lightning Shared Scooter Company (LSSC) operated a large-scale international scam disguised as a legitimate shared electric scooter leasing business, promising investors high daily returns through a micromobility market boom. Victims, ranging from average Americans to small-town officials, were enticed by flashy marketing, fake celebrity endorsements, and an official-looking but fraudulent SEC certificate riddled with errors. Investors were encouraged to recruit friends and family, creating a pyramid scheme structure with losses reported from $1,000 up to $65,000. Despite having storefronts and offices with real scooters and state paperwork, users found they could not withdraw earnings, revealing the scheme's fraudulent nature. The Better Business Bureau gave LSSC an “F” rating and issued warnings nationwide, with law enforcement agencies in multiple states alerting citizens to the scam and urging reporting of suspicious activity. Payments were required in cryptocurrency, a common tactic in fraud, and complaints have spanned at least 17 states, highlighting the widespread impact of this deceptive operation.