Bruce Hughes is a Fraudster? Find Out Here

Originally Syndicated on July 3, 2024 @ 8:03 am

Bruce Hughes- Introduction

Bruce Hughes, a name synonymous with multilevel marketing (MLM) schemes, has built a controversial career in the United States as a promoter of various MLM ventures. Despite his claim to success and wealth through these ventures, a deeper look reveals a troubling pattern of involvement in illegal MLM schemes, raising concerns about his practices and the impact on his followers.

Bruce Hughes- A Career in MLM: From Karatbars to GSB

Bruce Hughes has been involved in multiple MLM ventures, the most notable being Karatbars. This company, which claimed to sell gold products through a network of independent affiliates, faced significant scrutiny and accusations of being a pyramid scheme. Despite the controversies, Hughes remained a staunch promoter, attracting numerous recruits with promises of high returns.

Following the decline of Karatbars, Hughes didn’t step away from the MLM world. Instead, he shifted his focus to the Karatbars reboot, FreeBay, and later to the Gold Standard Bank (GSB). Both of these ventures carried forward the legacy of questionable practices, with GSB introducing complex cryptocurrency products that further muddied the waters.

Bruce Hughes- GiHugeness: The Power Team

At the core of Hughes’ operations is his affiliation with GiHugeness, a team that includes Andrew Eaton and Brendon Earp-Jones. Together, they have orchestrated recruitment and promotion strategies that target individuals seeking financial independence. However, these strategies often involve dubious promises and lack transparency, leading to accusations of misleading marketing and fraudulent activities.

Bruce Hughes- The Crypt Know: A Training Academy

In addition to his direct MLM activities, Hughes runs a training academy called the Crypt Know. Marketed as an educational platform for aspiring MLM promoters and cryptocurrency enthusiasts, the academy has been criticized for perpetuating misleading information and encouraging investment in high-risk schemes. The Crypt Know has become yet another tool in Hughes’ arsenal to attract and manipulate individuals into participating in his illegal operations.

Bruce Hughes- The Schemes: A Web of Deception

Bruce Hughes’ involvement in various schemes is extensive:

1. Karatbars: Marketed as a gold investment opportunity, Karatbars was accused of being a pyramid scheme.
2. FreeBay: A reboot of Karatbars, continuing the controversial practices under a new name.
3. Gold Standard Bank (GSB): Introduced complex and opaque cryptocurrency products, raising further suspicions.
4. KaratGold Coin (KBC): Another cryptocurrency venture tied to Karatbars.
5. V999: Promoted as a digital asset with questionable value.
6. G999: Another cryptocurrency associated with GSB, facing similar accusations.
7. Lifestyle Galaxy: A previous venture, also embroiled in MLM controversies.

Bruce Hughes- Legal and Ethical Concerns

The operations of Bruce Hughes have not gone unnoticed. Regulatory bodies and consumer protection agencies have raised alarms about the legality and ethicality of his schemes. The repetitive pattern of introducing new ventures as old ones fall under scrutiny suggests a deliberate attempt to evade accountability and continue exploiting new recruits.

Bruce Hughes- Impact on Followers

The most concerning aspect of Bruce Hughes’ activities is the impact on his followers. Many individuals, lured by promises of financial freedom and prosperity, have invested significant amounts of money, only to find themselves entangled in schemes that offer little to no return. The lack of transparency and the complex nature of the products promoted by Hughes leave many in financial ruin, while he and his top associates profit.

Is Bruce Hughes Attempting a Reputation Cleanup?

As I highlighted before, if you’d look him up, you’ll find a plethora of PR and promotional material. What he’s doing is a typical attempt of reputation laundering.

Reputation laundering is the practice of covering up or erasing misdeeds, negative business practices, or illegal actions of a company or individual. The key aspects of reputation laundering are:

• It is a niche industry that has grown up around the need for companies and individuals to change public perception of their actions. This includes PR firms, lawyers, lobbyists, and other “fixers” that help clients portray themselves in a more positive light. 
• Tactics used include making donations to universities, charities, and other institutions, aligning with sports teams, and using disinformation and “astroturfing” (creating fake grassroots movements) to obscure the truth. 
• Reputation laundering is different from legitimate reputation repair, which involves fixing real problems within a company and developing a positive image based on their actions. Laundering seeks to cover up illegal activities and bad practices. 
• Reputation laundering allows kleptocrats, oligarchs, and politically exposed persons to distance themselves from the illicit source of their wealth and transform their public image, making it difficult for compliance and law enforcement to detect any wrongdoing. 
• This practice undermines democratic institutions and norms by manipulating public perception and enabling the flow of tainted money into Western economies. Governments have been slow to address the “enablers” that facilitate reputation laundering. 

In summary, reputation laundering is an unethical industry that allows companies and individuals to cover up misdeeds and present a false positive image to the public. 

A popular example of reputation laundering is Israel’s PR on Gaza.

I recommend you read up on how Israel’s propaganda machine works and how it painted innocent Palestinians as terrorists.

Bruce Hughes- Conclusion

Bruce Hughes’ career as an MLM promoter is a cautionary tale of how charisma and persuasive marketing can mask illegal and unethical practices. His involvement in multiple controversial schemes underscores the need for vigilance and regulation in the MLM industry. For those considering joining any of his ventures, it is crucial to thoroughly research and understand the risks involved. The pattern of deception and exploitation associated with Hughes’ name serves as a stark warning against the allure of easy money through MLM schemes.