The President of the Polish competition authority, Tomasz Chróstny, is examining whether the online platforms BE Poland and GrowUp Session are infringing on collective consumer interests. The investigation focuses on whether these platforms are based on pyramid promotional systems, where promised benefits largely depend on recruiting new participants into the scheme.

BE Poland is part of an international project from Dubai, offering subscription packages for trading education. Participants are incentivized to recruit others, earning commissions for sales and referrals. The authority is scrutinizing whether the operational principles of BE Poland lead to violations of consumer interests, particularly if it disguises a pyramid scheme under the guise of financial education.

Similarly, GrowUp Session promotes educational packages for trading in forex and cryptocurrencies, using social media influencers to attract participants by showcasing a luxurious lifestyle and high earnings purportedly achieved through the program. The competition authority is also assessing whether this project violates consumer interests.

Chróstny warns consumers to be cautious of online investment projects that promise quick and substantial profits without risk, especially those with opaque operational rules. He emphasizes the need for skepticism towards such initiatives, which often target young or financially unstable individuals.

Pyramid schemes are often disguised with terms like “program,” “project,” or “investment,” and are frequently endorsed by influencers. The model relies on new participants' payments to fund the system, with profits primarily benefiting the organizers and top-tier participants. The system collapses when recruitment slows, leaving most participants with significant financial losses.

This investigation is part of a broader effort by the Polish competition authority to combat illegal promotional systems, having previously intervened in similar cases. The authority has also imposed fines on other entities involved in such schemes.