Shutdown of myWorld and Lyconet websites – authorities target further online presences

The official websites of myWorld and Lyconet are no longer accessible as of today (28 August 2025). According to consistent reports, the websites were shut down by authorities after it was determined that advertising for the company was still being carried out there. For many marketers and end customers, this means that their usual means of access are suddenly no longer available.

Background: Continued advertising despite legal proceedings

myWorld and Lyconet have been and continue to be the subject of investigations and legal proceedings in various European countries. Regulatory authorities have made several attempts to stop the sales structures, and courts have issued multiple rulings. The business model has been assessed in part as a ‘pyramid scheme’ or as an illegal financial service.

Despite these legal disputes, the official websites continued to actively promote participation in the system, a circumstance that has now apparently led to the current measures.

Note on the website situation

We are aware that immediately after the websites were deactivated, many former marketers wanted to back up their data from the system. Based on current information, it cannot be ruled out that the websites will be reactivated for a short period of time. However, whether this will actually happen is being decided elsewhere and is not the responsibility of the previous operators.

Normal case or special case?

In normal insolvency proceedings, it is customary for a company’s websites to remain online initially, with only a notice about the proceedings being added. Often, the notice refers to the responsible insolvency administrator in order to ensure transparency for customers and creditors.

A complete shutdown of the online presence usually only occurs if, among other things, the content would allow for continued deception.

The fact that myWorld and Lyconet are now completely offline therefore indicates a special situation: the authorities apparently saw a risk that new participants could continue to be recruited or existing contracts extended via the websites. This measure therefore differs significantly from the usual procedure in bankruptcy cases.

Affected platforms

As things stand, the shutdown affects the central domains of myWorld and Lyconet. For customers and marketers, these were not only sources of information, but also access interfaces for internal functions, contract documents and marketing materials.

According to informed sources, action is currently being considered against other online presences associated with the activities of myWorld and Lyconet. Particular attention should be paid to ‘Cashback Universe’ – a platform where former users can log in with their Lyconet/myWorld access data to receive a key that activates their TLN account. Experts see this as a possible circumvention of the insolvency estate, as access data and purchased packages are part of the insolvency estate under current law and may not simply be transferred.

Consequences for marketers and customers

The measures exacerbate the already tense situation for marketers who had geared their business models towards the platforms. Without functioning access, they also lose access to contract documents and internal data.

We therefore hope that all those affected have already backed up their relevant data from the back office in good time, as subsequent access is currently no longer possible.

Conclusion

The shutdown of the myWorld and Lyconet websites shows that the authorities are now taking more decisive action against the group’s online presence. While websites often remain online during ‘normal’ insolvency proceedings, the action taken here marks a significant escalation. Should further blocks actually occur, the situation for existing marketers and customers is likely to become even more acute.

Note:

This article is intended solely for information, journalistic analysis and independent opinion-forming within the meaning of Article 5 of the German Basic Law, Article 10 of the ECHR and Section 51 of the German Copyright Act (right to quote). All information is based on publicly available sources, official communications and careful editorial evaluation. A final legal assessment is reserved for the competent courts and authorities. Despite the utmost care, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information contained herein.

Sources (as of 08/2025)

• Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices – Annex I explicitly lists ‘pyramid schemes’ as an illegal practice.
• Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II) – regulates financial services subject to authorisation. Token or investment promises may constitute an unauthorised business without a licence.
• FinTelegram: ‘Scandal in Shopping Paradise – MyWorld’s Meltdown Exposes the Lyoness Pyramid Echoes and Crypto Shadows’, 02.09.2025.
• Supreme Court of Austria, ruling of 22 January 2025 – legally binding classification as a pyramid scheme.
• AGCM Italy, decision 2018 – million-euro fine for pyramid scheme and misleading advertising.
• Lotteri- og stiftelsestilsynet Norway – official ban as an ‘illegal scheme’.