PR instead of reckoning? How a Ponzi scheme is rewriting its history.

Brilliant narrative – uncomfortable reality

While a new success story is being publicly touted, thousands of former participants are still struggling with the consequences of the collapse. A gap exists between the PR spectacle and the reality of insolvency, a gap that cannot be bridged with feel-good narratives. The system’s past is neither closed nor resolved – neither economically nor legally. This raises the all the more pressing question of why new roles are being promoted now, before responsibility for the old ones has been acknowledged.

A recent article on cbherald.com ( Hubert Freidl — Entrepreneur Who Scaled Across 50+ Countries and Reached Millions of Customers — Now Advising Select Ventures from Dubai – CB Herald ) paints a positive picture of entrepreneur Hubert Freidl, portraying him as a globally successful visionary who now advises select projects from Dubai. The narrative: international expansion, millions of users, entrepreneurial foresight.

However, this portrayal stands in stark contrast to the developments surrounding the former business network of Lyoness, Lyconet and myWorld.

While PR continues to portray a success story, the reality for many of those affected is completely different.

A system in collapse

The facts are documented:
• myWorld Austria GmbH was closed in August 2025

• myWorld International AG was closed in August 2025

• Lyconet Austria GmbH is insolvent, operations have ceased

• Lyoness Europe AG was closed in autumn 2023

• Dozens of other national subsidiaries have since been closed

• Creditor claims amounting to millions are outstanding

• At the same time, only minimal assets remain

The insolvency administrators speak of insufficient assets – a term that makes it clear: even the costs of the proceedings are barely covered.

Outstanding claims – outstanding responsibility

A large proportion of the claims come from marketers (“shoppers”) who are seeking refunds or compensation.

A clear picture emerges:
• A large proportion of the claims are disputed • The legal situation is complex and often unclear • Numerous legal proceedings are pending or have been conducted

In addition, criminal charges have been filed, including allegations related to fraud, pyramid schemes, and investment fraudulent structures. These allegations are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and do not constitute a prejudgment – however, they demonstrate the depth of the legal investigation.

Products like “media boxes” – a symptom of a system

Within the system, products such as so-called “media boxes” were sold – from the perspective of many critics an example of:
• difficult-to-understand economic benefits • lack of transparency • limited or excluded return options

For many participants, precisely these kinds of products are now part of the open questions – not part of a success story.

PR from Dubai – and many unanswered questions

The current article is being distributed via a structure based in the United Arab Emirates (“MEDIAWORLD ADVERTISING INTERNATIONAL FZE”).

What is striking is not so much the existence of such PR structures – but rather the consequence of the omissions:
• not a word about insolvencies • not a word about outstanding claims • not a word about ongoing legal proceedings

Instead: a consistently one-sided portrayal of the past.

The crucial question

Given this discrepancy, one question arises:

Is now the right time for image management – or for taking responsibility?

For many former marketers and participants, it’s not about narratives, but about real losses, outstanding claims, and unresolved issues.

Conclusion

The story currently being told is about success, expansion, and new roles.

The story that many affected people experience is one of bankruptcies, outstanding claims, and unresolved responsibilities.

Before new chapters are written, many expect a review of the old ones – both with their own sales partners and within the framework of the relevant justice system.

Notice

This article serves to objectively classify publicly available information and does not constitute a prejudgment.

Sources