When cashback becomes a Europol file – 27 May 2025 as the starting point for coordinated investigations against Lyoness/Lyconet/MyWorld
An officially signed BKA document confirms: Spain, Austria and Estonia are investigating the corporate complex on suspicion of a pyramid scheme similar to fraud. Among others, founder Hubert Freidl is being investigated for fraud and fraudulent bankruptcy.
The turning point: 27 May 2025
27 May 2025 could go down in European investigative history as the day when a controversial cashback and referral marketing model became a transnational case of suspicion. In a meeting coordinated by Europol, investigative authorities from Spain, Austria and Estonia agreed to structurally analyse the Lyoness, Lyconet and MyWorld corporate complex, compare evidence and systematically investigate key players. This was the first official European classification of the system as a potentially pyramid-like structure.
An official letter from the Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) dated 12 June 2025 documents this step in detail.
Spain: Hundreds of reported victims, millions in losses, suspected pyramid scheme
The operation is codenamed ‘OP PELDAÑO’ and is being led by the Spanish National Police. According to their account, over 800 people in Spain are said to have been harmed by a system based on a one-time payment (‘subscription’) – in exchange for the promise of discounts from cashback partners and a ‘passive, lifelong income’ for further recruitment. The financial damage is estimated at over €5 million; the number of unreported cases is likely to be significantly higher.
Investigators view the Spanish subsidiary MWS MyWorld Customer & Retail Services Spain SL as part of a larger network controlled from Austria and other countries. The investigating authorities have since realised that MyWorld acts as a ‘parent structure’ in Austria, with responsible branches also located in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Austria: WKStA conducts fraud investigations against Hubert Freidl and other individuals
Austria plays a central role in the network. The BKA refers to proceedings by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA), file number 33 St2/23mm. According to this, Hubert Freidl, founder of Lyoness/Lyconet/MyWorld, and other individuals are being investigated for fraud and fraudulent bankruptcy, the latter in connection with the possible withdrawal or transfer of assets at the expense of creditors.
The case is being handled by a senior public prosecutor who has not previously been known for his particular alacrity or consistent escalation in proceedings of this magnitude. It therefore remains to be seen whether the investigations in Austria will be pursued with the same momentum that has already become apparent at European level.
According to available information, the investigating authorities are not only examining individual allegations of deception, but also the structural mechanisms of the entire system.
The Europol meeting as the starting point for coordinated investigations
At the Europol meeting on 27 May 2025, which is explicitly mentioned in the document, the delegations decided:
✅ to compare suspects across countries,
✅ to examine the structure of several companies,
✅ to pool police findings,
✅ to request further information from Austria.
This coordination is an indicator that investigative authorities no longer view the model as a single national issue, but as a possible European systemic crime.
Target: key companies in the MyWorld/Lyconet architecture
The Spanish authorities are requesting information from Austria on the following companies, all of which are active in the MyWorld/Lyconet environment:
• Lyoness Austria GmbH
• Lyconet International AG
• Lyconet MSP GmbH
• MyWorld Austria GmbH
• MyWorld International AG
• MyWorld.com Operations GmbH
• Mediaworld Agency GmbH
• Travelworld Austria GmbH
Why the Europol meeting is a legal turning point
For the first time, the system issue is not being examined in isolation under national law, but within a European network, where defence strategies such as ‘individual cases’ or ‘misunderstanding of the system by distribution partners’ could be much more difficult to maintain.
Outlook: A European precedent in the making
The coordination via Europol, the listed companies and the proceedings against key players such as Freidl indicate that the criminal authorities are taking a tougher stance on the system. These and other international investigations are slowly turning the case into one of the largest MLM legal complexes in Europe – with potentially far-reaching consequences for liability structures, sales responsibility and the role of internationally distributed company networks. The damages amount to hundreds of millions worldwide.
Conclusion
With the Europol meeting on 27 May 2025, the Lyoness/Lyconet/MyWorld case has reached a new level: a nationally controversial bonus model has become a suspected case observed throughout Europe. Whether the structural allegations of a pyramid scheme-like system are confirmed will now depend largely on how consistently the countries involved – especially Austria – continue their investigations. If a substantial review is successful, the case could set a precedent for dealing with cross-border MLM structures in Europe. Otherwise, it risks being remembered as yet another example of legal delays in complex economic systems.
Note:
This article is based on an officially signed document from the Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office dated 12 June 2025 and official information from Spanish investigative authorities. It is based on publicly available sources, documented complaints from investors and our own journalistic analysis. All statements about legal risks or possible contractual constellations are to be understood as assessments and do not constitute legal advice.
Sources:
Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA):
Officially signed letter to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA), reference number PAD/25/00345662/004/KRIM, dated 12 June 2025. Produced electronically and verified via the signature platform of the Republic of Austria.
– Available in full to the editorial team.
Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA), Austria:
Preliminary investigation under reference number 33 St2/23mm on suspicion of fraud and fraudulent bankruptcy against Hubert Freidl and other persons.
– Mentioned in the BKA document
Europol (27 May 2025):
Coordination meeting organised by Europol and documented in the BKA document, with the participation of Spain, Austria and Estonia, to analyse the Lyoness/Lyconet/MyWorld complex.
– Reference in the SIENA extract.
Policía Nacional (Spain), Central Office for Financial Fraud:
Operation ‘OP PELDAÑO’: Investigation into alleged pyramid scheme fraud involving over 800 victims and documented damages of over 5 million euros.
Criminal proceedings 33 St2/23mm
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