After several users raised concerns about withdrawals, a Telegram mini app called TON Turbo has started removing its digital footprint.
Built on The Open Network, the TON Turbo project offers users Toncoin (TON) mining rigs to generate profits by depositing cryptocurrencies via the Telegram chat box. The mining rigs promise nearly double returns on initial capital, with the opportunity to earn TON and the popular Shiba Inu (SHIB) memecoin.
However, several aspiring miners using the platform have reported difficulties with withdrawals. Responses on the project’s Telegram channel indicated that the deposit mechanism was a one-way street.
Additionally, TON is a proof-of-stake blockchain where validators are the main contributors to the network. Mining typically refers to proof-of-work networks like Bitcoin, which rely on participants called miners to validate transactions and discover new coins.
Once users sent cryptocurrencies to the virtual mining platform, it seemed to generate profits over time, but withdrawing rewards was impossible. When users pointed out the issue, TON Turbo disabled customer support and closed its chatrooms.
The protocol closed responses between July 27 and August 5, but the team continued to post promotional updates on X and Telegram.
TON Turbo scares customers
TON Turbo claims to have secured several notable partnerships, including with The Open Network, Tonkeeper, Telegram mini-game Dogs, and Shiba Inu.
These claims have not been verified, and crypto.news was unable to find evidence of these partnerships outside of TON Turbo’s announcements. Requests for comment sent to TON Turbo officials went unanswered by press time.
Additionally, the project has deleted its X page, which no longer exists when viewed. Its Telegram channel has over 54,889 members and at least 10,600 users online. When last reviewed by crypto.news on August 15, the responses were mostly filled with angry users calling the project a scam.
Project admins have deleted their Telegram accounts, and the social network has flagged updates on the TON Turbo channel as a “scam.”
Social media and the project’s Telegram channel have reported that hundreds of thousands of investors have tried to use the alleged mining platform on Telegram. It is unknown how many users have suffered losses, and it is still unknown how much they have lost as a result of this apparent scam.