In Focus

Exposing the Dazzle Brilliance Diamond Scam: A Detailed Breakdown

In the ever-growing world of online scams, South Africans remain prime targets for schemes that promise unrealistic returns on investment.

One such scam, Dazzle Brilliance Diamond (DBD), has made a comeback in 2025, following a lukewarm reception in 2024.

Armed with renewed energy and revamped marketing strategies, the scammers have taken to social media in January 2025, aggressively promoting their scheme under the guise of mining-related investments.

Unpacking the Scam: Mining Investments with Unrealistic Returns

Dazzle Brilliance Diamond positions itself as a legitimate mining investment platform, offering supposed access to mining equipment rentals across various “investment categories”. Their marketing materials promise outrageously high returns, with rates as steep as 316% within a matter of weeks.

For example, the “PRD 680” category suggests that an investment of R680 would yield R1,812 in just 40 days—a claim that is simply too good to be true.

The scam follows the same pattern as previous fraudulent schemes that targeted South Africans, including the Northam Mining Scam and the Barrickchs Scam. It employs fabricated profit charts, false endorsements, and far-fetched promises to lure unsuspecting individuals into its trap.

Domain Activity and Suspicious Connections

Dazzle Brilliance Diamond initially operated under the domain dbdiamonds.net, which was registered on 12 July 2024. While that domain is now inactive, the scammers have relaunched under a new domain, dbdbrilliant.net, registered on 24 December 2024.

Both domains share a questionable connection to Hangzhou, China, with Alibaba Cloud (a Chinese hosting service) listed as the registrar.

This international link aligns with a trend observed in other scams targeting South Africans, where domain registrations and hosting services are tied to foreign regions. These connections often serve to obscure the real perpetrators behind the scams.

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False Claims and Fabricated Partnerships

Central to the scam’s operation is the use of fraudulent documents designed to lend credibility to their scheme. Prominent among these is a fake “Authorised Partnership Agreement”, which claims that DBD has been officially endorsed by South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

The document, riddled with contradictions and inaccuracies, alleges that DBD is spearheading online employment opportunities to stimulate economic growth.

Upon closer inspection, several red flags emerge:

  • Contradictory Timelines: While the agreement claims the project began in 2022, company records indicate that DBD was only registered in 2024, according to the CIPC.
  • Bogus Canadian Links: The supposed connection to Canada and international certification bodies is entirely fabricated.
  • Regulatory Non-Compliance: DBD is not registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and lacks the necessary Financial Services Provider (FSP) licence. This makes their solicitation of investments and deposits illegal.

Collateral Damage to Legitimate Businesses

In a bid to appear credible, DBD has exploited the name of a legitimate Johannesburg-based business, Dazzle Diamonds CC, which has been operational since 2009.

This legitimate company, specialising in jewellery and diamonds, has no association with the scam. Unfortunately, its name has been invoked by the scammers, causing undue stress and reputational damage to its owners.

This tactic—falsely associating a scam with a real business—is a common feature of fraudulent schemes. Not only does it confuse potential victims, but it also forces legitimate businesses to defend their reputation and distance themselves from the scam.

Identifying the Red Flags

The Dazzle Brilliance Diamond scam is characterised by several clear warning signs:

  1. Unrealistic Returns: Promised profits of up to 495% in a matter of weeks are a hallmark of Ponzi schemes.
  2. Lack of Authorisation: The absence of an FSCA registration or FSP licence is a significant red flag.
  3. Fabricated Partnerships: False claims of endorsements from government departments and international bodies.
  4. Frequent Domain Changes: The use of multiple domains to avoid detection and maintain a façade of legitimacy.
  5. Exploitation of Trust: Leveraging the names of legitimate businesses to deceive victims.

How to Protect Yourself

If you encounter investment opportunities that seem suspicious, consider the following steps to safeguard yourself:

  • Verify Legitimacy: Cross-check claims with official regulatory bodies like the FSCA or CIPC.
  • Avoid Pressure Tactics: Scammers often create urgency to rush decisions. Take your time to evaluate any investment opportunity.
  • Report Fraud: Notify the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant authorities if you suspect fraudulent activity.
  • Stay Informed: Share information with friends and family to ensure that others do not fall victim to scams.

The Final Verdict

The Dazzle Brilliance Diamond scam is a stark reminder of how sophisticated online fraud targeting South Africans has become. Through fake documents, unrealistic promises, and deceptive endorsements, these scammers prey on individuals seeking financial stability.

By remaining vigilant, questioning too-good-to-be-true claims, and verifying the legitimacy of opportunities, South Africans can protect themselves from falling victim to schemes like DBD.

Awareness and information are the strongest tools against such scams. Let’s work together to expose and dismantle fraudulent schemes wherever they arise.

3 Comments

  1. Kobus Botha says:

    Good day. Can you please furnish proof of your findings to ensure that I have not been scammed.

    • Stanley Letsela says:

      I see all the comments, i am yet to see a comment or review from someone who says that they were scammed by DBD. if you have access to same pls share.
      Salute

  2. Mo says:

    I’ve seen a few people successfully withdraw though this is people who I know personally.

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