Darren Ewert: Digital Scam

The Man Behind the Digital Dream

Through an umbrella network known as the “Dream Team,” Darren Ewert has cultivated a polished image as a successful online entrepreneur helping others “achieve financial freedom.” In reality, his system recruits participants into a chain-based sales model that requires new members to pay hundreds of dollars in entry and product fees before earning any commissions themselves.

The “Dream Team” promotes itself as a mentorship-based online business community. Yet documents, videos, and testimonies from former members show that the so-called business is nothing more than an Enagic distribution funnel—an intricate web where profits flow upward to a handful of early entrants, including Ewert and Dreher.

Enagic, a Japan-based MLM company, manufactures Kangen Water Ionizers, marketed as high-tech health devices that “transform” tap water. Members of Ewert’s network are pressured to buy one of these machines—priced around Nu 550,000 (BTN) or USD 4,000—to qualify as “digital business owners.”

How the Money Flows

Joining the network starts with a USD 149 sign-up fee and an additional USD 20 for a personal website. This modest beginning quickly snowballs into a substantial investment once new recruits are told that purchasing an Enagic machine is mandatory to “unlock commissions.”

With an estimated 100,000 global members, Ewert’s network would have grossed nearly USD 14.9 million in sign-up fees alone. If even half of those members purchased Enagic devices, sales could exceed USD 200 – 300 million—a staggering sum, from which Ewert and his partner receive significant commissions.

Every new sale and every downline recruit ensures a recurring stream of income for the duo. Bhutanese participants report that commissions from their local networks ultimately trace back to Ewert’s Canadian operations.

Under Scrutiny: The Better Business Bureau Investigation

In late 2019, the Better Business Bureau (BBB)—North America’s leading consumer-protection and business-rating organization—opened an investigation into Ewert’s marketing ecosystem, particularly the “Better Life Buzz (BLB)” platform that he used to drive traffic to his “Dream Team” webinars.

According to BBB findings, Ewert’s free webinars, lasting 60 to 90 minutes, were motivational rather than informational. They offered vague promises of mentorship, “proven sales funnels,” and high-commission opportunities but failed to disclose what the actual product was or how income was generated.

When BBB formally requested data—such as average participant earnings or evidence of the “proven” system—Ewert and his team never responded. Consequently, BBB downgraded Enagic’s corporate rating from A+ to C-, citing misleading marketing and lack of transparency by its prominent promoters.

Facebook Manipulation and Censorship Evasion

Darren Ewert and Mike Dreher maintain a public persona through their Facebook page “Darren and Mike.” The page blends business coaching, lifestyle content, and exotic travel imagery to create a glossy image of success.

However, because Facebook bans advertising that promotes “get-rich-quick schemes” or MLMs promising unrealistic returns, Dream Team members frequently find their ad accounts restricted or deleted.

In February 2022, the “Darren and Mike” page posted a webinar teaching followers how to bypass Facebook’s detection systems—including clearing cookies, changing IP addresses, and adjusting Wi-Fi configurations—to keep MLM ads running. In short, Ewert was training his followers to evade platform safety protocols.

Bhutanese members confirmed that their own Facebook ads avoid any mention of MLM or Enagic. Instead, they post vague messages about “digital freedom” or “working online,” disguising the true nature of the scheme.

This deception allows the network to continue recruiting within Bhutan and abroad while operating on a platform that officially prohibits their business model.

An Insider Speaks Out

Former Dream Team recruit Leonard Henry, now based in London, gave a detailed account of how Ewert’s system misled him.

Like many Bhutanese members, Henry discovered the business through a Facebook ad promising escape from the “9-to-5 grind.” He attended a webinar hosted by Ewert and Dreher, which never revealed what product was being sold. After paying the USD 149 fee, he was invited to watch more videos—only to discover that the “business” revolved around Enagic water machines.

A “coach” soon called him, explaining that to fully participate, he must buy a USD 4,000 Enagic SD501 unit. When Henry realized his entry fee was non-refundable, he reluctantly complied.

“I remember thinking, ‘What have I done?’ But it was too late,” Henry said. “I was told this was my ticket to success, but all I did was spend money.”

Once onboard, Henry was advised to run Facebook ads costing around USD 10 per day to recruit others. Despite generating over 100 leads, none converted. His ads were eventually banned by Facebook, forcing him to open new accounts.

“If they had told people upfront that they must buy a $4,000 machine and recruit others, no one would join,” Henry explained. “That’s why the sales funnel hides the truth.”

He eventually sold his machine on eBay for a quarter of its original price, calling the entire venture a “lesson in manipulation.”

Classified as a Scam by Multiple Analysts

A 2021 investigative post on Medium.com by James W. identified Ewert’s network as a scam, citing five core reasons:

1. False Advertising – The scheme pretends to offer business training but exists to sell overpriced machines.
2. Secrecy – Members are told not to disclose company details or share information publicly.
3. Social-Network Abuse – Facebook’s rules against MLM and “quick-compensation” programs are routinely violated.
4. Predatory Recruitment – It targets financially vulnerable or digitally illiterate people with promises of easy wealth.
5. Lifestyle Illusion – Marketing revolves around luxury imagery rather than legitimate success stories.

Another watchdog, FoundScam.com, also flagged Ewert’s operation as part of a broader pattern of “Online Digital Business” scams spreading through Asia. It warned that such schemes rely on constant recruitment rather than genuine sales, calling them “affiliate chains built on false hope.”

The Psychology of Control

Beyond financial manipulation, former members describe Ewert’s system as a cult-like environment built on psychological conditioning.

Ex-member and researcher Alanda Carter, who now runs a YouTube channel exposing MLMs, explained how recruits are indoctrinated through motivational seminars and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)—a controversial self-help technique claiming people can “reprogram” their minds for success.

“They use NLP to convince you that failure is your fault,” Carter said. “If you don’t make money, it’s because you didn’t believe enough, not because the business model is broken.”

Weekly “mastermind sessions” reinforce loyalty, urging members to post three to five times daily on Facebook and to suppress negative thoughts. Those who question leadership are labelled “toxic” and removed from private groups.

Carter spent USD 1,500 on ads but gained only eight leads. She now calls the program “a digital cult disguised as entrepreneurship.”

The technique ensures compliance while keeping members emotionally and financially invested—even as they lose money.

Harassment of Critics

Ewert’s response to criticism has been equally alarming. According to Carter and others, the pair frequently deploy harassment tactics: issuing legal threats, mobilizing followers to mass-report YouTube videos, and flooding comment sections with abuse.

Ewert is particularly known to retaliate against anyone publishing his photograph or linking his name to MLM fraud allegations.

Such behavior mirrors other controversial MLM leaders who attempt to silence dissent through intimidation rather than transparency.

The Roots of the Operation

Investigative blogger Anna’s Analysis traced Darren Ewert’s origins back to Project AWOL, a digital-marketing collective founded in 2012 by Keala Kanae and Kameron George. AWOL ranked among top Enagic distributors by 2016, and several of its members later branched into similar ventures.

From AWOL emerged Global Affiliate Zone (GAZ), launched by Mathieu Jang and Julian Sherman, later rebranded as Affiliate Institute. Darren Ewert and Mike Dreher split from this ecosystem in 2016 to form their own brand—eventually evolving into DAO Group Ltd and the Dream Team.

Their other fronts include Wealth Achieved, Workshop Replay, It’s My Time Today, Achieve Freedom Today, and Better Life Buzz—all feeding the same recruitment pipeline.

By 2020, Ewert reportedly achieved an Enagic rank of 6A2-4, among the highest tiers in the company’s pyramid, yielding substantial residual income.

Stonewalling the Press

When approached for comment, Darren Ewert and Mike Dreher refused to engage. This reporter sent ten detailed questions via their Facebook business page, covering allegations of false advertising, manipulation, inflated pricing, and the legality of their operations in Bhutan.

They read the message—as indicated by Facebook’s “seen” feature—but responded by blocking the reporter entirely.

Among the unanswered questions:

• Why are the vast majority of members losing money?
• Why sell machines at inflated prices while claiming medical benefits?
• Why conceal the program’s identity from new recruits?
• Are they aware MLM pyramid schemes are illegal in Bhutan?

Their silence—and subsequent blocking—speaks volumes.

Regulatory Action in Bhutan

Bhutan’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has since launched a formal investigation into the Dream Team’s operations. Sources confirm that a report is forthcoming.

Once released, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) is expected to pursue financial enforcement through its Financial Intelligence Department, while the Department of Foreign Exchange examines money transfers tied to the scheme. The Bhutan Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) is also monitoring the group’s digital activities.

Meanwhile, the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) clarified that Enagic machines and Kangen water are not registered in Bhutan. Distributors therefore have no legal right to make medical claims about the products.

DRA President Wangdi Gyeltshen stated, “For any medical equipment entering Bhutan, proper registration and clinical proof are required. Action will be taken against those making false claims.”

Despite this, several Dream Team members have petitioned Bhutan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs for permission to continue operations, even claiming to have presented their proposal to senior officials. In 2019, a public event launching Enagic machines was attended by then-Labour Minister Ugyen Dorji, inadvertently lending the appearance of government endorsement.

Officials now emphasize that the government has not sanctioned the business and that participants act at their own risk.

Why Bhutan Became a Target

Bhutan’s educated yet small online community offered an ideal recruitment ground. Many civil servants, corporate workers, and students abroad saw the Dream Team as a path to independence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ewert’s slick marketing—portraying luxury homes and exotic getaways—resonated deeply in a society where youth unemployment and financial uncertainty run high. The promise of becoming a “Digital Entrepreneur” proved irresistible.

Even today, some members continue to defend the scheme, citing “personal growth” and “positive mindset” training—proof of how psychological conditioning can override financial loss.

A Global Pattern

Darren Ewert’s tactics mirror the playbook of many international MLMs:

1. High-pressure recruitment disguised as mentorship.
2. Vague product promotion to bypass advertising bans.
3. Motivational indoctrination to sustain belief.
4. Intimidation of critics to control the narrative.

These mechanisms ensure that even as victims lose money, the pyramid’s upper tiers remain profitable.

Conclusion: A Warning for Bhutan and Beyond

Darren Ewert’s story is not just about one Canadian entrepreneur exploiting loopholes—it is a cautionary tale about the power of digital deception. By blending lifestyle marketing, motivational psychology, and cross-border MLM tactics, he has built a business empire at the expense of thousands of ordinary people, including many in Bhutan.

Regulators’ delayed response and the absence of strict anti-pyramid enforcement have allowed such schemes to thrive. For Bhutanese families who invested their savings in the promise of “financial freedom,” the cost has been devastating.

Written by

Nancy Drew

Updated

3 months ago