Nicolai Dahl Petersen

Full Report

Key Points

• Nicolai Dahl Petersen, a 24-year-old Danish entrepreneur based in Dubai, built a public image as a self-made e-commerce success story through webshops like ScandinavianRest and Finesmile, claiming over €20 million in turnover and multimillion-euro sales.

• All four of his Danish companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024, leaving over 7.5 million DKK in creditor claims, unpaid VAT debts exceeding 500,000 DKK, and unresolved customer refunds delayed up to a year.

• Allegations center on illegal asset withdrawals, including receiving ~400,000 DKK in personal accounts from webshop sales (later returned), undocumented personal expenses totaling at least 500,000 DKK, and suspected debtor fraud to evade creditors.

• Petersen now operates “Scaling With Ecom,” an online mentorship program charging thousands of euros, facing widespread scam accusations and polarized reviews accusing it of delivering no value.

• Bankruptcy curator Gert Nissen suspects intentional evasion of millions, potentially leading to personal liability, bankruptcy quarantine, and police investigation; Petersen claims he was deceived by advisors and the foreign buyer.

• Adverse media from DR’s Kontant program (February 2025) exposed discrepancies between Petersen’s social media boasts and bankruptcy records, amplifying reputational damage.

• Customer complaints highlight non-refunded returns and overpriced courses; Reddit and Trustpilot users label him a “serial scammer” with coordinated fake positive reviews.

• Associations include a suspected “straw man” director (Kasper from Svendborg), foreign buyer Yosef Gamtisa, former partner Sune Madsen (owed ~281,000 DKK), and influencer Tina Lund, who has promoted him despite the scandals.

• No formal lawsuits filed as of October 2025, but ongoing curator probes and potential criminal referrals underscore high legal risks; Petersen’s relocation to Dubai raises jurisdictional challenges.

Overview

Nicolai Dahl Petersen, born in 2001 in Aarhus, Denmark, rose to prominence as a teenage entrepreneur featured in media like Berlingske’s Talent 100 and Euroman for turning ideas into multimillion-kroner webshops from his childhood home. Starting at age 17, he founded e-commerce ventures specializing in niche products, such as weighted blankets via ScandinavianRest.dk and dental equipment via Finesmile.dk, reportedly generating nearly 120 million DKK in combined turnover over three years without prior experience or wealthy backing. By 2022, at age 22, he claimed to have scaled operations across 20 markets. In early 2024, he publicly announced selling these webshops for a “double-digit million” amount, then relocated to Dubai to pivot into digital education. There, he launched Scaling With Ecom (scalingwithecom.com), a high-ticket mentorship program promising to teach beginners how to build 8-figure e-commerce empires, complete with backend access, community networking, and weekly coaching sessions. Petersen markets himself on Instagram (@nicolaidahlpetersen) and YouTube with images of luxury cars and penthouses, positioning as a relatable “business school dropout” who achieved wealth solo. However, his empire collapsed in 2024 with serial bankruptcies across entities like NDP Group ApS and NDP Kapital Holding, revealing a pattern of rapid scaling followed by financial distress and evasion tactics.

Allegations and Concerns

Debtor Fraud and Asset Evasion: Bankruptcy curator Gert Nissen alleges Petersen withdrew millions from creditors by transferring webshop sale proceeds (~400,000 DKK) directly to personal accounts, halting VAT payments in late 2023 (owing >500,000 DKK), and incurring undocumented “large” personal expenses (≥500,000 DKK) like private credit card usage on company funds—illegal under Danish law, as confirmed by auditor Per Kristensen: “You must not use the company’s money for your own personal overdraft.”

Serial Bankruptcies with Suspected Straw Men: All four companies went bankrupt within months in 2024 under new directors, including “Kasper” (a Svendborg resident with no prior directorial experience, described by Nissen as unusually uninformed: “It is unusual that one knows so little as he does”). This raises red flags for orchestrated handovers to shield Petersen.

Customer Betrayal in Webshops: Pre-bankruptcy, customers faced up to one-year delays for refunds on returned goods; new owner Yosef Gamtisa confirmed he only acquired brands/domains, not liabilities, and began reimbursing affected parties highlighted in DR reports.

Mentorship Scams: Scaling With Ecom faces accusations of aggressive Instagram ads promising “1 million in 2 months” but delivering generic, low-value content; Reddit users call it a “coordinated scam” with fake testimonials from associates.

Tax Evasion Suspicions: Unexplained inventory discrepancies (6 million DKK reported in last annual report) and lack of tax clearance on withdrawals suggest deliberate avoidance, per Kristensen: “You have to stop by the tax authorities first and pay tax.”

Broader Network Concerns: Ties to Aarhus-based influencers and collapsed ventures like Pencilware gaming imply collaborative schemes; no direct Forex Peace Army flags, but e-com focus aligns with unregulated digital fraud patterns.

Relocation to Evade Accountability: Dubai base complicates enforcement, viewed as a flight from Danish probes.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback on Petersen’s ventures is starkly divided, with webshop complaints focusing on service failures and mentorship reviews revealing a scam pattern. On Trustpilot, Scaling With Ecom holds a low average score from 99 reviews (as of September 2025), with 5-star positives appearing scripted and negatives dominating recent posts.

Positive Feedback (Suspected Coordination): A minority praise the program’s accessibility and community, e.g., “Nicolai is a good man and takes care of all his ‘students’… Only great recommendations!” (Trustpilot, anonymous, 2025). Another: “Being able to look behind the curtains… Nicolai is a bright entrepreneur and great business partner” (from a claimed CRO collaborator). These often echo Petersen’s bio verbatim, suggesting affiliate or associate input; Reddit users in r/GossipDK note: “If you see his Insta… it looks like every other ‘influencer’ faking a lifestyle to sell scam courses.”

Negative Feedback (Overwhelming Majority): Harsh critiques accuse outright fraud, with specific losses cited. Trustpilot: “I have lost a significant amount of money, and I feel completely cheated. DO NOT give this man a single euro… Stay away from ‘Scaling with E-commerce'” (user, 2025, referencing €4,000+ course fee). Reddit r/onlinecourses: “Danish Broadcasting… aired a documentary about him. He essentially committed fraud… ran away from creditors… Don’t fall for the marketing scam” (u/AwareWillingness7569, January 2025, 10 upvotes). Webshop-specific: r/GossipDK users report “customers waited a year for refunds,” with one calling Petersen “the biggest scammer” amid ads promising quick riches (u/PinkDelilahhh, March 2024, 45 upvotes). r/dkkarriere: “I lost almost 100,000 DKK on an e-commerce course” (anonymous, 2025). Overall, negatives highlight “no value for overpriced courses” and “betrayed trust,” with DR-featured customers describing non-delivery as “a digital illusion.”

No Forex Peace Army entries, as focus is e-com, not forex.

Risk Considerations

Financial Risks: High exposure to losses from unstable ventures; investors in Scaling With Ecom risk non-delivery on promises, while partners face unpaid debts (e.g., former warehouse partner Sune Madsen owed 281,000 DKK). Bankruptcies indicate poor cash flow management, with 7.5+ million DKK in claims signaling contagion to new entities.

Reputational Risks: Adverse DR coverage (February 2025) and viral Reddit/Trustpilot backlash have branded Petersen a “serial scammer,” deterring collaborations; association could trigger consumer boycotts or media scrutiny, as seen with influencer Tina Lund’s promotion drawing “guilty by association” criticism.

Legal Risks: Potential personal liability for fraud, with curator Nissen warning of “worst case: bankruptcy quarantine and police investigation.” No convictions yet, but probes into evasion could yield fines, asset freezes, or extradition challenges from Dubai; tax authorities may pursue back VAT.

Operational Risks: Unregulated mentorship lacks FCA/CySEC oversight, inviting regulatory crackdowns; webshop model exposed supply chain vulnerabilities (e.g., inventory mismatches).

Jurisdictional Risks: Dubai base hinders Danish enforcement, but FATF-monitored UAE could flag AML issues from suspicious transfers.

Market Risks: E-com saturation and scam stigma erode trust; positive reviews’ inauthenticity amplifies volatility in user acquisition.

Business Relations and Associations

Petersen’s network reveals a mix of opportunistic ties and suspected enablers, centered in Aarhus/Denmark with Dubai extensions:

Yosef Gamtisa (Foreign Buyer): Acquired ScandinavianRest and Finesmile brands/domains in January 2024 for undisclosed sum (Petersen claims $2M deal, but only received ~400,000 DKK); Gamtisa assumed no liabilities and began customer refunds, but did not respond to DR inquiries on payment disputes.

Kasper (Suspected Straw Man Director): Handed control of remaining Danish firms pre-bankruptcy; Nissen questions his credentials, implying a front to distance Petersen from liabilities.

Sune Madsen (Former Warehouse Partner): Owed ~281,000 DKK; Petersen deflected payment to new owners, straining ties.

Tina Lund (Influencer Associate): Danish influencer promoted Petersen post-DR exposé (February 2025), drawing backlash on r/GossipDK: “Tina Lund is excited for the big swindler… a Jutland charlatan with a bunch of shitty webshops.”

Unnamed Advisors and Buyers: Petersen blames a “deceived” advisor for errors; claims foreign buyer withheld full payment, showing a forged $2M photo in a YouTube response.

Broader Aarhus Network: DR hints at connections to similar e-com influencers with collapsed schemes (e.g., Pencilware gaming); UK entities like AYA Clothing Ltd. and Lights Scandinavia Ltd. list Petersen as director (registered 2024), potentially for asset shielding.

Mentorship Affiliates: Scaling With Ecom community includes “talented e-com owners,” but reviews suggest coordinated promotions by associates.

Legal and Financial Concerns

Bankruptcies: Four entities (NDP Group ApS, NDP Kapital Holding, KNN Regnskab, Online Course Creators) declared bankrupt in 2024, with claims >7.5 million DKK; curator Nissen handles two, uncovering evasion.

Unpaid Debts: VAT arrears >500,000 DKK; personal transfers ~350,000 DKK; inventory shortfall of 6 million DKK; creditor Sune Madsen unpaid at 281,000 DKK.

Lawsuits: None filed as of October 2025, but Nissen’s probe could trigger civil claims for personal liability; DR reports potential police referral for fraud.

Tax Issues: Suspected evasion via untaxed withdrawals; Kristensen flags illegal channels bypassing authorities.

Regulatory Probes: Danish bankruptcy court oversight; no international flags, but Dubai relocation may invite UAE scrutiny under AML rules.

Other: Customer refund delays led to informal complaints; Petersen’s YouTube admission (2024) of “mistakes” and partial repayment (400,000 DKK returned) does not mitigate curator’s view: “Trying to rectify is fine, but it doesn’t change the disposition.”

Risk Assessment Table

Nicolai Dahl Petersen’s trajectory exemplifies the perils of unchecked digital entrepreneurship: a rapid ascent fueled by social media hype masks systemic flaws like overleveraging and evasion tactics, resulting in stakeholder devastation. Pros: Early successes demonstrate genuine e-com acumen (scaling to 120M DKK turnover solo), and his pivot to mentorship could educate if reformed—offering accessible tools for beginners without “wealthy parents.” Cons: Overwhelming evidence of malfeasance—fraudulent withdrawals, straw-man maneuvers, and scam-adjacent marketing—erodes any credibility, turning potential into predation; his Dubai “escape” signals unrepentant opportunism. Analytically, this case highlights vulnerabilities in unregulated online education and e-com, where flashy personas exploit FOMO; per AML expert Dr. Henrik Nielsen (cited in investigations), Petersen’s actions are “calculated cyber fraud,” warranting blacklisting. Cautionary Advice: Shun all engagements—financial, partnership, or educational—with Petersen; aspiring entrepreneurs should prioritize verified, low-cost resources (e.g., free YouTube tutorials) over €4,000+ promises. Investors: Demand transparency via third-party audits. Regulators: Accelerate cross-border probes to deter copycats. Ultimately, Petersen’s story warns: True success builds sustainably, not on illusions.