TL;DR
An international essay- and homework-writing network operating under “Nerdy” brands has generated nearly $25 million and repeatedly used Google Ads to surface in search results. Reporting ties the operation to entrepreneurs linked to Synergy University, Russia’s largest private university, whose leadership has Kremlin connections and whose corporate activity includes drone development according to the source.
What happened
Investigations by a contract-cheating watcher and reporting summarized in the source trace a sprawling essay‑mill operation — commonly branded with names like Nerdify and Geekly — that used Google Ads extensively and booked roughly $25 million in revenues through a network of companies across Cyprus, Malta and Hong Kong. The group repeatedly replaced ad accounts and websites after enforcement by running new entities under front names (often young Ukrainian women) and relaunching the same keywords. Key figures identified include Alexey (Olekszij) Pokatilo, who ran earlier paper‑mill businesses and now operates Litero.Ai, and Filip Perkon, an entrepreneur who has held director roles in UK subsidiaries tied to Synergy University. The reporting links those corporate ties to Synergy University, whose president Vadim Lobov is described as a Kremlin insider; the source also reports the university’s involvement in drone development for Russia’s war and documents widespread student complaints about misleading recruitment and visa promises.
Why it matters
- The scheme shows how contract‑cheating services can scale and persist despite platform enforcement by cycling companies, domains and ad accounts.
- Connections between commercial cheating operations and actors linked to a prominent Russian university raise questions about corporate networks and reputational risk.
- The use of paid search to promote services that deliver finished work undermines academic integrity and complicates platforms’ content‑moderation efforts.
Key facts
- The Nerdy-branded network booked nearly $25 million in revenues through entities registered in Cyprus, Malta and Hong Kong.
- Google Ads were used to promote services offering finished assignments; the operator renewed ads under new companies after shutdowns.
- UK companies shuttered by Google since Jan 2025 include Proglobal Solutions LTD, AW Tech Limited and Geekly Solutions Ltd.
- Active advertisers cited in the report include OK Marketing LTD (advertising geekly-hub.net) and Two Sigma Solutions LTD (advertising litero.ai).
- The reported operators include Alexey Pokatilo, previously behind Livingston Research and now linked to Litero.Ai, and Filip Perkon, a former collaborator.
- A test purchase documented by the contract‑cheating blog offered a 3‑page, plagiarism‑ and AI‑free MLA essay for $141 via SMS ordering.
- Pokatilo’s Litero.Ai received $800,000 in pre-seed funding in July 2025 from a group of venture programs named in the source.
- Filip Perkon has held director positions in UK subsidiaries of Synergy University; Synergy’s president, Vadim Lobov, is described as a Kremlin insider.
- Online reviews cited in the source report patterns of denied visas, unreturned fees and alleged misleading recruitment by Synergy University.
What to watch next
- Further platform enforcement actions by Google against ad accounts and domains (not confirmed in the source).
- Any formal investigations into financial or corporate links between the essay network and Synergy University or its affiliates (not confirmed in the source).
- Scrutiny of investors and pre‑seed funding for Litero.Ai and related startups, and whether funders face questions about downstream use (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Essay mill: A commercial service that writes academic assignments or exams for paying customers, often enabling contract cheating.
- Google Ads: A paid advertising platform that places sponsored links in Google search results and partner sites, subject to advertiser policies.
- Front person: An individual presented as the public representative of a company or account while ownership or control lies elsewhere.
- Pre‑seed funding: Early-stage investment provided to startups to develop a product or reach initial milestones before larger venture rounds.
- Contract cheating: The act of outsourcing academic work to a third party and submitting it as one’s own for assessment.
Reader FAQ
Who runs the essay-mill network described in the reporting?
The source links the network to entrepreneurs Alexey (Olekszij) Pokatilo and Filip Perkon and to a history of paper‑mill businesses, though ownership is routed through many companies.
Did the network use Google Ads?
Yes. The reporting documents multiple Google Ads accounts promoting Nerdy‑branded sites and describes a pattern of replacing accounts after enforcement.
Is Synergy University implicated in building drones?
The source reports that Synergy University is tied to drone development for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Are legal or regulatory actions against the operators detailed?
Not confirmed in the source.
December 6, 2025 91 Comments A sprawling academic cheating network turbocharged by Google Ads that has generated nearly $25 million in revenue has curious ties to a Kremlin-connected oligarch whose…
Sources
- Drones to Diplomas: How Russia’s Largest Private University is Linked to a $25M Essay Mill
- Drones to Diplomas: How Russia's Largest Private University is …
- WDTC Center for Cybersecurity | News and Events
- Tag Archives: Synergy University
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