The FBI has announced a $5 million bounty on the head of Ruja Ignatova, a fugitive known as the “Cryptoqueen” who orchestrated a $4 billion Ponzi scheme reminiscent of Bernie Madoff’s infamous scam. Ignatova, an Oxford University-educated Bulgarian national, has managed to evade international authorities for seven years, making her one of the FBI’s most wanted suspects.
According to the FBI, Ignatova may be traveling with armed guards or associates and could have altered her appearance through plastic surgery. She is believed to hold a German passport and has been linked to various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Germany, Russia, Greece, and Eastern Europe.
Ignatova, who speaks English, German, and Bulgarian, founded OneCoin Ltd., a Bulgaria-based company that marketed a fraudulent cryptocurrency. By making false statements and representations, she allegedly solicited investments in OneCoin, defrauding victims out of more than $4 billion.
Born into poverty in Bulgaria, Ignatova’s obsession with money led her to amass a fortune. At the height of her scheme, she owned a penthouse in London’s upscale Kensington area and a luxurious superyacht named “Davina,” valued at over $7 million.
The last confirmed sighting of Ignatova was on October 25, 2017, when she took a commercial flight from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece. Since then, she has managed to evade capture, while her accomplice, Karl Greenwood, a Swedish national, was apprehended and sentenced to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering.
US District Judge Edgardo Ramos, during Greenwood’s sentencing, compared the OneCoin scam to Bernie Madoff’s massive fraud, emphasizing its significant impact. Authorities estimate that at least 3.5 million investors fell victim to the OneCoin scheme.
1 Response
It is truly astonishing how cryptocurrency has become entangled in criminal activities. The case of Ruja Ignatova, also known as the “Cryptoqueen,” highlights the dark side of this digital currency. This news serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious and vigilant when investing in cryptocurrencies.
One real-world application of this information is the need for increased regulation and oversight in the cryptocurrency industry. Governments and financial institutions should work together to establish stricter regulations to prevent fraudulent schemes like Ignatova’s Pon