The ‘Cryptoqueen’ Who Launched OneCoin, Raised $4 Billion, Then Disappeared Into Nothing (Video) – 2oceansvibe News

The Bulgarian businesswoman and other founders of the cryptocurrency, which later turned out to be a pyramid scheme, were even able to complete luxury real estate deals after the scandal broke.

Ignatova once suggested to the scam’s co-founder at the launch of her fake digital currency that they should “take the money and run and blame it on someone else.” It appears the scammer did just that as she liquidated her OneCoin holdings, boarded a plane to Athens, and disappeared into thin air.

At the time, U.S. authorities charged Ignatova with fraud and money laundering, and subsequently issued a federal arrest warrant for her. But the cryptoqueen acted faster than they did, and despite a $5 million reward, the “Cryptoqueen” is still missing.

“We are offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of German Ruja Ignatova, known as ‘Cryptoqueen,’ for her role in one of the largest global fraud schemes in history,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

She remains the FBI’s most wanted woman.

Image: FBI.gov

After all these years, there are now reports revealing her ties to the Bulgarian underworld and showing that the suspected mafia boss is involved in her disappearance and, allegedly, her possible murder.

Jamie Bartlett, whose BBC podcast brought her story to global attention, believes the increased reward is for people who may still be protecting her.

“The FBI is now refocusing its attention on those around Dr. Ruja and attempting to entice her closest associates to contact her.

“$100,000 wouldn’t convince a junior member of a crime syndicate or a personal bodyguard to call the FBI hotline — it’s far too risky. But $5 million might.

“We’ll probably know within a few weeks whether it worked.”

No one really knows where Ignatova is, or whether the Bulgarian mafia murdered her – as many believe – but the BBC series below sheds some light on the scam of the decade. Watch it if you have time today.

(source: lamonde&bbc)