Unlicensed Crypto Business Leads to Indictments in Utah

Two Utah residents have been indicted for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, converting over $2.5 million into cryptocurrency, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The two were arrested over the weekend in Washington County. Utah Men Arrested for Illegal Cryptocurrency Transactions The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the … Read more

FTC Warns of Crypto Scams From Online Love Interests

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning about cryptocurrency romance scammers who offer investment advice. The FTC emphasizes the risks involved and urges immediate reporting and caution to protect others. “They establish an emotional connection with you so you’re more likely to believe that they’re an expert in cryptocurrency investing, for example,” … Read more

South African Police Nab Alleged Mastermind of Metaverse Ponzi Scheme

Neil Leon De Waal, a key figure in the GS Partners metaverse fraud case, was reportedly arrested by South African law enforcement in late May. He was subsequently released on bail on June 3. Authorities began investigating De Waal following a complaint from one of his victims. The complainant, who lives in Benoni, had to … Read more

FBI Warns of Crypto Scams in Fake Work-From-Home Jobs

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued an alert on June 4, highlighting a surge in cryptocurrency-related fraud involving bogus work-from-home opportunities. Scammers impersonate legitimate businesses and lure individuals with seemingly simple tasks like clicking buttons or rating services, promising payment through complex and deceptive crypto-based compensation structures. Victims are often tricked into making … Read more

Ex-Banker Sentenced to 41 Months in US Prison for Crypto Fraud Scheme

Rashawn Russell, a former investment banker, was sentenced on Thursday to 41 months in prison for a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that caused $1.5 million in investor losses. From November 2020 to August 2022, Russell deceived multiple victims by promising high returns from cryptocurrency investments, only to misappropriate their funds for personal use, gambling, and repaying … Read more

SEC Issues Investor Alert Highlighting 5 Common Crypto Scams

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued an alert, highlighting five common crypto scams investors should watch out for to avoid losing money. The SEC warns that fraudsters exploit cryptocurrency popularity with sophisticated techniques, making fund recovery difficult. For example, “Fraudsters may conduct pump-and-dump schemes with crypto assets, including so-called ‘memecoins’ that … Read more

Lawyer Pleads Guilty in $9.5M Crypto Ponzi Scheme — Faces 5 Years in Prison

David Kagel, a disbarred California attorney, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded victims of over $9.5 million. Kagel, 85, promised high returns through artificial intelligence trading bots and falsely claimed to hold $11 million in bitcoin to secure investments. He used his attorney position to instill trust, providing fake letters on … Read more