Russian Founders of Defi Platform Forsage Indicted in $340 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme

Four Russians have been charged in the U.S. with operating a crypto pyramid and Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of millions of dollars. If convicted, they would face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the purportedly decentralized finance (defi) platform Forsage. Forsage Founders Charged With Running Cryptocurrency Pyramid A … Read more

Bulgarian Businessman Loses Half a Million Dollars to Call Center Crypto Fraud

A Bulgarian investor has lost a large amount of money to fraudsters who convinced him he was putting cash into cryptocurrency. The scam operated through a call center in what is becoming an established scheme for extracting money from victims lured with promises of quick profits on stock and crypto markets. Defrauded Bulgarian Crypto Investor … Read more

New York Attorney General Sues Celsius Co-Founder Alex Mashinsky for Crypto Fraud

On Jan. 5, 2023, the state of New York and attorney general Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Alex Mashinsky, the co-founder and former CEO of Celsius. The lawsuit claims that Mashinsky and Celsius defrauded “hundreds of thousands of investors, including more than 26,000 New Yorkers, out of billions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency.” Former … Read more

Ukraine’s Cyberpolice Expose Members of Crypto Fraud Scheme Making €200 Million a Year

A report shows Ukrainian Cyberpolice identified members of a group that defrauded people around the world through fake crypto investment offers. The criminal organization maintained offices and customer service centers with thousands of employees in a number of European countries. Cyberpolice Department Busts Ukrainian Arm of International Financial Fraud Scheme The cybercrime combatting unit of … Read more

US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Issues Its First Crypto Disciplinary Action

The U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has taken its first disciplinary action involving cryptocurrencies. The authority charges a broker with fraudulent and unlawful distribution of unregistered crypto securities. The owner allegedly “attempted to lure public investment in his worthless public company” by issuing “the first minable coin backed by marketable securities.” Also read: 160 Crypto Exchanges … Read more