Ruja Ignatova, the so-called CryptoQueen, is on the FBI 10 most wanted list.
NEW YORK – The FBI has added Ruja Ignatova, a.k.a. ‘Cryptoqueen’, to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for allegedly defrauding investors worldwide of more than $4 billion through the OneCoin cryptocurrency pyramid scheme. The announcement was made in Manhattan on Thursday morning.
There is a $100,000 reward in the case.
Ignatova is under a 2018 indictment for an alleged scheme that took place from 2014 into January 2018.
Federal prosecutors say that Ignatova was involved in a conspiracy to defraud customers that were tricked by commercials and social media. People were convinced to invest in “OneCoin,” a purported cryptocurrency that was actually a scam, according to the government. The scam allegedly took in billions in investor funds.
The Justice Department said that OneCoin Ltd. operated as a multi-level marketing network through which members received commissions for recruiting others to purchase worthless cryptocurrency packages.
Who is Ruja Ignatova?
Ruja Ignatova is a doctor of law (lawyer) who was born in Russe, Bulgaria and has German citizenship. She speaks German, English with an accent, and Bulgarian.
The FBI says she uses the aliases: Dr. Ruja Ignatova, Ruja Plamenova Ignatova, Ruja P. Ignatova, “CryptoQueen”
Ignatova disappeared in October 2017. Her last known home was in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud,…
