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US, Canadian investors to get full compensation in GSB Group settlement

The German group is accused of running a multilevel marketing scheme that took in hundreds of millions of dollars in supposed crypto and metaverse investments.

Securities regulators in 12 US states have secured reimbursement for investors who lost money in an investment scheme that included the Lydian.World metaverse, cryptocurrency and the tokenized partial ownership of a metaverse skyscraper.

According to the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), the regulators reached a settlement with a group of German companies associated with Josip Heit and known collectively as the GSB Group for the return of all money and cryptocurrency deposited with GSB Group for any purpose.

According to a statement released by the legal representatives of Heit and GSB Group, US investors in the settling states will receive compensation and those states “will withdraw all prior allegations of fraud or dishonest practices.”

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Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

Crypto Crime Appears To Drop in 2023 As Digital Asset ‘Romance’ Scams Surge by 85x Since 2020: Chainalysis

Crypto Crime Appears To Drop in 2023 As Digital Asset ‘Romance’ Scams Surge by 85x Since 2020: Chainalysis

The amount of funds sent to illicit addresses in 2023 suggests a decline in cryptocurrency-based criminal activities, according to a new report from market intelligence platform Chainalysis. The Chainalysis 2024 Crypto Crime Report says the value received by illicit cryptocurrency addresses dropped to $24.2 billion last year, down from $39.6 billion recorded in 2022. Chainalysis […]

The post Crypto Crime Appears To Drop in 2023 As Digital Asset ‘Romance’ Scams Surge by 85x Since 2020: Chainalysis appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

Ronaldinho denies part in alleged $61M crypto scam at congressional hearing

The former pro soccer player said in a congressional hearing that his likeness was improperly used to market an allegedly fraudulent crypto scheme.

Retired pro soccer star Ronaldinho Gaúcho has testified at a congressional hearing in Brazil, denying his involvement in an alleged $61 million crypto pyramid scheme that bore his name.

On Aug. 31 Ronaldinho appeared before a parliamentary committee inquiry where he refuted any role in the scheme called "18kRonaldinho" that promised 2% daily returns on crypto. A lawsuit was filed against the firm seeking $61 million in damages.

Ronaldinho claimed he was never partnered with th company and it used his name and image without his authorization, arguing he was also a victim of the purported scheme.

During the hearing, images were shown of 18kRonaldinho’s marketing that depicted Ronaldinho.

The inquiry showed an image of Ronaldinho with the text “Your money yielding up to 2% a day” (translated). Source: YouTube

He said the pictures were taken as part of a contract he signed in July 2019 with a subsidiary of the company that sells watches but that contract was terminated later that year in October and was never executed.

The inquiry’s president Aureo Ribeiro asked Ronaldinho if he intended to reimburse those who invested in the company to which Ronaldinho said he would remain silent.

He also did not answer when asked about the $61 million lawsuit.

Related: Breaking victim ‘trust’ in scammer is key to beat crypto scams, exchanges say

Ronaldinho had failed to appear before two previous hearings related to the inquiry, most recently on Aug. 24 in which he blamed weather conditions for not being able to attend.

The latest Aug. 31 hearing was his last chance to appear before Congress — if he didn’t he faced possible fines or arrest in which authorities would’ve forcibly taken him to appear at the hearing.

The inquiry was launched in June to investigate purported crypto pyramid schemes and is being carried out by Brazil’s lower house, the Chamber of Deputies.

It’s investigating a total of 11 companies alleged by the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission to have falsely promised high returns using crypto.

Magazine: Tornado Cash 2.0 — The race to build safe and legal coin mixers

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

Ohio Man Ordered To Pay $54,000,000 in Penalties After CFTC Lays Charges for Alleged Crypto Scam

Ohio Man Ordered To Pay ,000,000 in Penalties After CFTC Lays Charges for Alleged Crypto Scam

A federal court is ordering an Ohio man to pay $54 million in restitution and penalties after allegedly running a fraudulent crypto trading scheme. According to a new press release by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Ohio resident Michale Ackerman has been ordered by a judge to pay $27 million in penalties and $27 […]

The post Ohio Man Ordered To Pay $54,000,000 in Penalties After CFTC Lays Charges for Alleged Crypto Scam appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

FBI Issues Warning to Americans, Says Fake Job Advertisements Force Victims to Commit Crypto Scams

FBI Issues Warning to Americans, Says Fake Job Advertisements Force Victims to Commit Crypto Scams

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is issuing a warning to Americans about fake job advertisements that harass applicants into committing crypto fraud. According to a new public service announcement from the FBI, false job advertisements linked to labor trafficking compounds in Southeast Asia are using employment fraud schemes to lure people, hold them against […]

The post FBI Issues Warning to Americans, Says Fake Job Advertisements Force Victims to Commit Crypto Scams appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

Crypto, forex platform CEO pleads guilty to $248M fraud scheme

Eddy Alexandre, the CEO of the purported crypto trading platform EminiFX is facing as much as 10 years behind bars for his part in the fraudulent enterprise.

Eddy Alexandre, CEO of purported crypto trading platform EminiFX has pleaded guilty to commodities fraud in a New York district court, agreeing to pay back millions to investors who lost funds to his "cryptocurrency investment scam."

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Feb. 10 that Alexandre submitted a guilty plea to one count of commodities fraud, and will pay over $248 million in forfeiture along with restitution yet to be specified.

Alexandre was arrested and charged in May 2022 over his role in EminiFX and originally pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea on Feb. 10. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

An image of Alexandre appearing in an April 2022 video for EminiFX. Image: DOJ

According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, from around September 2021 to May 2022, Alexandre ran the crypto and forex trading platform and “solicited more than $248 million in investments from tens of thousands of individual investors.”

Williams said Alexandre purported EminiFX could give “weekly returns of at least 5%” but in reality, the CEO didn’t invest a “substantial portion” of the funds and “even used some funds for personal purchases.”

He touted EminiFX as a platform for passive income that used a secret new technology to automate trading in crypto and foreign currencies that “guaranteed” the stated returns on investment.

Alexandre refused to state to investors what the technology was and promised they would double their money within five months. Investors in the scheme were falsely presented with information that they had earned the stated 5% returns.

Related: Crypto exchanges tackle insider trading after recent convictions

In reality, Alexandre lost millions of dollars on the funds he did invest — which he didn’t disclose to investors.

He also directed around $14.7 million to his personal bank account and used around $155,000 to buy a BMW and more on payments to a Mercedes Benz.

Some of the EminiFX investors were supportive of Alexandre despite the fraud he committed.

A handful traveled from abroad to attend an August 2022 plea hearing according to an Aug. 10 Bloomberg report. One supporter claimed the case against Alexandre was racist.

He also faces a separate civil suit from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) which is suing Alexandre for “fraudulent solicitation and misappropriation” relating to crypto and foreign exchange trading.

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

SEC Halts $62 Million Crypto Mining, Trading Scheme — DOJ Indicts Founder

SEC Halts  Million Crypto Mining, Trading Scheme — DOJ Indicts FounderThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has halted a $62 million global cryptocurrency trading and mining scheme and the Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted its CEO and founder. If convicted of all counts, he faces a maximum total penalty of 45 years in prison, the Justice Department. SEC Halts $62M Global Cryptocurrency Fraud […]

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote

Promoter of Crypto Scheme Touted by Steven Seagal Pleads Guilty, Faces 5 Years in Prison

Promoter of Crypto Scheme Touted by Steven Seagal Pleads Guilty, Faces 5 Years in PrisonA promoter of the cryptocurrency scheme previously touted by famous martial artist and actor Steven Seagal has pleaded guilty for his participation. The scheme falsely claimed that it “could generate an 8,000% return for investors within one year.” Crypto Scheme Promoter Pleads Guilty The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday that John DeMarr, 55, […]

Michael Saylor to Present Bitcoin Investment Proposal to Microsoft Board Amid Shareholder Vote