OneCoin’s Ruja Ignatova believed to be hiding in Cape Town

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As a seasoned crypto investor who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless digital currencies, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions upon learning about Ruja Ignatova, the elusive mastermind behind OneCoin Ponzi. While my personal experiences have taught me to be wary of promises that seem too good to be true, it’s still fascinating to follow the twists and turns in this saga.

Investigations from Germany suggest that the architect of the OneCoin Ponzi scheme, Ruja Ignatova (also known as Cryptoqueen), might be residing in South Africa at present.

As a researcher, I find myself delving into the intriguing case of a woman named Ignatova, an Oxford-educated individual from Bulgaria. In October 2017, she vanished mysteriously after allegedly orchestrating a massive fraud involving a non-existent cryptocurrency, leading to substantial financial losses for many. The disappearance has ignited numerous speculations about her whereabouts, with some suggesting that she might have met an untimely end.

Alternatively, Some experts currently believe that she may have settled in a prestigious area close to Cape Town, which is popular among international criminals due to its high-end security properties.

Based on information from The Times, Sabine Dässel, a spokesperson for the North Rhine-Westphalia state’s criminal investigation office (LKA), has stated in the WDR documentary ‘Die Kryptoqueen’ that investigations are ongoing with the belief that Ruja Ignatova is still alive.

Despite uncertainty regarding her exact location, Dässel stated that all available evidence points towards Cape Town, as it’s rumored that she was spotted there.

Investigators observed that Konstantin, Ignatova’s brother, made several trips to Cape Town following her disappearance, fueling suspicions that he might have been receiving guidance or messages from his sister.

Konstantin, who assumed control of OneCoin following Ignatova’s departure, eventually collaborated with the FBI and spent three years behind bars in a U.S. penitentiary. He asserted that Ignatova made off with around £500 million, utilizing this money to facilitate her getaway and obtain fraudulent identities.

The film delved into potential connections between Ignatova and Bulgarian underworld figures, specifically Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis, commonly known as Taki. Amanatidis, who stands accused of no crimes, is believed to have utilized OneCoin for money laundering purposes related to his illicit activities.

It’s been suggested that Taki arranged Ignatova’s murder in 2018 while in Greece, but a documentary disputed this assertion by pointing out that the supposed assassin was imprisoned during the event, according to LKA data. Other investigations have similarly been unable to confirm this allegation.

A new piece of evidence suggesting that the notorious swindler might still be alive was presented by Duncan Arthur, a significant figure within Ignatova’s organization. He disclosed to documentary makers that Konstantin reportedly maintained frequent contact with his sister even after her disappearance in 2017.

There’s a shared conviction that Ignatova is still alive, not just among German authorities but also the FBI. They continue to classify her as one of their top ten most wanted fugitives and even increased the reward for her capture from $100,000 to an astounding $5 million. Moreover, the FBI suspects she might have undergone cosmetic surgery to change her appearance.

The $4 billion scam

From 2014 to 2017, Ignatova and her associates swindled investors out of approximately 4.3 billion dollars by falsely guaranteeing substantial profits via OneCoin, an imaginary digital currency that lacked a functional blockchain infrastructure.

As Ignatova vanished, numerous associates of hers have been jailed and convicted over time. For example, the scheme’s co-founder, Karl Greenwood, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for fraud, while the operation’s legal director, Irina Dilkinska, was found guilty of fraud and money laundering.

Simultaneously, attorney Mark Scott, who worked with OneCoin, received a 10-year prison term following significant testimony by Konstantin Ignatov. This testimony resulted in a reduced sentence for Ignatov.

Currently, Ignatova is accused of committing wire fraud and violating securities laws in the United States, Germany, Bulgaria, and India.

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2024-11-22 12:57