Tagged: fraud

November 13, 2018 @ 8:41 pm By Cali Haan  |  

A fake halal cryptocurrency pyramid scheme targeting Muslim investors in India has fallen apart in the Bitcoin bear market, in part due to scrutiny from regulators, Deccan Chronicle (DC) reports. Father-and-son team Syed Fareed and Syed Afaq Ahmed reportedly tapped a network of “ulemas” (Muslim… Read More

November 13, 2018 @ 3:06 pm By Cali Haan  |  

An increasingly “techno-savvy” ruling elite in North Korea is using a “full range” of computerized devices and tactics, including the issuing of fraudulent ICOs (initial coin offerings), to evade global sanctions and, “…generate revenue for the Kim regime,” Insikt Group reports. Insikt’s cybersecurity researchers have… Read More

November 13, 2018 @ 6:35 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Revolut, fintech unicorn and successful Crowdcube alum, is taking its customer protection to the next level, intending to become a world leader. As part of the platform’s plan, a new fleet of machine learning technology has been unveiled, a fleet that has already reportedly seen… Read More

October 13, 2018 @ 6:53 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Telephone scammers pretending to be representatives from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently used threats of deportation and a bitcoin ATM to defraud a recent immigrant in Charlottetown PEI out of $65 000, CBC reports. Now a Charlottetown court has ruled that the Bitcoin ATM… Read More

October 11, 2018 @ 12:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken action against an initial coin offering (ICO) that falsely claimed to be approved by the SEC. The enforcement action was filed against Blockvest LLC and company founder Reginald Buddy Ringgold, III. Additionally, the SEC obtained an emergency… Read More

September 28, 2018 @ 2:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged LendingClub Asset Management LLC, and former President Renaud Laplanche with fraud for improperly using fund money to benefit LendingClub.  LendingClub Asset Management, Laplanche, and former CFO Carrie Dolan, also were charged with improperly adjusting fund returns. The… Read More

September 27, 2018 @ 3:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

In January 2018, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) leveled allegations of fraud and misconduct against My Big Coin, an initial coin offering (ICO) that was said to fleece $6 million from investors. My Big Coin fought back when defense counsel said the CFTC had… Read More

September 27, 2018 @ 1:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a complaint against real estate crowdfunding platform iFunding, along with co-founders William Skelley and Sohin Shaw. The complaint alleges that Skelley and Shaw pursued a “fraudulent scheme to misappropriate investor funds.” CI Senior Contributor and securities attorney… Read More

September 27, 2018 @ 1:00 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The SEC told a New York courtroom Tuesday that two defendants accused of selling a fraudulent ICO (initial coin offering) called “Plexcoin” have been ignoring court orders to document their assets and are refusing to “participate meaningfully” in an SEC court action against them. According… Read More

September 24, 2018 @ 7:09 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The CEO of Korean crypto exchange Coinnest, who is reportedly already on trial for embezzling customer funds, has now been indicted for taking a bribe to list a controversial crypto coin called S Coin, Korea IT Times reports. The CEO of S Coin has also… Read More

September 19, 2018 @ 9:06 am By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a public warning on bogus websites that are soliciting investments in Bitcoin. At least two of these sites is using “fabricated comments” attributed to MAS Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam. MAS says the statements attributed to… Read More

September 18, 2018 @ 5:33 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, the Assistant-Commander of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Dubai Police, told attendees at a relevant forum in Dubai this weekend that a lack of awareness around possible criminal uses of cryptocurrencies in the UAE is putting citizens at risk,… Read More

September 12, 2018 @ 9:29 am By Cali Haan  |  

The founder of controversial crypto exchange OKEx has been questioned by Shanghai police regarding a case of suspected ICO fraud, Sina.com reports. The supervisor of the Shanghai Weifang Xincun Police Station, Lu Jun, issued a statement claiming that Shanghai police questioned OKEx founder Winxing (Star)… Read More

September 11, 2018 @ 2:25 pm By Cali Haan  |  

FINRA announced today that it has charged the Massachusetts creator of the “HempCoin” ICO (initial coin offering) with securities fraud and, “the unlawful distribution of an unregistered cryptocurrency security…” FINRA, a Washington, DC-based self-regulatory organization of considerable might that presides over American securities brokers, claims that,… Read More

September 10, 2018 @ 9:22 am By JD Alois  |  

Riot Blockchain (NASDAQ: RIOT), a crypto company that engages in mining, development of exchange and mining pool platforms, and other investments within the sector, has announced a restructuring following the departure of CEO and Chairman John O’Rourke. O’Rourke departed the firm following an enforcement action by the… Read More

September 6, 2018 @ 10:09 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium (FSMA) says it has been continuing to receive complaints from investors swindled by fake cryptocurrency platforms and is therefore reiterating its warnings to consumers: “Cryptocurrencies are the hype of the year. Fraudsters are well aware of that,… Read More

August 24, 2018 @ 9:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has won a big victory in a trial against Patrick K. McDonnell and CabbageTech Crop – a company that was doing business as Coin Drop Markets. McDonnel, and his company, was assessed penalties and restitution of over $1.1 million as… Read More

August 20, 2018 @ 11:08 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The man accused of leading the Bitconnect cryptocurrency pyramid scheme in India was arrested this weekend at an airport in New Delhi, Financial Express reports. Divyesh Darji was en route to Ahmenabad, the capital of the Indian state of Gujarat, from Dubai, where he had… Read More

August 20, 2018 @ 4:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Michael (Mike) B. Rothenberg, and his firm Rothenberg Ventures with fraud. Rothenberg, and his company, has agreed to settle the charges without admitting nor denying the allegations incorporated in the SEC complaint. The SEC states that Rothenberg’s… Read More

August 13, 2018 @ 6:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an investor alert on Self Directed IRAs. As one would expect, the individual investor manages these retirement accounts without the assistance of an investment advisor. A self-directed IRA is held by a custodian that allows investment in a broader… Read More