Tagged: fraud

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

August 13, 2018 @ 9:53 am By JD Alois  |  

Aarni Otava Saarimaa, a 22 year old crypto investor based in Finland, used to be crypto rich. Today, perhaps he is less so after following afoul of a scam apparently hatched in Thailand. In a sordid saga shared by the Bangkok Post, a crypto investor… Read More

August 6, 2018 @ 10:24 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Investors alleging that the CEO of Sky Mining, Le Minh Tam, defrauded them of $36 million dollars are continuing their fight for restitution, this time in the form of a petition at Change.org. The petition lists Tam’s passport number and claims he solicited contributions of… Read More

July 25, 2018 @ 3:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

Jon Montroll, also known as “Ukyo” – former operated of two crypto businesses WeExchange and Bitfiunder, pled guilty to securities fraud and obstruction of justice charges leveled against Montroll in New York Federal Court in New York this week. Montroll launched Bitfunder in 2012 where… Read More

July 24, 2018 @ 12:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Multi-year offering fraud raised at least $27.4 million from over 100 investors The Fyre Festival was billed as a super luxe musical festival to be held in the Exumas (part of the Bahamas) populated by models and the super cool. Celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kendall… Read More

July 23, 2018 @ 12:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

In early 2018, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Dillon Michael Dean of Longmont, Colorado and his company, The Entrepreneurs Headquarters Limited. The UK registered firm and Dean have… Read More

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

Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton has posted remarks on the establishment of the “Task Force on Market Integrity and Consumer Fraud.” The Task Force was announced today as an Executive Action by President Donald Trump. Clayton said he believes “cyber threats present some of… Read More

July 10, 2018 @ 9:18 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Standard Chartered Bank announced on Monday as part of its continued efforts to lead the way in the global fight against financial crime, and through its use of regtech, it has partnered with Silent Eight to deliver capabilities to its Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) teams…. Read More

June 20, 2018 @ 11:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received an additional emergency court order freezing the assets of Dominic Lacroix. The freeze is part of an ongoing enforcement action that stems from some time ago. The SEC had previously sued for securities fraud and had obtained… Read More

June 8, 2018 @ 11:44 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Enforcement, posted an update on the Titanium Blockchain enforcement action that reviewed the preliminary injunction filed against the firm. A quick review of the update indicated little new pertaining to the SEC’s move to shut down the… Read More

May 29, 2018 @ 9:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received a court approved emergency asset freeze and the appointment of a receiver for Titanium Blockchain Infrastructure Services (TBIS) pertaining to an initial coin offering (ICO). Between November 2017 through at least January 2018, the ICO succeeded in raising as… Read More

May 27, 2018 @ 7:49 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) announced Operation Cryptosweep – an attempt to shut the door on scam initial coin offerings (ICOs) that have polluted the digital assets marketplace. The profound abuse and fraud has marred this new sector of finance harming… Read More

May 21, 2018 @ 10:24 am By Cali Haan  |  

Last Friday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission argued in a Boston courtroom that cryptocurrencies are tradable commodities that can be regulated under CFTC purview. The argument comes after lawyers for Randall Crater and Mark Gillespie of My Big Coin Inc. attempted to have fraud charges… Read More

May 7, 2018 @ 10:52 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a global provider of financial services technology solutions, announced on Monday it has partnered with Rippleshot, a fraud analytics firm, to offer Card Risk Office Fraud Warning, an early breach detection solution that allows financial institutions to identify potential fraud events 30-60 days… Read More