- The United States government has notably increased the reward for information leading to the capture of OneCoin co-founder, Ruja Ignatova.
- This marks a dramatic rise from the previous $250,000 reward to an impressive $5 million.
- The larger reward heightens interest and fuels ongoing speculation regarding the fate of the woman known as the “Cryptoqueen.”
Discover the latest updates in the hunt for Cryptoqueen, as the U.S. government amplifies their reward to $5 million for information leading to her capture.
U.S. Offers $5M for Cryptoqueen’s Capture
Ruja Ignatova, co-founder of the infamous OneCoin, stands accused of orchestrating one of the most substantial global frauds in history. This Bulgarian-born German citizen has been a fugitive since 2017. While her accomplices have mostly faced justice, Ignatova remains elusive, landing her a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List as of 2022.
Ignatova, aged 44, launched OneCoin in 2014, falsely marketing it as a lucrative cryptocurrency investment opportunity. By 2017, she had defrauded investors of an estimated $4 billion through this Ponzi scheme. Authorities in the U.S. and Germany have brought charges including fraud and money laundering against her, while Bulgarian officials plan similar indictments and aim to seize her illegally acquired assets.
Question of Cryptoqueen’s Survival
As global authorities intensify their efforts to capture Cryptoqueen, rumors about her changing appearance through cosmetic procedures have surfaced. Speculations suggest she travels with armed personnel and uses a German passport to navigate through regions such as the UAE, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
In 2018, rumors emerged that Ignatova might have been assassinated by Bulgarian drug lord Hristoforos Amanatidis, alias Taki, who allegedly supervised her security. Claims suggest Taki ordered Ignatova’s murder and disposal in the Ionian Sea to sever his affiliation with the OneCoin fraud.
Nevertheless, the BBC’s The Missing Cryptoqueen podcast continues to receive credible tips about her location. A failed police operation in Greece in 2022 implies these death rumors might be a strategic distraction concocted to mislead law enforcement agencies.
Conclusion
The U.S. government’s increased bounty underscores the severity and global reach of Ignatova’s crimes through OneCoin. Amid continuous speculation and relentless pursuit by international authorities, the $5 million reward is likely to incentivize more informants to come forward. Whether dead or alive, bringing Cryptoqueen to justice remains a paramount objective in the fight against international financial crimes.
