In 2014, Ruja Ignatova, an Oxford University law grad, founded a digital currency company called OneCoin. According to Ignatova, OneCoin would "kill" BitCoin, an already established cryptocurrency competitor. Ignatova built her empire through Pyramid and Ponzi schemes, and successfully convinced 1 million investors to back the business. But all good things come to an end, and by March 2017, US Federal agents closed in on the CryptoQueen. However, Ignatova read between the lines, made her last appearance at an investor's dinner, then vanished into thin. Today, Ignatova remains on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted Criminals list. Some sightings have been reported as late as 2022, but can she continue keeping one step ahead of authorities? You decide.
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Intro & Extro Music: Undersea World by Dragonov
Teachable Moments Music: Untold Story by Ballian De Moulle
REFERENCES:
Cryptoqueen: Has the missing fugitive reappeared?
Ruja Ignatova: ‘Cryptoqueen’ on FBI’s most wanted list scammed investors, went on the run
Ruja Ignatova: Leaked police notes may have alerted FBI-wanted cryptoqueen
Ruja Ignatova: The crooked cryptoqueen
The ‘Cryptoqueen’ is now one of the FBI’s 10 most wanted
What is the Securities Exchange Act of 1934? Reach and History
