The U.S. State Department has announced a $5 million bounty for information leading to the capture of Ruja Ignatova, the founder of OneCoin, who vanished in 2017 after orchestrating a $4 billion Ponzi scheme.
Ignatova, dubbed “Cryptoqueen,” disappeared after boarding a flight to Athens, shortly before U.S. authorities revealed her indictment. This new reward is a significant increase from the $250,000 previously offered by the FBI in 2022.
Between 2014 and 2017, Ignatova and her accomplices duped investors into believing OneCoin would yield substantial returns, although it lacked any blockchain technology. This scam is deemed one of the largest global frauds in history.
While other OneCoin conspirators have been sentenced, Ignatova’s whereabouts remain unknown. Speculations suggest she may have altered her appearance or even been murdered, though these claims are unverified.
Ignatova faces multiple charges across several countries, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Her capture is crucial for justice and could deter future large-scale frauds.
