This time the fbi is announcing a new reward. Whoever can find this crypto queen will get a reward of Millions of Dollars.

So who is the crypto queen, why is the first woman on the FBI’s wanted list. Let’s know the details.

In a striking red and black gown, Ruja Ignatova took the stage. The lights flashed around her as Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” played. The excited crowd at London’s Wembley Arena sang along, cheering and applauding her. Ignatova thanked everyone.

This was in June 2016, a time when the world was abuzz with digital currencies like cryptocurrency. Many were eager to invest in this new financial frontier. Ruja Ignatova introduced herself as the “CryptoQueen,” claiming that her company, OneCoin, would rival Bitcoin. She boldly predicted that within two years, people would forget about Bitcoin. Her confident declarations and promises won over investors, who greeted her with applause and cheers.

Ignatova vanished after boarding a plane to Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, just 16 months later. From that point forward, there has been no hint of her.

Authorities have reported that OneCoin defrauded investors of over $4 billion. Ignatova managed to attract investors from the United States and around the globe to put their money into her company. According to federal prosecutors, OneCoin stands as one of the largest international financial frauds to date.

Crypto Queen Ruja Ignatova Knew It Was a Fraud from the Start

Since her disappearance in October 2017, Ruja Ignatova’s image has been displayed on the FBI’s website, and numerous media outlets worldwide have covered her story. She is also listed among Europe’s top criminals.

 

The FBI’s poster about her states that she might be traveling with armed guards or associates and could have altered her appearance through plastic surgery. The FBI compiles its list of most-wanted criminals based on the severity and length of their crimes. Beyond court documents, the FBI has not disclosed additional information to CNN. According to Daniel CriFo, an FBI spokesperson in New York, the investigation is ongoing, and they cannot comment beyond what has already been made public.

Ignatova is now one of the FBI’s top ten most-wanted criminals and the only woman on the list. Since the FBI started this list in 1950, 529 top fugitives have been named, with only 11 of them being women.

According to New York’s top lawyer and U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Ignatova and her associates convinced people that their OneCoin would surpass Bitcoin. In reality, OneCoin was worthless. The primary goal was to get people worldwide to invest their hard-earned money.

A Burning Desire to Be Rich

Currently 42 years old, Ruja Ignatova is a German citizen, though she was born in Bulgaria, where her parents still live. Her father is an engineer, and her mother is a teacher. Author Jamie Bartlett detailed her journey from an ordinary life to becoming an entrepreneurial star in his book, “The Missing Crypto Queen.”

Ignatova moved to Germany with her family during her teenage years. She was a bright student, often reading and playing chess in her free time. Her classmates described her as smart, ambitious, and reserved.

Ignatova received a scholarship to study at the University of Konstanz in Germany, where she met a law student whom she later married. However, she never wanted children, fearing they might hinder her path to wealth. She often declared her ambition to be a millionaire by the age of 30. Bartlett wrote that she was desperate to be rich and spent hours reading books on how to make money.

After studying European law at Oxford University, Ignatova joined McKinsey & Company in Sofia as a consultant. She was highly trusted by clients and proficient in Russian, German, English, and Bulgarian, which helped her connect easily with clients.

Presenting herself impeccably was crucial to Ignatova. She often attended events in the evening, wearing gowns, bright red lipstick, and diamond earrings, exuding glamour and success.

Promises of 5 to 10 Times the Return

In 2014, Ignatova and her co-founder Karl Sebastian Greenwood began promoting OneCoin to investors worldwide, including in Europe and New York. The FBI charged that they organized online webinars and conferences, encouraging potential investors to fund an account to buy OneCoin packages.

Who is the FBI’s most wanted woman in Crypto Queen?

Federal prosecutors described OneCoin as operating as a multi-level marketing (MLM) network. Investors earned commissions by recruiting others to purchase cryptocurrency packages. According to court documents, they promised investors returns of five to ten times their investment.

Who is the most wanted crypto queen Ignatova?

This led to a frenzy among investors eager to buy cryptocurrency. Federal attorneys noted that in the last three months of 2014 and the last three months of 2016 alone, over $4 billion was invested in OneCoin, with $50 million coming from U.S. investors.

William, a top federal lawyer in Manhattan, said that Ignatova meticulously planned her scheme, capitalizing on the early popularity of cryptocurrencies.

Federal prosecutors stated that OneCoin was not like other cryptocurrencies. According to court documents, OneCoin was created through software and had no robust server.

Prosecutors revealed that OneCoin’s value was not based on market supply and demand like other cryptocurrencies. Instead, OneCoin set its own value.

And Then Everything Fell Apart

By 2016, the facade of OneCoin began to crumble. Investors struggled to sell their OneCoins and withdraw their initial investments. Reports and online discussions began to label the business as fraudulent. Media outlets started raising questions, and both international and U.S. federal investigators began their inquiries.

Who is known as Cryptoqueen Dr Ruja?

In March 2019, Ignatova’s brother, Konstantin Ignatov, was arrested after returning to Bulgaria from a business trip to the United States. He was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering, and fraud.

Meanwhile, OneCoin has shut down, and its website is inactive. Over five years after landing in Greece, the whereabouts of the “Crypto Queen” remain a mystery.

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