Cryptoqueen Ruja Ignatova Possibly Hiding in South Africa
Ruja Ignatova, popularly known as the Cryptoqueen and recognized as the brains behind the infamous OneCoin Ponzi scheme, is suspected of hiding in South Africa, as per recent investigations conducted in Germany.
Ignatova’s Cryptocurrency Scam
Ignatova, a well-educated woman from Bulgaria with an Oxford degree, mysteriously disappeared in the month of October 2017. She was chargeable for defrauding millions of people through a sham cryptocurrency network. Her sudden vanishing led to the formation of many theories regarding her location, with some even asserting she might be deceased.
Evidence Towards Cape Town
However, with new developments following the investigations by German detectives, it is speculated that Ignatova is taking refuge in an affluent neighborhood in the vicinity of Cape Town. This specific area is renowned for drawing foreign offenders and providing high-security estates.
Even though the location of the so-called crypto queen could not be conclusively verified, it was stated by Sabine Düssel, an official from the North Rhine-Westphalia state office of criminal investigation in Germany that all the trails point towards Cape Town. They work on the assumption that she is still alive and continuing the investigation accordingly.
Family Ties And The Infrastructure of The Fraud
It was noted during the process of the investigation that Konstantin, Ignatova’s brother, made multiple visits to Cape Town following her disappearance. This information raised suspicions that he may have been meeting his sister and receiving instructions from her.
In the aftermath of Ignatova’s escape, Konstantin took over the operation of OneCoin. However, he later collaborated with the FBI after serving three years in a U.S. prison. He claimed that Ignatova disappeared with $500 million in essence funding her getaway and securing counterfeit identities.
Ignatova’s Links with Organized Crime Units
Linkages between Ignatova and Bulgarian organized crime figures were also explored in the documentary, particularly, her association with Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis, known by his alias Taki. Despite never being convicted of a crime, Taki is suspected of using OneCoin to cleanse the profits from his illicit activities.
There was a belief in some quarters that Taki had ordered Ignatova’s assassination in 2018 in Greece. However, this claim has been discounted as the alleged culprit was in prison during the time of the incident. Other investigations also failed to validate this assertion.
Ignatova – Still Alive?
Duncan Arthur, a critical person inside Ignatova’s operation confirmed that despite her disappearance four years ago, Konstantin continuously kept in touch with her which supplements the possibility of her being alive.
The validation of this notion is not only limited to German authorities but extends to the FBI, who continue to list her among their top ten most wanted fugitives. They have also increased the reward money for details leading to her arrest, demonstrating their belief that Ignatova is still alive.
The Scandal of the $4 Billion Fraud
Between the years 2014 to 2017, Ignatova, along with her allies, deceived investors, robbing them of approximately $4.3 billion, by promising high returns with OneCoin – an imaginary cryptocurrency without any underlying blockchain.
While Ignatova remains missing, several of her accomplices have been arrested throughout the years and bestowed severe sentences. For instance, Irina Dilkinska, the legal head of the operation and Karl Greenwood, the scheme’s co-founder, have been convicted for fraud and money laundering.
The Legal Outcome
Currently, Ignatova is facing several charges related to wire and securities fraud in numerous countries including Germany, the U.S, Bulgaria, and India. Hence, the scandal continues to unravel with Ignatova’s whereabouts being a mystery.
