A Bulgarian woman, also known as “Cryptoqueen”, has been added to the FBI’s list of her 10 most wanted fugitives.
Ruja Ignatova is accused of defrauding investors with 4 billion dollars (3.3 billion pounds) selling a counterfeit cryptocurrency called OneCoin.
Ignatova, a German citizen, disappeared in late 2017 after disturbing an apartment that belonged to her American boyfriend and learning she was cooperating with an FBI investigation into OneCoin, prosecutors said.
He boarded a flight from Bulgaria to Greece and has not been seen since.
The FBI is offering a reward of $ 100,000 (£ 82,463) for information leading to his capture.
Ignatova is believed to be traveling with armed and / or associate guards, the office said, adding that she may have had plastic surgery or altered her appearance.
In 2019, the 42-year-old man was charged with eight charges, including electronic fraud and securities fraud for operating Bulgaria-based OneCoin Ltd as a pyramid scheme.
Prosecutors say the company offered commissions to members to lure others to buy a worthless cryptocurrency.
“He timed his scheme to perfection, taking advantage of the frantic speculation of the early days of cryptocurrency,” said Damian Williams, Manhattan’s chief federal prosecutor.
He described OneCoin as “one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history.”
The FBI adds fugitives to its “Most Wanted” list when it believes the public can help locate the suspects.
Michael Driscoll, the FBI’s deputy director in New York, said Ignatova “left with a huge amount of cash.”
“Money can buy a lot of friends, and I imagine you’re taking advantage of that.”