- The US State Department has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture or conviction of Ruja Ignatova
- Ignatova, known as the “Cryptoqueen,” has disappeared in Athens in 2017 and has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted list since 2022
- The new reward is part of the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, significantly increasing from the previous $250,000
The US State Department has announced a significant increase in the reward for information leading to the capture or conviction of Ruja Ignatova, the founder of OneCoin. Ignatova, often referred to as the “Cryptoqueen,” disappeared in Athens in 2017 and has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted list since 2022. This new reward, part of the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, now stands at $5 million, a substantial increase from the previous $250,000 offered by the FBI.
Dr Ignatova on All the lists
The OneCoin scheme, which Ignatova co-founded, promised high returns with minimal risk, luring millions of investors worldwide into investing $4 billion. The scheme unraveled when investigators revealed that OneCoin was a Ponzi scheme, but not before Ignatova disappeared after boarding a flight to Athens in 2017. Despite numerous reported sightings, and a world-famous podcast series, her whereabouts remain unknown.
Ignatova was added to Eurpol’s most wanted list in May 2022, with the FBI following suit the following month, the same day as Bulgarian authorities revealed that Ignatova would be indicted in absentia for her involvement in the OneCoin scam.
Capture Efforts Stepped Up
The announcement of the new reward underscores the ongoing efforts to bring Ignatova to justice. Authorities hope that the substantial increase in the reward will encourage individuals with crucial information to come forward.
The Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, under which this reward is offered, aims to combat international crime by providing monetary incentives for information leading to the arrest and conviction of key figures in criminal enterprises.
