Fugitive “CryptoQueen” Ruja Ignatova Believed To Be Hiding In Cape Town

Ruja Ignatova, infamously known as the “CryptoQueen,” is accused of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme involving over $4 billion.

Ignatova, originally from Bulgaria, has been missing since 2017 and is currently on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Most Wanted list. The FBI is offering a reward of $5 million (approximately R90 million) for information leading to her arrest and conviction.

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Details Of Ruja Ignatova Fraud Scheme

Ignatova is alleged to have founded OneCoin Ltd, a company based in Bulgaria that purported to market a cryptocurrency. According to the FBI, she and her associates defrauded billions of dollars from investors worldwide through false statements and misrepresentations, soliciting investments in OneCoin.

Investors were instructed to transfer funds to OneCoin accounts to purchase OneCoin packages, resulting in a significant financial loss for the victims.

Ignatova was last seen on 25 October 2017, when she traveled from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece. Despite rumors that she may have been killed by former business partners and her body disposed of in the Ionian Sea, recent investigations suggest she might be alive and hiding in Cape Town, South Africa.

The FBI believes she is traveling with armed guards or associates and may have altered her appearance through plastic surgery.

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Ongoing Investigation

German police are actively investigating clues that point to Ignatova’s presence in South Africa. Reports from German publications, including an article by Der Spiegel on 8 November 2024, indicate that authorities are following leads that suggest previous reports of her death were false.

The FBI’s “Inside the FBI Podcast: Top Ten Fugitive Ruja Ignatova” discusses the ongoing efforts to locate and apprehend Ignatova. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is also involved, with inquiries directed to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s office for further comments.

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