The Missing Cryptoqueen: Dead or Alive? - BBC World Service Documentaries

A BBC investigation into the fate of Ruja Ignatova, the flamboyant founder of fake cryptocurrency OneCoin...and the world’s most wanted woman.
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
Dubbed the “Missing Cryptoqueen”, Ruja Ignatova is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list after defrauding investors of $4.5 billion and then vanishing. Now, #BBCEye and #BBCPanorama investigate her close ties to a suspected Bulgarian organised crime boss and allegations that she was brutally assassinated.
This #BBCWorldService documentary has exclusive access to the US special agent in charge of tracking Ignatova down and follows a brave Bulgarian journalist who’s faced grave threats trying to get to the truth.
Did the missing Cryptoqueen run with the money, or was she fatally targeted by the very people that were supposed to protect her?
00:00 The story so far
02:20 The Cryptoqueen
06:00 Financial revolution?
09:05 The Hunter
12:36 The Spy
14:00 Are they onto me?
19:05 Ruja vanishes
22:51 Murky finances
24:10 Extortion
28:28 Organised crime
32:25 Meet Dimitar
37:46 Most Wanted Woman
41:30 Vanished or victim?
43:30 Secret document
47:00 Cape Town horror
🎞️ To watch more investigative journalism from our award-winning BBC Eye team check out this documentary playlist: • All BBC World Service ...
🎧 Listen to the latest episode of "The Missing Cryptoqueen" podcast here 👉🏽 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j...
Credits:
Head of Longform - Liz Gibbons
BBC Eye Editor - Marc Perkins
Executive Producer - Michael Simkin
Produced and Directed by Storm Theunissen
Narrated by Caroline Catz
Film Editor - Nick Follows
Shooting Producer - Max Hudson
Directors of Photography - Graham Smith, Will Francome, Jon Stapleton,
Additional Camera - Namak Khoshnaw, Oana Marocico, Kevin McGregor
Assistant Camera - Katie Green
Producer - Yordan Tsalov
Impact Producers - Vicky Baker, Tom Donkin, Emma Jacobs, Anusha Kumar, Paul Organe, Emaan Warraich
Technical Producers - David Smith, Regan Wharton
Post Production Producer - Anna Norqvist
Production Executive - Nayantara Gauba
Production Manager - Jessica Butler
Production Management Assistant - Catia Da Costa
Dubbing Mixer - Andy Sears
Colourist - Michael Sanders
Online Editor - Ben Salkeld
Researchers - Harry Atteshlis, Tetiana Martyniuk
Translators - Boryana Desheva, Krassimira Twigg
Archive Researcher - Kate Rea
Archive - Alamy, BBC Archive, BNT, Chd.lu, eNCA, Fox Archives, Gallo Images, Getty Images, Pond5, Slavi Angelov, Shutterstock
With thanks to Atanas Tchobanov
----------------
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Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#WorldService #Cryptocurrency #OneCoin #Bulgaria #Bitcoin #CryptoNews #Crypto

[@BBCWorldService]

Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM 🎧 Listen to the latest episode of "The Missing Cryptoqueen" podcast here👉🏽 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j1pdvd

[@loveyou5781]

Next investigate hyper fund or hyper nation , the owner Sam Lee

[@robstones1978]

The USDT stablecoin has never been audited. How coinbase is able to sell anything other than bitcoin is a mystery.

[@user-ls7sx8ox3g]

WHAT is her nation ?

[@Monica-hv4rf]

MAX AZZARELLO! SAY HIS NAME. He sacrificed his life in the hopes of alarming us of crypto ponzi schemes. RIP MAX!

[@AAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD]

@@user-ls7sx8ox3g Gypsy with Bulgarian passport, and communist mafia connections.

[@Ana-zu1me]

As a Bulgarian, I find it mindblowing anyone would believe this woman and invest their money in her crypto... From the way she talks to the way she looks how can anyone think this is anything but a scam 🤔

[@luddite333]

def has a snake oil vibe

[@touche7174]

I thought Bulgarians were very poor😮😮😢❤

[@anakatamadze]

Exactly! She looks so cheap and dressed so tastelessly and shows no trace of intelligence and knowledge in her speeches, it's shocking

[@hebrewmama]

As a fellow Bulgarian I concur. We can see a shyster from a mile away. How did anyone fall this chzigunka ?

[@eej902]

🤤 ​@@touche7174

[@jameswalsh2427]

Her CV failed to disclose her previous criminal conviction in Germany. I used to go under their promotional videos on KZbin, advising people to look at the history of the top leaders and then decide what you are dealing with. Eventually i received a cease and desist warning stating Dr Ruja may be taking legal action against me. To which i responded looking forward to facing up to exposing this in my defence in court.

[@user-wj9lm7gt2w]

They don't listen to you😂

[@snooganslestat2030]

People want fantasy & quick easy money, not facts. Unfortunately people like yourself are usually ignored or called fud etc until its too late.

[@samijay]

I'm even surprised at those people you're warning are not also talking trash on you, like saying you don't want them to make it in life. They might even be the one that arranged the seize and desist warning. People only like to be made examples of when it involves wrong financial decisions. They hate advice and think you're trying to stop them from getting rich as you.

[@elleJay-mb4yn]

⁠​⁠@@snooganslestat2030shame on them 😂

[@imilliemedina666]

KZbin is complicit

[@catchmeintherye2102]

She was terminated. She was a liability and a huge risk for the Bulgarian mafia. They used her and terminated her when she fulfilled her purpose.

[@artetface]

‼️‼️💯

[@ytn00b3]

[@dennismensah4108]

She allowed herself be used She lost her usefulness Greed What will she be doing with that kind of money Why?

[@ahmedbenmbarek9938]

That is what I believed until the end when her security/intelligence guy vanished as well...I am not sure but it could be that they bought USA citizenship via some identity deft, some cosmetic surgery to change their look...they have money they can buy anything in USA and they would safer in USA than anywhere else.

[@davidlamb7524]

Maybe.

[@HomoSnow]

This is what the BBC should be doing. Serious in-depth investigation.

[@johnadams3038]

Pff lol you call this serious investigation??

[@mattanderson9029]

Ten out of ten for ironic statements! 😂

[@MaximilianoHerrera72]

yeah but that s not scotland yard or interpol. they should also keep doing their normal job: news-.

[@davidtuer5825]

An hour to tell us -------nothing.

[@DaysAreForgottenBaby]

Well they are, aren’t they?

[@DJM-yr7gk]

From the way she talks, I can not believe people saying she is always the smartest person in the room

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

lots of stupid people in the world lol

[@selmahare]

lol Right?! Because she has an Oxford PhD, I have met people who studied at Oxford and yet are thick as bricks. Also her PhD was in business for Pete's sake, not in quantum physics. A fool can be very impressed by another fool very easily, and simply because the standard among fools is that low. Doesn't take an Oxford education to know that. Girl was (or is) a back of the barrel thief, nothing more. It takes no special "sophistication" to do what she did, just a very fundamental lack of character and sense of morality.

[@cowarddonnie-ji5yz]

She talks like typical snake oil sales person

[@mariusvanc]

It'd obvious she is just a frontwoman. Anyone with any technical knowledge knows immediately she has no clue what she's talking about. Snakeoil marketing.

[@JenniferMoleski]

It's interesting-- when you really want something to be true your mind will "see" things how they need to be seen in order for it to more safely believe it. Our minds are quite fascinating.

[@telloknows]

Offering $100k for someone who stole Billions ... make it make sense

[@curiositycloset2359]

She presumably has maids, cooks, plumbers.

[@kaltimoktober]

Someone has to pay the money, so why would they put up as much as she stole? I understand she can pay off people but still someone has to pay the bounty and there’s no making it anything but what you can afford to lose.

[@lucidshakti5178]

Interesting point

[@carolgannon2307]

Right?!? If they really want her they’ll need to PAY the bill, not just leave a tip!!

[@carolgannon2307]

@@curiositycloset2359 I’m sure they are living on her property & are watched whenever they leave. Especially with how paranoid she can get.

[@jogo152]

Why not mention a single word about her brother Konstantin Ignatov who took over once she disappeared.. he did 3 years of jail in US and is chilling right now.

[@LathropLdST]

Because US justice is a bad joke.

[@disliked1390]

They want to paint Ruja as a victim. "All Taki's fault", yeah right

[@Itskilo]

It's the BBC, did you think you were going to get a full, unbiased account of events?

[@NY1075]

Damn

[@ahmedbenmbarek9938]

​@@Itskiloyep BBC operating from the underworld crime capital of the world

[@user-wj5qd5fy1n]

Taki is not the Bulgarian mafia king. It is the Byoko Borisov. Ex-prime minister, who, despite his connections to the mafia, is supported by the EU commission.

[@elida3233]

Haha so true

[@curiositycloset2359]

Many such cases. Look at the head of the EU, you basically have to be a criminal to work there.

[@alvinfrazier4152]

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

[@judiesuh6858]

People just don't realize there's NO one shot get really rich scam that's legit

[@alvinfrazier4152]

Yeah, it’s really pathetic how people can get blind and deaf with greed.

[@user-tj2bz4bd7g]

Btc a decade ago wasn’t 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Hansgame]

it didnt even sound that good tbh LOL

[@blindmown]

I agree, generally get rich quick schemes are good ways to lose all your money. However for me it's been worth taking those risks. I bought about 1000 Ethereum when they were $1 each and sold them for about $3k each a while back. I did pretty well out of crypto as a whole, it's paid for the rest of my life which is nice.

[@Onlyme.n.u]

I wouldn't be surprised this Cryptoqueen's story will be made into a movie one day.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Crim crims ALWAYS get book and film deals. Always. Every famous crimmy throughout history has been glorified on-screen. They're considered to be ALPHAS, and every one of them are inspirational to lower-level crimz. It gives them something to aspire for, and someone to admire. Folks like Capone, Bankman-Fraud, Theranos girl, Aleggz Jonez, Chump, Madeoff, Sean Cohmz, etc., etc. They're ROLE MODELS. I'm not kidding; everyone wants that kind of wealth, power, respect, and admiration. People deify and adore serial keelerz, too! 💪😎✌️

[@Roza_Victorious]

​@@Novastar.SaberCombatwell said. What a sad world we live in....where people glorify criminals.

[@peteswafflemeyer5620]

as long as people still glorify these fraudsters and call them "queens", no doubt about that.

[@shareb1t]

Its already filming and will be on theaters next year

[@Hansgame]

what kind of movie? shes just a scammer and not even a good one or one who moved the world. shes like a D celebrity and thats only in her country. here, no one ever heard of her.

[@VivekShahMrIndia]

His BBC, please do a series on mysterious disappearances and deaths of Boeing executives and contractors

[@cholhoknaam1539]

The gov will do their best to be an obstacle with this investigation.

[@cowarddonnie-ji5yz]

You mean that company whose shares are owned by US lawmakers and government leaders?

[@sergeipekov2600]

not likely but Hell Yeah :D

[@AmyPieterse]

I think the bbc would be pressured to keep quiet about Boeing

[@VivekShahMrIndia]

Doesn't the @BBC claim its high and mighty freedom and fairness. Liek to see that in action

[@AquaTofana.]

My favourite part about mafia lifestyle, is when they can't have fun with what they stole, they are forced to go into hiding, become paranoic, start snitching & deleting each other 😂😂😂

[@straigtballin]

Deleting each other😂😂😂😂

[@AquaTofana.]

@@straigtballin wink wink 😂

[@user-tj2bz4bd7g]

My favourite part about it is the ones who get away with everything and never get caught, living out a great life Gangsters are meant to move in silence, it’s works that way

[@AquaTofana.]

@@user-tj2bz4bd7g Ruja! Is that you? 😂😂

[@rustybot4279]

Dubai always welcomes u

[@kristiyannikolov2668]

As a Bulgarian I must tell you all a common knowledge in my country and that is : Every county has a mafia , and in Bulgaria the mafia has a country It’s been like this for 30 years and it’s not gonna change anytime soon

[@user-ew1pm6pk4p]

Тая не е българка . Германка е . Какво се обясняваш . Германия да си я издирва .

[@elida3233]

30 years? What do you think was the doing of The leaders of the previous communist party ?

[@yellow01umrella]

@@elida3233 The level of corruption was nowhere near the same. They truly believed in marxism and socialism. The communist secret police trafficked drugs but never inside Bulgaria.

[@LucasOliveira-Labs]

same in Russia

[@AAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD]

This is why the ruling communist class is terrified that common people can have weaponry. They themselves keep whole arsenal of weaponry, and are extremely nervous that the nation can decide to arm. Last time I spoke to a commie, he took out his pistol and threatened me. I told him, next time I will take out mine, and let's see what happens. He stopped speaking to me and avoids me now.

[@KirkyTeruski]

There is only two things here. Either she is really dead dead or they want the world to believe that ruja is dead to stop chasing her

[@SophiaStinks-us4yd]

Adriana catherine was my hope during the 'bear summer' last year. I did so many mistakes but also learned so much from it, and of course from adriana catherine.

[@user-fn1kg6tx9l]

success 200k today. Thank you for all the knowledge and nuggets you had thrown my way over the last months. Started with 24k in last month 2024

[@4lovehenry]

You trade ?? Wow that's huge, how do you make that much monthly?

[@chinyerejoseph8004]

adriana approaches trading in a completely unique way. I'm puzzled by her methods. She just seems to have an innate understanding of this trading world.

[@WilliamAMilley]

Greetings, I’ve seen positive reviews of this woman Adriana Catherine for about the fourth time now, I think I’ll have to give it a try.

[@user-jj4kl4ir4y]

I'm new at this, please how can I reach her?

[@MuhammadAdamGhamkoley]

How silly of her. Who needs anything more than a comfortable home with basic appliance and a reliable car. All the extra stuff doesn't really improve your life for one to steal and betray for.

[@AquaTofana.]

Not if you are a narcissistic pshychopat. 😂😂😂 They operate on a different software, than us

[@ykjo5613]

That's what I'm saying! How can you enjoy your life or even live it when you end up on the run or in jail?? This woman is a fool. Even her seminars seem fake. "We will DOUBLE your bitcoins!" Who falls for this crap??😅

[@ha231]

100%.

[@SvalbardSleeperDistrict]

Under capitalism, the entire world works like her logic of extortion, wealth hoarding and fraudulent activities, so you are describing a desirable but absent version of the world, not "the reality" that she somehow missed.

[@MakerInMotion]

@@SvalbardSleeperDistrict Greed is in the human heart, not in the economic system. Look at any socialist regime that has ever existed and there's been fat cats living off stolen money and resources.

[@vapeism]

I think Taki fellow was involved in one coin from the start along with others and Ruja was the face of it.Ruja thought she was a partner and got drawn into the lifestyle and lost her head to think of consequences,but in reality she was getting used and then eliminated once the job was done

[@AAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD]

Ruja and Ignatova are typical twist of Bulgarian names for gypsies. She is not Bulgarian. She is a gypsy with Bulgarian passport.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

It's easy to get in . But when you try to get out.....?? 😢😢😢 " Ruja..! Could we have a little chat with you...?? No. Nothing's wrong . Just a friendly chat.... "

[@disliked1390]

I don't think she was "that' innocent. She probably got backstabbed true but she is not just an innocent "face of the company"'

[@mufasasdaughter4831]

Exactement!

[@flutterflowexpert]

I am from Bulgaria and I am sure she is in Bulgaria. Live or dead she is here. btw, You never talked about Ruja brother which was released from the States and now he is in Bulgaria.

[@AmyPieterse]

her fashion sense was deplorable.

[@veronicaroach3667]

Careful - if she reads that she might send her 'boys' to change your mind !

[@theparamountparamount913]

that's what I noticed too! There's a saying that "money can't buy class". She dress like a granny.

[@victorodhiambo7952]

These words were chilling #35:52 - #36:20 - "Taki is a ghost, You never see him, you only hear from him! You never talk to him, he is talking to you through other people! You cannot deliver a message, you get the message! If you don't listen, you disappear!

[@1nilu1]

i know!!

[@thomastaylor5239]

When someone like this dies as a result of the game, they are playing, they do not “become a victim“, they are only victims of their own greed

[@missrockets777]

She not dead please

[@TheBrainless]

The most amazing part of the story is that the ONE COIN still exists and function. But in far more small scale.

[@AmeliaHall335]

I realized that the secret to making a million is saving for a better investment. I always tell myself you don't need that new Maserati or that vacation just yet. That mindset helped me make more money investing. For example last year I invested 30k in crypto and made about $246k, but guess what? I put it all back and traded again and now I am rounding up close to a million.

[@AmeliaHall335]

As a beginner investor, it’s essential for you to have a mentor to keep you accountable. Myself, I’m guided by Coach Alex. A widely known crypto consultant

[@AmeliaHall335]

This is he’s telegrams user name

[@AmeliaHall335]

@AlexRcoin THAT IS THE USER NAME THAT IS HIS USER NAME

[@Chris-ve8xw]

@WilsonHessel5 You dumb? don't get scammed lmao. These comments are so robotic lmao

[@harvey2609]

Don't forget to enjoy life. If something bad happens you can't take it with you.

[@Yocko93]

To us Bulgarians, there is nothing misterios about Taki. A gangster who inherited a massive criminal empire from his former boss Georgi Iliev, foundER of VIS and VIS 2 “insurance company”.

[@drafunt]

Stupid people and their money... Greed

[@ZelenoJabko]

she is also a greedy post-wall woman. Why search for her, unless you want to put her in jail?

[@eddyvideostar]

Dear Drafunt. Delivered ditty: A fool and his money are soon parted. The money remains in this case, but the soul fool flitters into the finite firmament.

[@janetmcdonald2572]

I am shocked at how willing any journalist is to show their face. One of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

[@frankd4875]

Yeah, especially when wearing an ugly man-bun, makes you too easy to recognize.

[@ember4940]

@@frankd4875 😂

[@Ickie71]

@@frankd4875 lol

[@Exilis]

@@frankd4875 And now there are two reasons why someone might want to kill you.

[@crowsandravens8998]

@@frankd4875 LOL

[@kerlyn3582]

When you watch these documentaries about these people and their money and how they acquire it by illicit means - was it worth it? Always looking behind you, riding in bullet proof cars, drinking champagne that could be poisoned, employing security and not having a single soul you can trust - give me the simple life thanks.

[@okorochukwunonso2563]

Exactly my point. The constant panic is enough to kill anyone. The simple life wins. My peace over everything.

[@jrazor5624]

Well said 👌

[@howtodraw4858]

very wise comment... Buddha called it "the middle path" . He used it to supposedly achieve enlightenment. Not too rich and not too poor.... just enough in everything... and I'm with you in this... that kind of life sounds like a nightmare..

[@Kurt5Dobson]

Certainly. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are popular for long-term investments due to their diversified nature. ETFs offer exposure to a wide range of assets, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities, which can help reduce risk. Some top choices for long-term investing include broad market index ETFs, sector-specific ETFs, and bond ETFs, as they provide potential for growth and income over an extended period while minimizing the risk associated with individual stocks.

[@VanessaFloyd-tt7yg]

Numerous compelling stocks span various industries for you to consider tracking. While it's not necessary to act on every prediction, enlisting the guidance of a financial advisor is advisable. They can assist you in determining optimal entry and exit points for purchasing and selling shares or ETFs, ensuring well-timed decisions aligned with your investment goals.

[@DouglasF.Culbert]

I agree, that's the more reason I prefer my day to day investment decisions being guided by an advisor seeing that their entire skillset is built around going long and short at the same time both employing risk for its asymmetrical upside and laying off risk as a hedge against the inevitable downward turns, coupled with the exclusive information/analysis they have, it's near impossible to not out-perform, been using my advisor for over 4years+ and I've netted over 2.8million.

[@JosephEAvery]

Kindly share the details for reaching your advisor. With inflation negatively affecting my funds, I'm in search of a more lucrative investment strategy to optimize their performance.

[@DouglasF.Culbert]

Deborah Lynn Dilling covers things like investing, insurance, making sure retirement is well funded, going over tax benefits, ways to have a volatility buffer for investment risk. many things like that. Just take a look at her full name on the internet. She is well known so it shouldn't be hard to find her.

[@JosephEAvery]

I greatly appreciate it. I'm fortunate to have come upon your message because investing greatly fascinates me. I'll look Deborah up and send her a message. You've truly motivated me. Thank you.

[@sutats]

She's definitely dusted. Welcome to the layer cake, ma'am.

[@bravosierra2447]

Must be some powerful & well connected people involved. There’s no way in heck one person can move that amount of $ around without being traced.

[@rochcarothers-ts3jx]

WHY you should NEVER invest in crypto,only used for crime:)

[@user-nu1sq2fz8s]

​@bravosierra2447 obviously part of some secret services are behind this bitcoin garbage and so on

[@obsidianjane4413]

@@bravosierra2447 Unless everyone thinks you are dead...

[@lookingfora6795]

@@bravosierra2447she probably even had plastic surgery to change her figure and she’s walking free without no one notice

[@laurawhittenburg]

The courage and talent of the BBC investigative team is astonishing. 👏

[@frankd4875]

Except for the ridiculous looking man-bun on that reporter.

[@thefamousdjx]

I always wonder arent these people scared? lol

[@estherbaettig]

It's their job. The hotter the story, the more money comes in. Not all are the meh meh type.

[@KNByam]

​@thefamousdjx No. Journalists are off limits.

[@Spectrescup]

​@@KNByamTell that to the Mexicans (or the Northern Irish)

[@justinmorrison2748]

If anybody ever finds her unfortunately it's probably more than likely going to be her body. She didn't just disappear

[@ellek8689]

She had shark eyes. Soulless eyes. On stage, she barely was able to crack a smile, even while trying to rally auditoriums of victims to invest in her scam. It's unbelievable that so many people fell for her performance.

[@olgaanisimova6916]

Disagree. She does not look off putting or insincere. She smiles a lot and seems genuine and happy. That is why she was able to fraud thousands

[@NightElveee]

@@olgaanisimova6916 i disagree, there's a clear dissonance in her personality, away from the cameras and in private you'd quickly tell.

[@singechamberlain2967]

My official assessment is "Dead as a Dodo"

[@user-tf3qi9zc3l]

Майката си е ебало

[@Kim2506you]

Stop calling that thief a doctor, it’s insulting to the real ones.

[@chriscuomo9334]

“Dr” Jill heard that

[@huwgrossmith9555]

She got a PhD she is/was entitled to use Dr.

[@rosejack7738]

​@@huwgrossmith9555Exactly!

[@elida3233]

Can’t a doctor be a thief?

[@rosejack7738]

​@@chriscuomo9334 Do research on why Dr. Jill has a "Dr." in her name and is addressed that way! Don't engage too much with MAGA propaganda networks. Wake up!

[@Coppolious]

I'm always fascinated by how impulsive and naive people are to trust someone who is random 🙃

[@seniri610]

Am I the only one having the feeling that she is never truly happy when she speaks in front of an audience or in general? There is something very sad in her eyes.

[@Riristargurl]

Because it was all a lie and she knew that

[@miriamorwin7603]

nah its the gloat of a sociopath/psychopath

[@niloo_atribecalledlove]

Why is she wearing a prom dress instead of business attire. That would have been my first tip she’s using the money for herself 😬😂

[@sanyaivanova8591]

Because she is a gypsy woman.They like this kind of attire.

[@deborahkemunto1433]

That was off for me as well, immediately the documentary started I questioned how a CEO, or a business person was showing up for conferences in tacky party dresses. I was wondering how anyone bought into her scam with that kind of look

[@GeorgiGeorgiev-ne9ps]

When someone from lower end society goes to a higher level real quick then they(she) have no idea they look like a prom dress. The clothes and attire she had probably was on par with her level

[@diligenceeke3023]

​@@GeorgiGeorgiev-ne9ps Both of you need to tell that to Mark Zuckerberg who wears a single coloured polo shirt most times.

[@lifeisfuneh]

Gypsy queen :)

[@MRRENOB]

She's not around anymore, she's a liability for the Bulgarian gangsters especially it's done as a business.. common sense.

[@reemarimz6830]

She is rich enough to exist as a country now. All she has to do is flash this money to another corrupt place and she gain asylum there. A lot of the poorer countries or new money countries are run by gangsters that steal from their public with the politicians lobbying for this rich gangsters. I'm pretty sure the money is keeping her alive with her alliances to any of this other gangster outside Bulgaria.

[@Gizziiusa]

in all probability, yes. Especially if she put a whole lot of trust in them after she bailed, AND her portfolio was vulnerable to be stolen from her (incl the stashes of piled cash in various places around the world).

[@urbanmasque]

Why would they do that? Seems like more trouble than to just give her a new identity and set her up somewhere.

[@curiositycloset2359]

​@@urbanmasquelol, easier than putting her in a bin?

[@Gizziiusa]

@@urbanmasque in todays high tech world ? She stole Billions. Various govts and high profile people and organizations would be looking relentlessly. Its very hard to "disappear" in todays world. They caught the murderous villain of "Alpha Dog" in Paraguay years later.

[@user-uf3xy8yn9z]

How come anyone forging their own coins or printing their own paper money will go to prison, and yet people can just make up digital money from thin air and they're hailed and celebrated for it?

[@texasray5237]

They'll never find a trace of her or the money. And it was planned that way all along. A big fraud like that has to have someone to disappear with the money and take all the blame. Everybody else were just innocent bystanders.

[@user-nl2fc4nm6v]

If she is still alive and in hiding, then we will need a movie about how she managed to disappear and not be traced. It seems Mission Impossible, but perhaps if you had enough untraced money you could?

[@uria702]

You assume another identity and authorities have no clue who they’re looking for

[@rhymefestza3256]

I'll wait for Netflix, they are great in investigating for movies

[@rod1320]

She disappeared in Greece, yeah? A wanted man who’d abducted and murdered a businessman and his girlfriend in the late 90s, one of the most wanted criminals in the country, went unnoticed for decades. He was believed to have escaped abroad but it turned out he’d been living in downtown Athens the whole time and was only discovered by chance, after his death, after someone thought he looked familiar in the morgue just a couple of years ago. I’m sorry to say this but people can easily go unnoticed in Greece, authorities are not the most competent and can be bribed by people like her and Taki to look the other way. So I don’t think it’s impossible she might still be alive and hiding in Greece, as far as authorities are concerned. The mafia getting rid of her, however, is pretty realistic. But getting caught or their target saved? Nah

[@user-bi4bb6cd9s]

She also could have plastic surgery done to look like someone entirely different

[@blindmown]

With the amount of money she had, she could have basically become a different person and erased all traces of her past life.

[@davinxi5926]

There’s definitely bigger players and other organized crime syndicates

[@ratbertovich]

"At this point Ruja was paranoid". You're not paranoid if someone's really plotting against you.

[@eddyvideostar]

Dear Rattovich, Paranoid: the most misused word.

[@tamerhafez3160]

How do you beat a shadow? Shine a light on them... as you are doing with this and podcast on the BBC app... great story, guys

[@aimadelhabti6888]

And very recently Schneider was flagged in the Dubai Unlocked report as someone who was doing real estate deals while under house arrest...

[@okorochukwunonso2563]

any link to this news?

[@cosmicpuma]

When there are fireworks and someone telling you are going to get rich, if your greed blinds you so much that you can't see this giant red flag...well...

[@ykjo5613]

Some ppl are led by desperation too. Sadly, they both end up here

[@alinaciobotaru1698]

@@ykjo5613 If a person is desperate for money, they should get a job. I don't get where they got the money if they were so poor and desperate.

[@aavvcc]

Great documentary! Would have been nice to hear more about Ruja’s early life, and how her family and relatives are doing now.

[@mariasharipo2464]

Listen to the BBC podcast “the missing Cryptoqueen” it’s amazing

[@davidlamb7524]

Victims of such scams are always trapped by their own greed. The rabid nature of this greed is written all over the faces of her followers.

[@davemartino5997]

But some just want financial freedom

[@miriamorwin7603]

exactly = well written

[@eddyvideostar]

Dear David. Delightful ditty of truth.

[@davidlamb7524]

@@eddyvideostar 'A delightful ditty ' ! Thank you so much. 🙂

[@davidlamb7524]

@@eddyvideostar Ps love the alliteration.

[@JaywalkingTheWorld]

The podcast was great. This is even better. Good job.

[@sarahrean7174]

Documentary not podcast

[@SemiIocon]

@@sarahrean7174 The documentary was done in the form of a podcast.

[@robe1811]

The book is even better again. Covers the technical detail of the inner workings of the laundering operation which they never really went into in the podcasts and documentaries

[@Safename40]

@@sarahrean7174 missing cryptoqueen is actually a podcast channel. You haven't watched those 9 podcasts?

[@PetLovers-DogCat]

I think so

[@60-second-HACKS]

Taki organized her flight to Greece. He also organized the three burly bodyguards in the back of the Porshe that picked her up from the airport. She was on Taki's balance sheet as a contingent liability. Nice to have a clean balance sheet.

[@hussainqureshiwaish7364]

This is where greed gets you the feeling of missing out and making other people feel like they're going to miss out as well just for a few extra £££

[@neychev]

Just yesterday Ursula von der Leyen endorsed the politician who helped Taki to never get caught and prosecuted - Boiko Borisov

[@bubamileva]

Where can I read this?

[@angrymario8259]

Von der Leyen is an absolute disgrace. I can't believe she still has any form of power

[@im2cute2be2u]

​@@bubamileva, google it. She visited Plovdiv a few days ago.

[@LathropLdST]

​@@bubamilevathere is a page called Google, y'know?

[@chrissy138]

Can Boiko be believed?

[@user-vi2dk1qz5f]

She is dead. Come on. Do you really think they left her alive?

[@AAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD]

Yes, commies are allies with gypsies, and use them for communist party purposes. It is a well known fact, communists in Bulgaria work together with gypsies for their agenda. This is the main reason that gypsies are untouchable. Everybody, go to Bulgaria and see with your eyes, law is for Bulgarians only, commies and gypsies are above the law.

[@Pesho0oo]

As a bulgarian we say: No body found, no proof of death. // I believe she is hiding somewhere, cuz she was preparing for this. I mean what is proven from the evidences. There is also big chance the bulgarian mafia to eliminate her, but not that much evidences for this...

[@percycruda3074]

F she's not dead she's wearing masks for herself to go around the world hiding FBI's personality for her to capture, she's a doctor you know? Plenty of money then he go to the derma to undergo facelift

[@mr-boo]

It's plausible. Like they said, nobody typically stays off the radar that long. And she enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, it's not something that is easy to keep hidden.

[@AAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD]

@@mr-boo If she was dead, then where is the death certificate to prove it? If she is investigated, then why these investigators never found a trace of her dead body?

[@t.e.1189]

I don't care how cooperative some of these criminals are, I feel they all should be held accountable for their crimes!

[@idacoetzee]

Who controls her money where is her money kept, seems like the answer could provide data about her location vs her being dead. Sounds like her spy chief and her have escaped with the money, no way a drug lord would execute the money boss without direct access to the money, Taki is more than likely been set up by the spy boss to appear guilty… just a thought!

[@ancielyngdoh7197]

Listening to this documentary feels like watching a movie,, well in my opinion this is much better than any movies I've seen😅

[@thebagelsproductions]

Either she's still useful enough for the money laundering, etc, and is being assisted hiding by organised crime group. Or she's too big a risk because of the high profile, and it's better to be rid of her and take whatever monies she has. If she's bright enough and manipulative enough, she might still be alive

[@Boycott_for_Occupied_Palestine]

Good documentary, enjoyed listening to it attentively all the way through.

[@bg7494]

Wow. Thanks for the work!!!

[@sslaia]

One thing noboby mentioned in the film is the possibility that she underwent a face surgery and then lives among us with other identity. Who knows she watched this video and laughed out loud.

[@atcberlin]

I have a crazy theory. She may have not changed only her face, but everything about her. Picture this, she had sex reassignment surgery, takes testosterone and is now living as a MAN. Everyone is looking for a beautiful woman living luxuriously, not an immigrant man, doing menial jobs....

[@jaiadixon7918]

I think that’s what Epstein has done,paid his way and got people at the top to clear it-and laughed his way out the back door of prison to the plastic surgeon and now he is probably on another island owned by Rusa sipping champagne !

[@kfc_bucket5172]

You did the surgery?

[@sslaia]

@@kfc_bucket5172 Yeah, still waiting for the payment 😆

[@user-ov4mk9ox8y]

@@kfc_bucket5172 It would take a TEAMeffort for that surgery. And even then.....

[@1978JonBullock]

She will be alive in some country that does not have extradition laws. Russia, Iran, lots of countries will let wealthy people hide out. People who are wanted by America but are not captured is quite a long list.

[@PulpHouseHorror]

Yes, but they haven’t completely disappeared, their whereabouts and goings on can still be seen.

[@jenshoefer7944]

​@@PulpHouseHorrornot always, like that wirecard criminal jan marsalek. It is suspected he is hidung in russia but there is no solid evidence

[@bernardwanjohi7201]

Or maybe in London

[@ykjo5613]

Dont forget israel, highest number of unconvicted (bc they fled) pedophiles

[@user-nu1sq2fz8s]

​@bernardwanjohi7201 yep in London a lot of criminals hide their money. Bulgarians too

[@Fernandolunatoro1]

This is crazy! Someone should write a book, and make a movie about it.

[@MichaelGeorge161]

What's the point in having all that money if you are constantly having to look over your shoulder every five seconds? Isn't the point of money to have freedom? Baffling case.

[@elenageorgieva1495]

I find it very hard to believe that many people in Bulgaria would have fallen for what she was selling. Bulgarians are poor but more importantly, we are super suspicious by nature, and we know that get-rich-quick schemes are very, very unlikely to work. Also, no one has bothered to check her out and her background, come on!

[@rosyapplekitchen635]

Recently ex communist countries don’t trust easily for sure. They don’t trust the government let alone anyone else. My parents immediately said the vaccines are a dodgy situation and refused to

[@nikoleta1509]

Bulgarian people did not invest . It was mainly in UK and some other countries . Her head office was in Bulgaria.

[@SkepticalTeacher]

Yeah, look at the kind of family she comes from, famous for scamming!!

[@OpenlyBritish]

Bulgarians didn't fall for experimental jabs too. Wise people.

[@sbsp0]

​@@OpenlyBritishAre you being sarcastic? 😅

[@hu-man-oid]

With so much money involved nobody will ever know

[@timl1481]

I find it inconceivable that someone who relished the high life, as she did, would be content to hide utterly from everyone. Or be able to. To me, the far more plausible theory is that she was done away with by person or persons unknown. For any number of reasons.

[@artetface]

If greed was a poster child

[@SciDOCMBC]

51:13 As soon as I heard him say "where should I go in this world" I knew he was going into hiding. There are countless countries that do not have an extradition agreement with the US, the EU or GB and there are countless others who have also gone into hiding. This comment alone was an indication of his intentions.

[@PandaPanda-ud4ne]

Yeah but those countries are NOT law abiding. Those countries are gangster countries. You wanna hide from the USA in Iran? Allahku Akhbarrrrrrr! You wanna hide from the EU in Venezuela? Where you wanna go?

[@dm-heart]

But what about his wife and children? Sounds dangerous .

[@romyhernandez7811]

TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ! He knew exactly where Ruja was and now they are HIDING together 🤷‍♀️

[@howtodraw4858]

Agreed. I think it's obvious which country they fled to. Convenient from Greece. Often takes in criminals and is itself a criminal organization.

[@thmai1895]

Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner

[@polycarp9897]

Best movie ever!

[@GeoCalifornian]

HEAT. 😅

[@DarlingWheresthecoffee]

Best life advise

[@blindmown]

Never have children lol

[@RebelsInc969]

​@@blindmown especially with what's going on in this world 👍

[@Kit2Canada]

The Missing Cryptoqueen was one of the best stories and podcasts I’ve ever followed.

[@box_of_paperclips]

Agreed. It's my Roman Empire. I think of it several times a week.

[@CookieEspresso]

How convenient to have everyone believe she is dead, when she isn't, but still runs money laundering for Taki behind the scene. Trust is hard to come by and she has all the connections already, kind of a waste for Taki to dispose of her, when he can control her completly and have her keep working as a ghost for him. What a movie plot 🤯

[@Badvanessa]

Nah she was a liability since the FBI and CIA were looking for her. She brought too much attention and eyes. Its obvious

[@RichardsWorld]

You were made to believe she is the "target". She is a scapegoat for others.

[@user-ec3rm9wr1n]

😫🙄 she's out there living

[@geneeverett7855]

Nope. She’s gone. Breaking news yesterday

[@Prockski]

@@geneeverett7855Where was the report that is is actually dead? There is only speculation at the moment.

[@SkyActives]

Follow the money and see where it goes

[@mcfcguvnors]

think thats the point its untraceable :/

[@sluxi]

@@mcfcguvnors they did say the FBI had traced it all

[@EM-tx3ly]

Money trail could be traced if the right resources are used by the right organizations

[@Em1n3mka]

That is one special way to make Bulgaria famous. :) Great work from the narrator, pronouncing Ignatova right.

[@MoreToTheTruthThanMeetsTheEye]

excellent coverage

[@lindsayfraser7633]

Cryptocurrency = Greed

[@rosyapplekitchen635]

And money laundering replacing cash

[@lenalena1683]

combined with stupidity,IMHO

[@loganflips6420]

I agree

[@roserevancroix2308]

Cryptocurrency is for two kinds of people - the criminals that scam you, and the simps that fall for it every time.🤡

[@rimastyno]

whilst it may have some truth it's just a very generic and ignorant statement

[@InterestedCitizen]

Why are so many people so.....easily fooled? No wonder she smiled so much.

[@raymeilak7702]

I receive calls, texts msgs on WhatsApp, facebook, been receiving for ages now, scammers are all over the place, how idiots fall for these scams is unbelievable

[@Spencertarring]

How did so many people turn up to those events.. unbelievable.

[@constantinemandylas715]

No mention of where her young child is.

[@doloresnaldoza5588]

She just found a way to disappear, and watch this video with a new identity. tsk2

[@jennifersohn1]

What about her daughter?

[@robe1811]

Yeah exactly, that´s the question that I keep coming back to

[@thetreekeeper143]

Her daughter is either dead or sex trafficked into the gangs. Thats what happens in Bulgaria.

[@Roses-lilac]

Does she care? Is the child her’s.?

[@so1667]

​@robe1811 you know that her brother is active on Instagram.... uploading stories and posts all the time...

[@dandewsirbello]

That was my question too.

[@ciaranmasterson4482]

Why do people think MONEY 💵💵💰 will make them happy the most addictive drug in the WORLD and you don't Go to Jail

[@jillfryer6699]

good marketing sucks them in.

[@iDelta77]

Very devastating for the victim

[@penchopenchev8081]

I am from Bulgaria and I don't know if there are 100 Bulgarians who have been lied to by our fellow countrymen. We unmistakably distinguish lies from the truth because we are a 1300-year-old people. It is time for you to start recognizing the lie, because the world is not going well.

[@cooltrades7469]

Bull shit ;-))).

[@user-ov4mk9ox8y]

Not the only culture that does that: UN guy working in eastern europe walked right into that doing fresh water wells for the UN. LYING is the first thing you do, as you ASSUME the new face in town has bad intentions. Old school paranoid small man disease stuff. Alive and well in a LOT of places.

[@kabubagachugu7729]

Which lie would that be?

[@MaximilianoHerrera72]

@@kabubagachugu7729 any scammer, any lie. They got so used to see so many scammers, that they can identify them.

[@efremefrem2553]

Bravo for your job as investigation Journalist!

[@artetface]

This was really fascinating to listen to.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

A light that burns twice as bright lasts half as long

[@genciduraku4340]

We are more than just one coin….we are zero coin!

[@susankariuki449]

Ha, ha

[@jonmcfarmer6954]

Anybody saying "I can guaranteed double your money without you doing anything"! Is = a fraudster. 👎

[@janethughes9541]

Gangster behaviour.

[@fahim454]

The spy chief of her talked in whole documentary about her & tell BBC he will not run , then at the end of the documentary he vanished just like her, I laughed so hard 😂😂

[@tinamartina1801]

Yeah😂

[@lozertbassir]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Nobody is above the law. Bulgaria just needs police.

[@maestrovso]

My takeaway from this is Bulgaria is definitely one of the top countries I want to tour before I die.

[@MakerInMotion]

You gotta try the yogurt.

[@winniekaitesi6232]

Same

[@saucyballs702]

Or if you want to die

[@manyulgarprsch]

Why?

[@maestrovso]

@@manyulgarprsch Living life dangerously. 🤣

[@zibusisongobese7109]

She's probably watching this and we don't know 😢

[@migsmigs2027]

Exactly

[@user-vh3fr3lb8w]

Kkkk. Where could she be possibly? Changed her face and body?

[@just.mana_ke]

Maybe it's you 😂

[@Mikemiller997]

she is

[@chrissy138]

Yes I'm watching 😊

[@DimTragic]

"His name is Taki the Bulgarian cocaine king" left me wondering what that guy does for a living

[@dimitarpetkov4442]

Taki was living across the street in Bulgaria. The neighbourhood was so quiet in those days

[@boris2997]

Crypto has no real value whatsoever its only worth what the next man is willing to pay for it. Its a scam

[@user-nu1sq2fz8s]

Obviously. A lot of people don't get it

[@BrotherrJC]

You just described fiat. The government can print trillions of it out of thin air.

[@cheesyandy1]

Correct that 99.9% of 'Crypto' is a scam. Bitcoin is different though, don't buy unless you understand the distinction.

[@rustybot4279]

😄

[@user-nu1sq2fz8s]

@@cheesyandy1 what's the difference

[@DmitreJO]

It’s like an antelope getting in bed with Lions; the minute her company went bust she became a liability. I really can’t see how she’d still be alive because it’d be so easy for them to extract every detail of where and how to access the money from her.

[@dm-heart]

BBC world service, thank you. Well done.

[@dm-heart]

17:06 paranoid? Is it paranoid if it’s true? She correctly guesses things are not as they seem+ knows neither she or others can be trusted. Is that paranoid?