OneCoin Scam and the Hunt for the Missing Cryptoqueen

In 2016, on stage at Wembley Arena in front of thousands of fans, Dr Ruja Ignatova promised her followers a financial revolution. The future, she said, belonged to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. And the Oxford-educated, self-styled cryptoqueen promised that the cryptocurrency she had created - OneCoin - would not only earn its investors untold fortunes but also change the world.
A year later investors had bought more than $4 billion-worth of OneCoin. The true believers lived all over the world - in the USA, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Yemen, the UK, Brazil and beyond. But in October 2017 Ruja Ignatova disappeared from public view, and it slowly became clear to her followers that her revolutionary cryptocurrency was in fact one of the biggest scams in history.
In June 2022 Jamie Bartlett came to Intelligence Squared with Layla Begum and Carl Miller to tell the shocking story of Dr Ruja and OneCoin. He drew from his new book The Missing Cryptoqueen to explain how organised crime, influencer culture and hype around cryptocurrencies combined to dupe some of the world’s poorest people into thinking they had discovered a route out of poverty. Bartlett also discussed the broader questions around cryptocurrency’s future and his ongoing hunt to find the cryptoqueen, who has been in hiding for five years and was recently added to EUROPOL’s most wanted list.

[@uknasa007]

She didn't lie to anyone, they all ended up with one coin.

[@Crazy--Clown]

TwoCoin will be out soon

[@MarkJonathan_]

*nattcyberspy*- so glad you are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable people ! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe.big up brother

[@LondonPestControl]

Great podcast, looking forward to the follow up, I would be interested to hear what the panel think about the existing cryptocurrencies and wether they feel that they’re also Ponzi schemes

[@Casper-cz7bw]

You should look up Terra project which was also a ponzi with their yields on Anchor. It doesn't obviously mean that all cryptocurrencies are ponzi, Terra was just a terrible project and there are a lot similar ones. That's why investing in shitcoins is like gambling.

[@umaribnal-khattabmalaysia6831]

Jamie I totally agree with you. 👍👍👍

[@user-wq2dq1wk9l]

¡Bravo, Loatedcyber! Me alegra mucho que estés ahí afuera luchando contra estos cabrones. Debemos hacer todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance para proteger a las personas mayores y al público en general de estos despreciables estafadores. ¡Eres un verdadero héroe, hermano mío!.......

[@qyarn588]

There also was a OneCoin link to a guy called D.M. Harrison (Monkey Capital) and the Eastern European DDF (Digital Development Fund or so) back in 2017!

[@Afromontana14]

We all need to be really careful so you guys won’t be a victim of these Ponzi scheme. I was once a victim but I truly have learnt my lessons. Before going into any thing of such at least you should pray to God for guidance, I truly know affliction will never rise again. Honestly crypto is worldly acceptable and profitable I’m absolutely glad making 22 percent weekly profit of my invested capital..

[@KarlDMarx]

Casino Capitalism at its finest.

[@AlexdaCunha]

what keeps surprising me is the people that make highly speculative investments and claim that they thought it would be according to their religion. No "decent" religion would find acceptable to accumulate such amount of wealth in such small amount of time... People are so greedy, they just come up with some weird/outlandish rationale why what they do is somehow allowed by their religion. I think it is deserved that they lost all their money. Hopefully the scammers are also caught and punished.

[@ellemarr7234]

That’s the very nature of religion and why many people do not like organized religion but still believe in the same deities. Bernie Madoff fleeced his own religious community just to name an even bigger fraud. Humans are social beings so we form communities so it shouldn’t be surprising that this sort of scam happens. You’d do well to find some compassion.

[@laylabegum9304]

Thank you and you have a valid point. It was way too good to be true.

[@robertholland8283]

This discussion I interpret as a warning.

[@tanyatodorova2167]

Originally , with love , from SOFIA, haha

[@benjamindover4337]

Oh I think we can rest assured that she is floating face down in a river somewhere and the puppetmasters are drinking mimosas on a beach.

[@ninjaninja9954]

No i don't think so. I think she is on the run. She has money so she has many options

[@benjamindover4337]

@@ninjaninja9954 so you think the brains behind the operation were dumb enough to let her hold the bags of money?

[@ninjaninja9954]

@@benjamindover4337 she was the brains of the operation for the most part. Don't be fooled she has money. For her birthday she rented out the London v&a museum

[@benjamindover4337]

@@ninjaninja9954 sorry, but you are very naive

[@ninjaninja9954]

@@benjamindover4337 well you are naive for thinking otherwise as investigators say so too unless you are an investigator and have other information. She has many properties in her name around the world and she got them when she started onecoin. Or it must be the "brains of this operation" that gave her these properties

[@rupertblithley-hetheringto9736]

ADD 10 FOR THE BIG GUY........

[@tanyatodorova2167]

One Coin office is still operating and open on THE CENTRE OF SOFIA,haha

[@lenuanch8869]

They can follow the money for sure is in hundreds of walets I n line they can't spend all thath money in less the bought a big bissness they have bissnesses too no one should give money to same stupid investment .

[@americancitizen748]

Buyer beware...

[@Afromontana14]

We all need to be really careful so you guys won’t be a victim of these Ponzi schemes. I was once a victim but I truly have learnt my lessons. Before going into any thing of such at least you should pray to God for guidance, I truly know affliction will never rise again. Satisfaction with what you have should be your first priority, on like I earn 22 percent weekly profit of my invested capital I’m grateful to God for leading me through the right path.

[@umaribnal-khattabmalaysia6831]

FBI looking for one coin team .

[@vitech1013]

I am from Bulgaria, left the communist Bulgaria 30 years ago & witnessed how the Communist officials stole the 10billion USD in 2 years only. Ruja Ignatova was born in Germany but her parents were well connected with the old Bulgarian Communist top clan. How on Earth her parents will have the money to educate her in Oxford to become a PhD in International Law & holds an International Diplomatic Passport.She is still bribing top officials in many countries to evade the Law that she is knows so well. We the natives believe she is hiding in Ukraine or Russia because of her family connections with the Old Communist Officials. Russia NEVER supported Interpol or any other Western organization.

[@feorh1919]

It takes two to tango. Interpol is not cooperating extraditing conpeople running away from Russia. If you get away from Russia with a couple of mils/bils you automatically become a political opponent of the corrupt Putin regime. Life is tough and unfair.

[@Ourhomeonearth]

No matter what every one says about this one coin scheme plus the government lawsuit against one coin can costomers that lost 😡 money be able to get thier money back?? What ever you saying has no need , just talk about how we gonna get our money back cos the money is on boats , houses and various assets and even Bitcoin so the government should sell all under Onecoin or Ruja or whoever scots and seize those assets to pay us cos I lost 😡 money and waiting to be paid

[@LordPrometheous]

Investors are typically presented with legalese stating that investments are not guaranteed, and they enter at their own peril, knowing there is always the possibility (or in this case, absolute certainty) of losing their investment.

[@flyswatter45]

Onecoin is best coin in the werld. It is mazing and make is lots money 💰 Ruja went to safer zone to protect us all, genius lady we luv her .the Bank system is rotten much love to our founder rooja ignitor

[@kokaunteh7053]

😭😭😭😭

[@KarlDMarx]

I am glad to see how stupid some smart people can be when greed is shrouding their senses.

[@laylabegum9304]

Likewise for you, you never made any mistake?. Not always greed Karl!

[@KarlDMarx]

@@laylabegum9304 is there another term for greed? Lust for money?

[@laylabegum9304]

@@KarlDMarx stay safe and follow FCA guidance. Don’t make a mistake like me.

[@laylabegum9304]

@@progrockrules Let me know if you need some emotional intelligence. I will give you free.

[@angelangelov7869]

Коментара е на български език за ружа Игнатова

[@angelangelov7869]

Ружа Игнатова е взела самоличността на Надежда Христова автобуси Надежда и със майка си живеят в град Велико Търново парк Марно поле майка й пазарува на ул Христо Ботев,, 6,,в България не е обвинена в нищо затова се разхожда свободно и е купила половина от града

[@violagribisch6161]

Откъде имате тази информация? Достоверна ли е? Или е предположение?

[@ivanterzieff7820]

financial revolution from bulgarian woman ? hahah wich revolution have success in this world ? she is just killed

[@collintee133]

Why only now hunt for the cryotoqueen? It's because cryptocurrencies are falling off the cliff recently.

[@thebeerhunter98]

They've been looking for her for several years, so during the time Bitcoin was at or near all time highs - it's not exactly a new investigation.

[@KarlDMarx]

Perhaps people should be thinking about real things that grow, e.g.bamboo or hemp. Poor people don't have spare cash to invest ...

[@Ourhomeonearth]

Why are you hiding where she might be cos I think you know her and you can get the compensation

[@Derivcyberoninstagram84]

👆👆Thank you sir for been there for me at the right spot I needed you to because I had a lot of money in my wallet and it was hacked but vou came to my rescue..

[@umaribnal-khattabmalaysia6831]

Laila if you have done any marketing for one coin that mean you have done a big mistake in your life please pray deeply and ask Allah to forgive you. Laila now your duty to help your local authorities find the people who was involved. If I not make mistake few UK Pakistani people was working with one coin team which I show in youtube shows. Jamie I was the person who keep telling my friends and people to don't invest in one coin it's totally ponzi scheme.

[@laylabegum9304]

Hello. Let me correct you there. I didnt do any marketing for onecoin as my friends and I all 7 of us invested. We refused to recruit people. Dont assume as I am aware of my mistake and I refused to lure and incite people the fake promise of onecoin. I was challenging the onecoin leaders about how they can explain that it was shariah compliant. You should watch my BBC Panorama feature. I already learnt from my mistake but I would not let others do the same. I hope Allah guides you to seek knowledge for lacking info on my story. I refuse to harm others for any financial gains as such. Thank God I didnt do any marketing but lots of learning from this mistake.

[@umaribnal-khattabmalaysia6831]

@@laylabegum9304 layla read my words I say IF YOU have done any marketing for them I am not saying that you was working for one coin if you was not involved why you say like that please watch your interview what are you saying in your interview. one coin have cheat many Muslim people around the world. Here in Dubai my one of friend took me to one office which was belong to someone like property brokers agent they saying the same things what you have explained in interview the same time I told my friends this people are fully cheater. Layla I am deeply sorry for misunderstanding. Allah help us and everyone

[@umaribnal-khattabmalaysia6831]

Layla if I not make mistake you saying in your interview that you appreciate your family members.

[@bogereedgar7948]

Liars

[@pamelawills4868]

I support the efforts of *nattcyberspy on internet* and it’s initiatives, few people are trying to get rid of everyone and also discouraging people finding out about crypto keep up the good work, I got my losses back!!! 0:00

[@MarkJonathan_]

*nattcyberspy*- so glad you are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable people ! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe.big up brother

[@user-wq2dq1wk9l]

¡Bravo, Loatedcyber! Me alegra mucho que estés ahí afuera luchando contra estos cabrones. Debemos hacer todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance para proteger a las personas mayores y al público en general de estos despreciables estafadores. ¡Eres un verdadero héroe, hermano mío!.......

[@Derivcyberoninstagram84]

👆👆Thank you sir for been there for me at the right spot I needed you to because I had a lot of money in my wallet and it was hacked but vou came to my rescue..

[@user-wq2dq1wk9l]

¡Bravo, Loatedcyber! Me alegra mucho que estés ahí afuera luchando contra estos cabrones. Debemos hacer todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance para proteger a las personas mayores y al público en general de estos despreciables estafadores. ¡Eres un verdadero héroe, hermano mío!.......