FBI puts R90 million bounty on ‘CryptoQueen’ suspected to be in SA

South Africans have banded together on social media to look for Ruja Ignatova, who is alleged to have scammed people of more than $4 billion in Bulgaria and across Europe.

Ignatova, who is originally from Bulgaria and has been missing since 2017, is currently on the FBI’s list of most wanted fugitives.

She is believed to be hiding in Cape Town.

The United States has now offered a $5 million dollar reward (R90 million) to anyone who can assist with information that will lead to her arrest.

The 44-year-old, ‘cryptoqueen’ as she is called, faces numerous charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud.

The founder of OneCoin Ltd, which was based in Bulgaria, marketed a purported cryptocurrency.

According to the FBI, she allegedly instructed victims to transmit investment funds to OneCoin accounts to purchase the company’s packages, causing victims to send wire transfers representing these investments.

On October 12, 2017, she was charged in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and a federal warrant was issued for her arrest.

A few days later, it is understood that she traveled from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, and that’s when she disappeared without a trace.

There have been rumours about what has happened with her, with some reports suggesting that she had been killed by her former business partners said to be from the underworld and that her body had been dismembered and dumped in the Ionian Sea.

However, the police in Germany are said to be investigating the possibility that she may still be alive and hiding in South Africa.

There are also allegations that she could’ve altered her looks.

South African social media users are now planning to come together to look for her and split the reward.

If she’s not in Cape Town, then I know where we can find her… https://t.co/yZ8NAnxP1Y pic.twitter.com/ajtv97pG3V

 

— Mr Brought Back F1 to Kyalami. (@NamedMini) November 19, 2024

 

Another Griselda Blanco is on the loose and her name is Ruja Ignatova!

 

— Sotho Diva (@Rele_Sparkles) November 20, 2024

 

I’m so invested in Ruja Ignatova being wanted. How did they even find out about her maybe being in Cape Town? She was believed to be at “international seas” for years.

 

— Gojasi (@jesuisgugu) November 20, 2024

 

Still on the list of FBI’s Top Most Wanted: Crypto Queen Ruja Ignatova with $5 MILLION REWARD* for info leading to her arrest.

 

🌍 According to the FBI her possible travel destinations include the UAE 👀 and Russia. #FBI #MostWanted #CryptoQueen #OneCoin #CryptoFraud #CrimeAlert pic.twitter.com/rGRYUU4MJ0

 

— Crypto Masters ME (@crypto__me) November 20, 2024

 

Twitter folks, you’re up.

 

If you could help identify Thabo Bester, what’s Ruja Ignatova for $5 million? 🤭 https://t.co/KGliYs1uA2

 

— sungodess 👑 (@sungodess) November 19, 2024

 

Or it might have been planted there for the CrypoQueen🤔🤔 Ruja Ignatova pic.twitter.com/uvH3mAs1xc

 

— Nxamalala (@Abraham_Zuma) November 19, 2024

 

Netflix, we need a full series about Ruja Ignatova, just like the ones you did for Anna Delvey and Elizabeth Holmes. The One Coin scam has all the makings of a gripping drama, deception, ambition, billions of dollars, & a mysterious disappearance. Make it happen!

 

— Ms Mirthful (@GrantonCup) November 19, 2024

 

😃FBi OFFERING $5 MILLION 4 È WHEREABOUTS OF RUJA IGNATOVA 😃M SURE THIS PIC IS +10 YEARS OL’ .. SHE MUST B BLONDE NOW😄 EVEN HER FAMILY WON’T 👁👁RECOGNIZE HER 🤣THE OTHER DAY I MET MY NEIGHBOUR’S WIFE IN TOWN ..N I DIDN’T RECOGNIZE HER 😂UNTIL SHE GREETED ME😃U C MY POINT..😐 pic.twitter.com/vnjV3FRnT8

 

— 𝘽𝙚𝙉𝙉𝙔 𝙎𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙍🎙️ (@DannyMohumi) November 19, 2024

 

After watching the BBC documentary, I was convinced that Ruja Ignatova is dead. The mafia is allegedly looking for her, and so is the FBI. That lady pulled off a slick move, all along she was hiding in Southy.

 

— Refiloe. (@Msrell0w) November 19, 2024

 

my weekend plans include looking for Ruja Ignatova.

 

— the other guy (@barryblack___) November 19, 2024

 

Im relocating to Cape Town I’m going to search Ruja Ignatova. How much $4 million to rand? pic.twitter.com/91t06Fb1oH

 

— Jacunda Moshane (@JacundaM) November 19, 2024

 

All HARDENED CRIMINALS come to South Africa for under-cover…. German cops confirm clues that wanted global ‘cryptoqueen’ Ruja Ignatova may be in South Africa.. Do we have INTELLIGENCE in the country?

— black motsho (@b_motsho) November 18, 2024