CyberCriminal.com

Ruja Ignatova

We are investigating Ruja Ignatova – Onecoin for allegedly attempting to conceal critical reviews and adverse news from Google by improperly submitting copyright takedown notices. This includes potential violations such as impersonation, fraud, and perjury.

PARTIES INVOLVED : Ruja Ignatova

ALLEGATIONS : Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation

INCIDENT DATE : 10 Nov 2023

INVESTIGATED BY : Ethan Katz

TOOLS USED : Lumen, SecurityTrails

CASE NO : 0668/A/2025

CRIME TYPE : Intellectual Property Scam

PUBLISHED ON : 27 Nov 2024

Ruja Ignatova
Due Diligence
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Is This About You?
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What We Are Investigating?

Our firm is launching a comprehensive investigation into Ruja Ignatova over allegations that it has been suppressing critical reviews and unfavorable Google search results by fraudulently misusing DMCA takedown notices. These actions, if proven, could constitute serious legal violations—including impersonation, fraud, and perjury.

We conducted comprehensive analyses of fraudulent copyright takedown requests, meritless legal complaints, and other unlawful efforts to suppress public access to critical information. Our reporting sheds light on the prevalence and modus operandi of a structured censorship network, often funded and used by criminal enterprises, oligarchs and criminal entities seeking to manipulate public perception and bypass AML checks conducted by financial organisations.

The fake DMCA notices in this investigation appears to have been strategically deployed to remove negative content from Google search results illegally. Based on this pattern, we have reasonable grounds to infer that Ruja Ignatova - or an entity acting at its behest - is directly or indirectly complicit in this cyber crime.

In most such cases, such ops are executed by rogue, fly-by-night 'Online Reputation Management' agencies acting on behalf of their clients. If evidence establishes that the subject knowingly benefited from or facilitated this scam, it may be deemed an 'accomplice' or an 'accessory' to the crime.

What are they trying to censor

Ruja Ignatova, the self-proclaimed “Cryptoqueen” and founder of OneCoin, has been at the center of one of the largest cryptocurrency scams in history, with allegations of fraud, money laundering, and orchestrated deception spanning multiple continents. Here are the major allegations, red flags, and adverse news against her and OneCoin:

1. Ponzi Scheme Allegations: OneCoin was marketed as a revolutionary cryptocurrency, but investigations revealed it was a classic Ponzi scheme. Unlike legitimate cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, OneCoin had no blockchain technology, no real value, and no utility. Investors were lured with promises of massive returns, but payouts came from new investors’ funds, not from any legitimate business activity.

2. Global Fraud and Investor Losses: OneCoin defrauded millions of investors worldwide, with estimated losses exceeding $4 billion. Victims were often targeted through aggressive multi-level marketing (MLM) tactics, particularly in developing countries, where financial literacy was lower. Many lost their life savings.

3. False Promises and Misrepresentation: Ignatova and her team falsely claimed that OneCoin was a legitimate cryptocurrency, backed by a blockchain and mining operations. In reality, the “coins” were generated arbitrarily, and the blockchain was nonexistent. Experts and regulators repeatedly warned that OneCoin was a scam.

4. Regulatory Crackdowns and Legal Actions: Multiple countries, including the UK, Germany, India, and the US, issued warnings or took legal action against OneCoin. In 2019, Ignatova was indicted by the US Department of Justice on charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering. She remains a fugitive, with a $250,000 reward for information leading to her arrest.

5. Money Laundering and Criminal Ties: Investigations revealed that OneCoin was used to launder money for organized crime groups. Ignatova’s brother, Konstantin Ignatov, who later cooperated with authorities, testified that OneCoin was a fraud and that Ignatova had fled to avoid prosecution.

6. Disappearance of Ruja Ignatova: In 2017, Ignatova vanished after boarding a flight to Athens. Her disappearance has fueled speculation about her involvement in criminal activities and her efforts to evade justice. Some believe she may have been murdered, while others think she is in hiding, possibly under a new identity.

7. Adverse Media Coverage: Investigative journalists and media outlets, including the BBC, have extensively covered OneCoin’s fraudulent activities, further damaging its reputation. The BBC’s “The Missing Cryptoqueen” podcast exposed the scale of the scam and the human cost of Ignatova’s deception.

Why These Stories Harm OneCoin’s Reputation:
These allegations and adverse news stories paint a damning picture of OneCoin as a fraudulent enterprise built on lies, greed, and exploitation. They undermine any remaining credibility Ignatova and OneCoin might have had, exposing the scheme as a criminal operation that caused immense harm to vulnerable individuals.

Why OneCoin Would Want Them Removed:
Ignatova and her associates would have a vested interest in suppressing this information to protect their reputations, evade legal consequences, and potentially continue defrauding victims. Removing negative stories could help them maintain a facade of legitimacy, silence whistleblowers, and obstruct ongoing investigations. In extreme cases, they might resort to cybercrime, such as hacking or disinformation campaigns, to erase or discredit damaging evidence. This would not only protect their ill-gotten gains but also allow them to continue operating in the shadows, free from accountability.

The story of Ruja Ignatova and OneCoin is a cautionary tale of how unchecked greed and deception can exploit the vulnerable, and how the digital age has given rise to new forms of financial crime.

  • https://lumendatabase.org/notices/37295773
  • https://lumendatabase.org/notices/47200542
  • Nov 10, 2023
  • December 15, 2024
  • Galiano Lubber
  • Lorocast Media Inc.
  • http://gambianewstime.kesug.com/2021/05/05/onecoin-ponzi-scheme-accused-of-terrorist-financing/?i=1
  • https://reptitle.com/ponzis-pyramids-and-schemes/
  • https://www.blockvalue.com/news/20210517909381.html
  • http://directsellingnews.com/2023/12/18/ponzis-pyramids-schemes

Evidence Box

Evidence and relevant screenshots related to our investigation

Targeted Content and Red Flags

wikipedia.org

one of the FBI’s Top Ten wanted Fugitives

  • Red Flag
Visit Link

bbc.com

Fugitive ‘Cryptoqueen’ hit by asset freeze

  • Red Flag
Visit Link

lemonde.fr

'Cryptoqueen' Ruja Ignatova, mastermind of the OneCoin scam, was still investing in Dubai while under indictment

  • Red Flag
Visit Link

About the Author

The author is affiliated with TU Dresden and analyzes public databases such as Lumen Database and Maltego to identify and expose online censorship. In his personal capacity, he and his team have been actively investigating and reporting on organized crime related to fraudulent copyright takedown schemes.

Additionally, his team provides advisory services to major law firms and is frequently consulted on matters pertaining to intellectual property law.

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How This Was Done

The fake DMCA notices we found always use the 'back-dated article' technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a 'true original' article and back-dates it, creating a 'fake original' article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original

What Happens Next?

Based on the feedback, information, and requests received from all relevant parties, our team will formally notify the affected party of the alleged infringement. Following a thorough review, we will submit a counter-notice to reinstate any link that has been removed by Google, in accordance with applicable legal provisions. Additionally, we will communicate with Google’s Legal Team to ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

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