URGENT >> BULLETIN >>MOVING: (Updated 3:03 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) The United States has opened a criminal investigation involving Obopay and Payza, a Ponzi-forum darling.
Details of the probe are unclear. But the office of U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips of the District of Columbia confirms on its website that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is involved in the investigation. So is the Washington, D.C. Financial Crimes Task Force.
The PP Blog first reported in December 2013 that matters pertaining to Obopay and Payza were under investigation. At the time, however, authorities did not say it was a criminal probe.
In an Oct. 15 update, the U.S. Attorney’s office says a criminal probe is under way and that prosecutors successfully asked a judge to stay civil litigation until early next year.
From the Oct. 15 update by prosecutors under a headline of Obopay/Payza (italics added):
“The United States government, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Washington, D.C. F[i]nancial Crimes Task Force, is currently conducting a criminal investigation. As part of that investigation, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has requested a United States District Judge to pause curr[en]t civil litigation relating to Payza and Obopay. The Judge has paused the litigation until January 22, 2016. Shortly after that date, additional information will be made available on this website about the status of this investigation.”
Prosecutors’ update includes an email link and phone number.
Also see Nov. 28, 2013, PP Blog story: Conflicting Reports Over Status Of U.S. Payza Funds: Frozen? Withheld By Vendor? Seized By Department Of Homeland Security?