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URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: First U.S. Criminal Prosecution Of Bitcoin-Themed Scheme; Trendon Shavers Arrested

In the first U.S. criminal prosecution involving a Bitcoin-themed scheme, Trendon Shavers has been arrested and charged with securities fraud and wire fraud. Shavers, 32, of McKinney, Texas, was charged civilly by the SEC in July 2013. He is known as “pirateat40,” and allegedly pushed his Bitcoin Savings and Trust Ponzi scheme from a forum.…

Nov 6, 2014
NORTH CAROLINA: Teen Allegedly Swindled Senior Citizens In ‘Stark Innovations’ Scam That Purportedly Sold Overseas ‘Electronic Consumer Goods In Bulk’

A North Carolina teenager who allegedly swindled senior citizens in an investment scam known as Stark Innovations was arrested yesterday, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said. Bond for the suspect, David Alan Topping, 19, of Oak Island, was set at $250,000. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the case. “I am…

Nov 6, 2014
Quebec Moves To Shut Down Site That Purportedly Monitors HYIP Programs, Saying Operator Is Aiding Scammers

If the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) gets its way, a website styled maxhyip.com will be shut down and its operator blocked from promoting “products and services relating to various high-yield investment programs (HYIP[s]) to Quebeckers.” The alleged operator of the site is Steeve Beaudin, against whom AMF is seeking a cease-trade order and “administrative…

Nov 6, 2014
BULLETIN: Zeek-Like Situation Surfaces In TelexFree Case — Dishonored Cashier’s Checks; Trustee Seeks Authority To Subpoena Banks, Including Bank In Puerto Rico

BULLETIN: The court-appointed trustee in the TelexFree bankruptcy case is seeking authority to issue subpoenas and obtain information from eight financial institutions, including Puerto Rico-based Oriental Bank. The other seven are Digital Federal Credit Union, based in TelexFree’s headquarters city of Marlborough, Mass., Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citizens Bank, Santander, TD Bank and Wells…

Nov 5, 2014
RIPPLING NIGHTMARE: Has TelexFree Been Dwarfed By Another MLM Ponzi Scheme? Better Living Global Marketing Reportedly Says It Has Taken In $3.3 BILLION — And Is Experiencing ‘Cash Flow Problem’

EDITOR’S NOTE: In a story dated today, BehindMLM.com has broken down claims made in a recent video in which Better-Living Global Marketing (BLGM) figure Luke Teng appears. The potential criminality at BLGM, purportedly based in Hong Kong, not only is alarming, it is stunning. Even more disconcerting is the level of disconnect surrounding the scheme,…

Nov 4, 2014
SEC: Penny-Stock Scammers Used ‘Intricate Web Of Offshore Corporations, Foreign Accounts, And Financial Institutions . . . In Canada, Nevis, Panama, Switzerland, And The Turks And Caicos Islands’

Two Canadians have been charged by the SEC in an alleged pump-and-dump scheme that included a reverse merger between a “shell public company” and a startup, “blast emails” and a concerted hype campaign, the U.S. agency said. Named defendants are Bruce D. Strebinger, 38, of Vancouver, and Brent Howard Chapman, 38, who “is or has…

Nov 3, 2014
Judicial Panel Of United States Moves TelexFree-Related Lawsuits To Massachusetts

The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has moved TelexFree-related litigation pending in federal courts in other states to Massachusetts. A directive ordering the transfers for the sake of judicial efficiency was issued on Oct. 21. Some plaintiffs from outside of Massachusetts sued TelexFree and other defendants in federal courts in Florida, Georgia and…

Nov 3, 2014
Foreign Office Asks U.K. Travelers To Be ‘Vigilant’ In Wake Of Ongoing Military Campaign Against ISIS; North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty To ‘Attempting To Aid’ Terrorist Organization Linked To Beheadings

Citing a generalized global terrorism threat, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office says it is updating its travel advice and has asked U.K. travelers to be “vigilant.” From the Foreign Office (italics added): “There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals from groups or individuals motivated…

Nov 1, 2014
In Extraordinary Development, Federal Judge Approves Temporary Restraining Order ‘Without Notice’ That Directs Zeek Vendor ‘To Immediately Deposit With The Receivership’ Nearly $5 Million

DEVELOPING STORY: (Updated 10:02 p.m. EDT U.S.A.) In an extraordinary development on this Halloween Friday, the federal judge presiding over the SEC’s Ponzi- and pyramid-scheme case against Zeek Rewards has issued a Temporary Restraining Order and directed a Zeek vendor to immediately turn over to the receivership more than $4.85 million. The order was entered…

Oct 31, 2014
Some Zeek Claimants From Outside The United States Unable To Deposit Distribution Checks; Receiver Provides Guidance

Kenneth D. Bell, the Zeek Rewards receiver, published an announcement last night that certain Zeek claimants from outside the United States who received a distribution check were unable to deposit it. Here is the announcement, dated Oct. 30, 2014 (italics/bolding added). ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE RECEIVER – October 30, 2014 Various foreign claimants have reported that…

Oct 31, 2014
Washington D.C. Police Officer Allegedly Ambushed At 3 A.M. By Ax-Wielding Man Who Escaped

An ax-wielding man attacked a police officer driving a marked car at 3 a.m. today in an ambush, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department is reporting via Twitter and Facebook under the signature of Chief Cathy L. Lanier. The officer was not injured by the ax, but was injured in the “attempted apprehension,” the department said.…

Oct 31, 2014