Interpol

Pushing a murky, MLM-style digital currency scheme or even a purported one? Involving family, friends and online contacts? INTERPOL is warning that “digital currencies [are] increasingly used to finance criminal activities[,] including terrorism.” The warning is included in an INTERPOL announcement dated Jan. 16 about a law-enforcement conference in Qatar on the topic of transnational crime […]

BULLETIN: TelexFree and IFreeX figure Sanderley Rodrigues [de] Vasconcelos (Sann Rodrigues) is the subject of an INTERPOL notice that says he is wanted by authorities in Brazil for “Tax Evasion and not obey[ing] a Judicial Order.” Precisely when the notice was entered was not immediately clear. The notice drops the “de” portion of his last […]

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING:  (6th update 9:35 p.m. ET U.S.A.) Nicholas Smirnow, still listed by INTERPOL as a person wanted by the United States in the alleged Pathway To Prosperity (P2P) HYIP Ponzi scheme that affected people in 120 countries, has been arrested at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Canadian media outlets are reporting. U.S. […]

“Today, few threats are more urgent than the threat posed by violent extremism. And with the emergence of groups like ISIL, and the knowledge that some Americans are attempting to travel to countries like Syria and Iraq to take part in ongoing conflicts, the Justice Department is responding appropriately.” — Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, […]

BULLETIN: The FBI has issued Wanted posters and INTERPOL has issued Red Notices for at least five alleged cybercriminals who targeted Americans and websites such as eBay, Cars.com, AutoTrader.com and CycleTrader.com in a scheme that netted millions of dollars. Victims were in the marketplaces for high-ticket items such as cars, boats and motorcycles, and the […]

“While reviewing the ASD website in the District of Columbia, [an undercover agent] found a posting within ASD’s News section, apparently posted by ASD on July 2, 2008. The title of the posting was, “Alert Pay & Direct Deposit are being phased out July 31, 2008.” According to ASD’s posting, “We have notified BOA not […]

The HYIP world is known for promoters’ bids to change the storyline, but this one may take the cake — or at least be a sweet complement. There are reports in Brazilian media that a promoter of the TelexFree MLM scheme — alleged to be a massive pyramid — has named an ice cream after […]

“HYIPs use an array of websites and social media — including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook — to lure investors, fabricating a ‘buzz’ and creating the illusion of social consensus, which is a common persuasion tactic fraudsters use to suggest that ‘everyone is investing in HYIPs, so they must be legitimate.’” — The Financial Industry Regulatory […]

UPDATED 8:26 A.M. EDT (OCT. 31, U.S.A.) Saying it would save money, the court-appointed receiver in the Zeek Rewards Ponzi scheme case has asked a federal judge to treat the receiver’s Oct. 8 preliminary liquidation plan as a status report. (See Oct. 9 PP Blog story.) Separately, yet another Zeek member has declared herself a […]

UPDATED 4:05 PM EDT (U.S.A.): It’s MoneyMakerGroup’s fault that JSS Tripler 2 (T2) — also known as T2MoneyKlub — has collapsed. And it’s also the fault of “Elmer,” a forum poster who apparently committed the unpardonable sin of questioning the legitimacy of a scheme that advertised a return of 2 percent a day — after […]

“[Eighty] per cent of crime committed online is now connected to organized gangs operating across borders. Criminal gangs now find that transnational and cybercrime are far more rewarding and profitable than other riskier forms of making money.” — INTERPOL President Khoo Boon Hui at 41st European Regional Conference held in Tel Aviv, citing study from […]