The Bulgarian businesswoman and other founders of the cryptocurrency that turned out to be yet another pyramid scheme were even able to complete luxury real estate transactions after the scandal had already broken.

Ignatova once suggested to the scam’s co-founder at the launch of her fake digital currency, that they “take the money and run and blame someone else for this.” It appears the scammer did just that as she liquidated her OneCoin companies, hopped on a plane to Athens and disappeared into thin air.

US authorities at the time charged Ignatova with fraud and money laundering and then issued a federal arrest warrant for her. But the cryptoqueen moved faster than they did and despite a $5 million reward, the ‘Cryptoqueen’ remains missing.

“We are offering a reward up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of German national Ruja Ignatova, known as ‘Cryptoqueen,’ for her role in one of the largest global fraud schemes in history,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

She remains the FBI’s most wanted female.

Image: FBI.gov

After all these years there have now been reports revealing her links to the Bulgarian underworld and the suspected mafia boss involved in her disappearance and, allegedly, her possible murder.

Jamie Bartlett, whose BBC podcast brought global attention to her story, believes the reward increase is aimed at people possibly still protecting her.

“The FBI are now refocusing their efforts on the people around Dr Ruja, trying to tempt her close associates to get in touch.

“$100,000 wouldn’t persuade a junior member of a crime syndicate or a personal bodyguard to call the FBI’s hotline – it’s far too risky. But $5m just might.

“We will probably know within a few weeks if it’s worked.”

Nobody really knows where Ignatova is, or whether the Bulgarian Mafia murdered her – as many believe, but the below BBC series shed some light on the scam of the decade, check it out if you have time today.

[source:lamonde&bbc]