The person at the center of this case
Ruja Ignatova (fugitive)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
8 years waiting · since 2017
RUJA IGNATOVA
Justice for Ruja Ignatova (fugitive) — the trail went cold in 2017, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where has Ruja Ignatova been since October 25, 2017? What countries may she have traveled to using her German passport?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2Can investigators trace the $4 billion in defrauded funds to identify accomplices or hidden assets?
📞
contact
Lead #3Who are the armed guards and associates believed to be traveling with Ignatova, and can they be identified and questioned?
Ruja Ignatova, founder of OneCoin Ltd., is wanted for orchestrating a massive cryptocurrency fraud scheme that defrauded investors of over $4 billion worldwide between 2014 and 2017. She disappeared on October 25, 2017, after traveling from Sofia, Bulgaria to Athens, Greece, and her current whereabouts remain unknown despite an international manhunt. Her case remains active as authorities seek to locate her and recover stolen funds from victims across the globe.
Case
#1202
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court, Southern District of New York
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Has Ignatova undergone plastic surgery or altered her appearance to evade detection?
📍
location
Lead #5Why did Ignatova travel to Athens on October 25, 2017, and what was her intended final destination?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering; Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud; Securities Fraud Caution: Ruja Ignatova is wanted for her alleged participation in a large-scale fraud scheme. Beginning in approximately 2014, Ignatova and others are alleged to have defrauded billions of dollars from investors all over the world.
Ignatova was the founder of OneCoin Ltd., a Bulgaria-based company that marketed a purported cryptocurrency. In order to execute the scheme, Ignatova allegedly made false statements and representations to individuals in order to solicit investments in OneCoin.
She allegedly instructed victims to transmit investment funds to OneCoin accounts in order to purchase OneCoin packages, causing victims to send wire transfers representing these investments. Throughout the scheme, OneCoin is believed to have defrauded victims out of more than $4 billion.
Ignatova served as OneCoin's top leader through October 2017. On October 25, 2017, Ignatova traveled from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, and may have traveled elsewhere after that.
She may travel on a German passport to the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Germany, Russia, Greece and/or Eastern Europe. On October 12, 2017, Ignatova was charged in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York and a federal warrant was issued for her arrest.
On February 6, 2018, a superseding indictment was issued charging Ignatova with one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering; Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud; and Securities Fraud. Remarks: Ignatova is believed to travel with armed guards and/or associates.
Ignatova may have had plastic surgery or otherwise altered her appearance.
Timeline of Events
📋
2014
OneCoin Fraud Scheme Begins
Ruja Ignatova and associates begin defrauding investors through OneCoin Ltd., a purported cryptocurrency company
🕵️
2017-10-12
Federal Indictment Issued
Ignatova charged in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related offenses
👤
2017-10-25
Last Known Sighting
Ignatova travels from Sofia, Bulgaria to Athens, Greece and disappears; her whereabouts thereafter unknown
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2014
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
Up to $5 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2014
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
Up to $5 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case