The person at the center of this case
Ruja Ignatova (fugitive)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
9 years waiting · since 2017
RUJA IGNATOVA
Justice for Ruja Ignatova (fugitive) — the trail went cold in 2017, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
📍
location
Lead #1Where did Ignatova travel after arriving in Athens on October 25, 2017? Were there documented flights or border crossings?
🎯
suspect
Lead #2Has she undergone plastic surgery or altered her appearance as suggested? What does she look like now?
📞
contact
Lead #3Who are the armed guards and associates traveling with her, and have any been identified or apprehended?
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 active federal warrant. Authorities believe she may be traveling under a German passport with armed associates, possibly having altered her appearance, and could be hiding in Eastern Europe, Russia, the UAE, or Germany.
Case
#1202
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court, Southern District of New York
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Which of the potential countries (UAE, Bulgaria, Germany, Russia, Greece, Eastern Europe) has she most likely fled to?
🔍
evidence
Lead #5Are there financial records showing fund transfers or accounts accessed after October 2017 that could reveal her location?
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
📋
2014-01-01
OneCoin Fraud Scheme Begins
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 charges
👤
2017-10-25
Last Known Movement
Ignatova travels from Sofia, Bulgaria to Athens, Greece; her whereabouts after this date are unknown
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2014
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2014
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
Up to $5 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case