Confirmed-scam archive
Notorious confirmed frauds outside our assessment scope — these are records, not scores.
CheckCrypto's automated assessment targets token contracts on 8 chains (Arbitrum · Avalanche · Base · BSC · ETH · Optimism · Polygon · Solana) — EVM chains plus Solana. Frauds that run on their own blockchain, or with no blockchain at all, have no contract to measure, so we do not score them — instead we keep only the publicly confirmed facts (court rulings, prosecutorial indictments) as records here. Each entry carries its confirmation basis and an evidence link.
Confirmed scams that do have a contract address (Squid Game, LUNA, FTT, etc.) can be seen with their scores in the ☠ Confirmed scam filter of the List. For what methods these cases used, see the 🎓 Scam prevention guides — if you dispute a record, let us know via Dispute.
☠ BitConnect BitConnect · BCC Own-chain Ponzi (lending program)
A global Ponzi built around its own-chain coin BCC and guaranteed returns from a 'trading bot.' Collapsed in 2018-01, with losses of about $2.4B. Founder Satish Kumbhani was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury (2022, still a fugitive); top promoter Glenn Arcaro pleaded guilty (2021).
| Active period | 2016–2018 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | U.S. DOJ indictment + accomplice guilty plea |
| Evidence link | https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/bitconnect-founder-indicted-global-24-billion-cryptocurrency-scheme |
☠ OneCoin OneCoin Fake-blockchain pyramid scheme
A 'Bitcoin killer' pyramid scheme whose blockchain never actually existed — over $4B in losses, millions of people worldwide. Co-founder Karl Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a U.S. court (2023-09); founder 'Cryptoqueen' Ruja Ignatova is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
| Active period | 2014–2017 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | U.S. court, 20-year prison sentence confirmed |
| Evidence link | https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/co-founder-multibillion-dollar-cryptocurrency-scheme-onecoin-sentenced-20-years-prison |
☠ PlusToken PlusToken Wallet-interest Ponzi
A Ponzi that lured over 2.6 million people with 'deposit in the wallet for high returns,' defrauding them of 14.8 billion yuan (about $2.25B). In 2020-11 a court in Yancheng, China sentenced 14 ringleaders to 2–11 years in prison and confiscated over $4B in cryptocurrency.
| Active period | 2018–2019 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | Chinese court conviction |
| Evidence link | https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2020/12/01/ringleaders-of-plustoken-scam-jailed-for-up-to-11-years |
☠ V-Global V Global · V Cash Coin pyramid scheme (South Korea)
A pyramid scheme promising 'up to 3x returns on a KRW 6 million investment' — around 50,000 victims and about KRW 2.2497 trillion defrauded. The CEO's 25-year prison sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court, and three operators received confirmed sentences of 4–14 years.
| Active period | 2020–2021 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | Supreme Court of Korea, 25-year prison sentence confirmed |
| Evidence link | https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=184533 |
☠ CoinUp CoinUp · WEC Coin Proprietary-coin pyramid scheme (guaranteed returns)
A pyramid-scheme fraud that raised on the order of KRW 450 billion by guaranteeing up to 200% returns once cryptocurrencies such as 'WEC Coin' were listed. It recruited investors by touting connections to famous entertainers and politicians. In 2019-11 the Seoul Central District Court sentenced the CEO, surnamed Kang, to 16 years in prison.
| Active period | 2017–2019 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | Seoul Central District Court, 16-year prison sentence (2019-11) |
| Evidence link | https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20191111123600004 |
☠ ADO International ADO International · ADO Coin Coin-linked illegal-fundraising pyramid scheme
An illegal-fundraising (unauthorized deposit-taking) pyramid scheme that raised on the order of KRW 440 billion by touting a 'clearance-goods distribution business' and its own coin while promising a fixed monthly return of several percent. It lured investors with lavish parties on the Han River, and many victims were elderly. In 2025-05 the Supreme Court confirmed a 15-year prison sentence for the CEO, surnamed Lee.
| Active period | 2020–2023 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | Supreme Court, 15-year prison sentence confirmed (2025-05-01) |
| Evidence link | https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202505011018001 |
☠ Purever Purever · PURE Price manipulation (listed coin)
A coin marketed under the banner of 'fine-dust purification.' Price manipulation orchestrated with market-making (MM) operators produced roughly KRW 21 billion in illicit gains — it is known as the coin behind the 2023 'Gangnam kidnapping and murder case.' In 2023-11 the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Joint Investigation Team for Virtual Asset Crimes indicted eight people, including the issuer's CEO.
| Active period | 2020–2023 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office Joint Investigation Team indictment (2023-11) |
| Evidence link | https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20231124073500004 |
☠ NanoBit NanoBit Limited; NanobitUS Securities 투자사기(가짜 트레이딩 플랫폼)
가짜 크립토 트레이딩 플랫폼 — WhatsApp/Instagram으로 유인, SEC 등록 브로커 사칭, 가짜 수익 대시보드/ICO로 최소 18명 자금 유용(200만 달러+ 홍콩 송금).
| Active period | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | 미 뉴욕동부지법(EDNY) 2026-06-16 최종판결 — 4개 법인 및 2인 총 약 540만 달러, 증권 발행/매매 영구금지. |
| Evidence link | https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-wins-54m-judgment-in-nanobit-crypto-fraud-case |
☠ HyperFund HyperVerse, HyperTech, HyperCapital, HyperNation, HyperOne 폰지(MLM/HYIP 투자사기)
존재하지 않는 대규모 크립토 채굴을 미끼로 일 0.5~1% 고정 수익을 약속하고 신규 투자자 모집 보상(MLM)으로 굴린 약 18억 달러 규모의 폰지 사기.
| Active period | 2020-2022 |
|---|---|
| Confirmation basis | 미 법무부(메릴랜드) 기소 — 홍보책 Rodney (Bitcoin Rodney) Burton 2026-06-15 유죄 인정, 공동설립자 Sam Lee 기소, Brenda Chunga 유죄 인정. 총 피해 약 18억 달러. |
| Evidence link | https://cointelegraph.com/news/florida-man-pleads-guilty-to-18b-crypto-fraud-scheme |
Listing criteria: public confirmation (court ruling, prosecutorial indictment, etc.) plus a required evidence link. These are factual records, not value judgments, and plenty of frauds not listed here also exist (absence ≠ safe).