Big money. Big names. Big crimes. Cryptocurrency is a radical technology with incredible potential. The kind of potential that fraudsters and criminals can’t resist exploiting. We’re launching “Crypto Crooks” to dig into their schemes, in the hopes of protecting investors from getting taken in. We’ll explore how nefarious actors draw in victims, where their rackets start to unravel – and how their empires crumble, taking investors down with them.
Listen carefully, and maybe you’ll be able to steer clear of Crypto Crooks.
This week, we meet the online influencers who enticed victims into the BitConnect farce, and the pyramid-scheme model that allowed them to make millions doing it.
"Crypto Crooks" is sponsored by Chainalysis.
It takes a village to scam the world. Or at least some YouTube channels.
In the penultimate episode of “Crypto Crooks: BitConnect,” we talk to Scott Shaffer, who kept close tabs on the BitConnect team both before and after the collapse on his YouTube Channel, “Crypto Jedi.” He watched a series of charismatic, powerful YouTubers invite viewers into their pyramid scheme, getting richer with every fish they caught. And ultimately, he watched their greatest coup of all: turning their victims … into scammers themselves.
Clips:
-
Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, Web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world’s most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.
-
“Crypto Crooks” is a CoinDesk Podcast Production. The executive producer is Jared Schwartz, with additional production by Eleanor Pahl, Rob Mitchell, Nora Battelle, Jonas Huck, and Moon Beast. Fact-checking is by Amber Von Schassen, and sound design and music are by Altus Noumena. This show is written and voiced by David Z. Morris.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
