Crypto Scam: NY Attorney General Sues 2 Firms For $1B Fraud

As a seasoned crypto investor with a deep understanding of the market and its nuances, I am deeply concerned about the recent developments in the New York crypto scam case. The alleged pyramid schemes orchestrated by AWS Mining and NovaTech have defrauded thousands of investors, primarily targeting the Haitian community, and costing them over a billion dollars.


New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken robust action against two companies accused of masterminding a pyramid scheme worth over a billion dollars. The most recent lawsuit claims that these firms and their promoters have deceived more than 11,000 New York residents, with a focus on the Haitian community.

NY Attorney General Takes Legal Action Against Massive Crypto Scam

Attorney General Letitia James of New York has initiated a legal action against two companies, AWS Mining and NovaTech, alleging they orchestrated a massive crypto fraud. The complaint asserts that these firms, along with their promoters such as Cynthia and Eddy Petion, deceived investors to the tune of over $1 billion, predominantly targeting individuals of Haitian heritage within the investing market.

One noteworthy scam involved promises of large profits from cryptocurrency mining and trading. The initial scheme, named AWS Mining, assured investors of a 100% profit increase but failed in April 2019.

After this revelation, NovaTech came under scrutiny as yet another company accused of involvement in a cryptocurrency scam. Claiming to be a crypto and foreign exchange trading platform, they attracted investors who deposited over a billion dollars in cryptocurrency between August 2019 and April 2023. However, only around $26 million worth of trades were recorded on the platform based on the filing.

Simultaneously, the Attorney General’s accusation portrays both companies as pyramid and Ponzi schemes. They lured investors with guarantees of returns, while new investors’ funds served to compensate previous ones. NovaTech functioned as a Ponzi scheme, as supposed trading gains were merely transferred from other investors’ resources.

As a researcher studying crypto scams, I’ve come across instances where unscrupulous firms have exploited vulnerable communities through affinity fraud, taking advantage of cultural and linguistic ties. In some cases, Haitian investors were targeted by being marketed to in Creole and presented with schemes that appeared as paths to financial freedom. This strategy was particularly effective due to the community’s strong sense of trust and religious faith, which were manipulated to draw in more victims.

A Closer Look Into The Details

The Petions are accused, in the crypto scam lawsuit, of selling their Florida residence and leaving for Panama in June 2022. During their hasty departure, it is claimed they shifted large sums of cryptocurrency, approximating tens of millions of dollars, from NovaTech. It’s important to note that red flags suggesting the illegitimacy of NovaTech’s business emerged shortly following this transfer.

As an analyst, I’d rephrase it as follows: The New York Attorney General’s complaint highlights the exploitative characteristics of crypto scams, bringing attention to how they targeted vulnerable individuals. By promising guaranteed returns and utilizing strong community connections, these schemes successfully amassed substantial funds before eventually collapsing.

Attorney General Letitia James has vowed to persist in seeking justice for the victims of the crypto scam. Through her office’s investigation into the deceitful actions, she intends to recoup the stolen funds and bring those responsible to justice. Furthermore, this legal action serves as part of a larger initiative to curb fraudulent activities in the rapidly developing cryptocurrency market.

As the investigation into AWS Mining and NovaTech unfolds, the Attorney General’s office urges any affected people to share their stories by coming forward. The ultimate goal of this crackdown is twofold: providing justice for the victims and sending a strong warning against deceitful activities within the crypto sector.

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2024-06-07 14:36