A New York man who built fake versions of famous crypto influencers to rob investors is now headed to prison. Noman Saleem, 39, has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, in a wire-fraud case. The term was handed down by U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced the sentence on Tuesday.
Saleem, who lives in Queens and Levittown, ran the entire scam by mimicking popular online crypto influencers, winning investors' trust before pulling them into his trap.
How the Scheme Was Built
It all began in December 2020. Saleem set up Telegram handles that copied the names and identities of two well-known crypto influencers. Within a short time, thousands of followers joined a public channel he controlled, convinced they were dealing with the real influencers.
He then dangled the lure of an exclusive VIP channel. Access to that channel cost roughly $500 to $600 in crypto. Inside, members could message him directly, all the while believing they were chatting with the genuine influencer.
The False Promise of Staking Returns
On that VIP channel, Saleem began pushing staking rewards over terms of 30 to 90 days. He told investors that the more money they put in, the more they would earn. In reality, he never staked anything at all. Crypto staking normally involves locking up tokens to help secure a blockchain in return for yield, often somewhere between 5% and 20%.
Once he had earned their trust, he convinced investors to send their crypto to wallets he controlled. The moment the funds landed, he cut off contact and vanished.
$1.4 Million Pocketed, One Victim in Maryland
According to court documents, Saleem took in at least $1.4 million in crypto and cash, including from a victim in Maryland. After he pleaded guilty last September, the government recovered much of that money. The case was investigated by the FBI's Baltimore field office.
It is the latest U.S. action against fraud cloaked in crypto's jargon, where impostors lean on the names of trusted figures and the promise of passive income to separate investors from their coins.
