{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "A Queens Man Posed as Famous Crypto Influencers to Steal $1.4M, Now He's Prison-Bound",
  "summary": "Noman Saleem of New York impersonated well-known crypto influencers on Telegram and milked investors of at least $1.4 million. He has now been sentenced to 15 months behind bars.",
  "content": "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.\n\nSaleem, 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.\n\n \n\nHow the Scheme Was Built\nIt 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.\n\nHe 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.\n\nThe False Promise of Staking Returns\nOn 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%.\n\nOnce 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.\n\n$1.4 Million Pocketed, One Victim in Maryland\nAccording 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.\n\nIt 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• For investors: VIP groups and guaranteed-return staking schemes tied to a famous influencer's name on social media or Telegram can often be a fraud trap, so be cautious before sending crypto to any unknown wallet.\n• For everyday readers: A promise of fixed earnings on your money and a fee just to chat directly are both major red flags, never trust an account without confirming whether the identity is real or fake.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Who is Noman Saleem?\nNoman Saleem is a 39-year-old man from Queens and Levittown who scammed investors by posing as famous crypto influencers.\n\n2. What sentence did he get?\nHe was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release in a wire-fraud case.\n\n3. How much money did he steal in total?\nAccording to court documents, he took in at least $1.4 million in crypto and cash, including from a victim in Maryland.\n\n4. How did he carry out the fraud?\nHe created Telegram handles copying two well-known influencers, charged $500 to $600 for a VIP channel, and lured people into sending crypto to his wallets with fake staking rewards.\n\n5. When did the scheme begin?\nThe scheme began in December 2020.\n\n6. Who investigated the case?\nThe case was investigated by the FBI's Baltimore field office.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/business/kripto-inphluensara-ka-nakali-chehara-banakara-14-lakha-dolara-thage-aba-jela-jaega-yaha-thaga-2779",
  "category": "Business",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-24",
  "tags": [
    "crypto fraud",
    "Noman Saleem",
    "Telegram scam",
    "wire fraud",
    "crypto staking",
    "FBI investigation",
    "crypto influencer"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}