A Queens Man Posed as Famous Crypto Influencers to Steal $1.4M, Now He's Prison-Bound 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. 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. What this means for you • 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. • 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. Questions & Answers 1. Who is Noman Saleem? Noman Saleem is a 39-year-old man from Queens and Levittown who scammed investors by posing as famous crypto influencers. 2. What sentence did he get? He was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release in a wire-fraud case. 3. How much money did he steal in total? According to court documents, he took in at least $1.4 million in crypto and cash, including from a victim in Maryland. 4. How did he carry out the fraud? He 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. 5. When did the scheme begin? The scheme began in December 2020. 6. Who investigated the case? The case was investigated by the FBI's Baltimore field office. https://trendkia.com/en/business/kripto-inphluensara-ka-nakali-chehara-banakara-14-lakha-dolara-thage-aba-jela-jaega-yaha-thaga-2779 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.