The U.S. authorities has arrested and charged the creator of “Mutant Ape Planet” non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for allegedly defrauding crypto buyers. “The purchasers had been ‘rug pulled,’” the Department of Justice (DOJ) described, adding that millions of dollars in cryptocurrency were diverted for the NFT creator’s private advantages.
DOJ Takes Action Against NFT Rug Pull Scheme
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) introduced Thursday that Aurelien Michel has been charged with “defrauding purchasers of ‘Mutant Ape Planet’ NFTs, a type of digital asset, of more than $2.9 million in cryptocurrency.”
The defendant is a French nationwide residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was arrested Wednesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The Mutant Ape Planet (MAP) NFTs had been marketed and offered with false guarantees of quite a few rewards and advantages, together with unique alternatives for added investments, giveaways, merchandise, and different rewards, the DOJ detailed, elaborating:
After promoting out of the NFTs, the purchasers had been ‘rug pulled’ … Millions value of the NFT purchasers’ cryptocurrency was diverted for Michel’s private profit.
Mutant Ape Planet is a group of 6,799 distinctive mutant apes that has no relationship with the favored Bored Ape Yacht Club, a unique set of monkey-themed NFTs.
Ivan J. Arvelo, particular agent in cost of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York, described: “Aurelien Michel perpetrated a ‘rug pull’ scheme – stealing nearly $3 million from investors for his own personal use.”
The DOJ famous that “in a social media chat with current and prospective purchasers, Michel admitted to the fraudulent ‘rug pull,’ but blamed the community of NFT purchasers for his actions, stating, ‘We never intended to rug but the community went way too toxic.’”
While the Mutant Ape Planet NFT builders “promised to fund a community wallet for marketing, and would offer purchasers raffles, giveaways, airdrops, and tokens with staking features,” the DOJ mentioned:
The purchasers of the Mutant Ape Planet NFTs didn’t obtain any of the promised advantages set out above.
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