Cryptocurrencies and digital assets have continued to gain widespread acceptance from both retail and institutional investors. With this rapid growth in both the crypto and digital asset spaces, there has also been an unfortunate steady drumbeat of fraudulent activity. It has been reported that in 2021 alone over $14 billion in crypto was stolen from investors. Frauds have touched all aspects of the crypto universe ranging from outright Bitcoin theft, pig butchering, and wallet phising to DeFi rug pulls, exchange hacks, mining scams and NFT fraud. The Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Fraud Casebook will provide up to date information and analysis on fraudulent activity in the crypto space.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction to Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Fraud and Crime

2 Cryptocurrency Exchange Fraud and Hacks

3 Cryptocurrency Ponzi, Pyramid, and MLM Schemes: Part 1

4 Cryptocurrency Ponzi, Pyramid, and MLM Schemes: Part 2

5 Non-Fungible Token (NFD Fraud

6 Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Fraud and Hacks: Part 1

7 Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Fraud and Hacks: Part 2

8 Cryptocurrency Hedge Fund Scams and Anti-money Laundering Violations

9 Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Celebrity Token Promotions: Part 1

10 Initial Coin Offerings (IC Os) and Celebrity Token Promotions: Part 2

11 Additional Case Studies in Cryptocurrency Fraud

12 Trends and Future Developments

About the Author

Jason Scharfman is the Managing Partner of Corgentum Consulting, a specialist consulting firm that performs operational due diligence reviews and background investigations of fund managers of all types, including crypto asset managers, direct crypto investments, hedge funds, private equity, real estate, and long-only funds on behalf of institutional investors, including pensions, endowments, foundations, fund of funds, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. He is recognized as one of the leading experts in the fields of digital asset and cryptocurrency compliance, fund operations and due diligence.