OneCoin Scammers Accused Of Stealing $2.3 Million Through Samoan Churches

OneCoin Scammers Steal $2.3 Million Through Samoan Churches

Samoa is now in the center of the storm regarding the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme OneCoin. According to Radio NZ, ministers of the nation invited the digital currency to preach to the congregation of a church in the country.

OneCoin Use NZ and AU To Circumvent Ban

The central bank of Samoa has banned activities that involved this scheme back in 2018. Nonetheless, representatives were able to approach the Samoa Worship Centre and sold their fraudulent activities to investors. OneCoin has raised millions of dollars around the world promising investors to huge returns on their investments.

There is a number of attendees have purchased OneCoin investments as Radio NZ reports. That includes one of the ministers.

A local resident that invested $731 in OneCoin commented about it:

“A lot of people in Samoa invested in it, not just the church members. Everybody in the public.”

New Zealand authorities realized that there were several users and promoters that were laundering funds through New Zealand. According to reports, OneCoin scammers in Samoa laundered $3 million NZD (close to $1.9 USD).

There are two churches that were used in order to launder money. These two churches have branches in New Zealand and Australia. This is why the New Zealand Financial Intelligence Unit (NZFIU) decided to investigate. There are several Samoan individuals involved that promoted the coin at the Samoan Seventh Day Adventist Church and Worship Center Christian Church.

At the moment, there is no information on whether individuals that have been helping church leaders to scam people through OneCoin in Australia or New Zealand will be facing action.