Jarryd Hayne, a figure renowned for fame and success, has also been involved in scandals and exhibited perplexing behavior. As an NRL superstar, Olympic sevens rugby champion, and professional soccer player in Australia, the former Superstar was amongst the most recognizable faces in his home country. Yet, sadly, as it seems, success does not guarantee you the power or the skill to evade predation. Jarryd Hayne has been caught up in another scandal, resulting in him being swindled out of a significant sum of money.
Cryptocurrency Scams
As reported by Daily Mail, the culprit behind this crime was Ishan Seenar Sappideen, a man who Jarryd Hayne had met while serving time in the Cooma prison following convictions for the alleged rape of a woman in Newcastle in 2019. Sappideen had allegedly conned Jarryd Hayne, as well as six other fellow inmates, into sending over a combined total of $2 million between the years of 2020 and 2022, by playing upon their lack of access to the internet while in jail. Jarryd Hayne to recoup a settlement for his $780,000 loss, but the fate of the funds he sent is still unknown.
It appears that Jarryd Hayne was not the only athlete to succumb to a cryptocurrency scam. Brazilian soccer players Scarpa, Rocha de Oliveira, and Bigorde revealed losses of over $5 million to crypto firm Xland. Scarpa lamented, “I’ve always seen stupid people fall victim to pyramid schemes and scams. Finding myself in a situation like that is horrible.”
Willian Bigode was accused of coercing players to invest in Xland, but he claims he’s a victim, losing $3.3 million. The police believe that the losses were the result of a “pyramid scheme” yet the company has disputed this, claiming that their investor losses had been “the consequence of the unfortunate demise of a crypto exchange”. They must now reimburse the players for their loss.
Jail Time for the Fraudsters
Fortunately, there is some sense of justice in the world. In Morocco, Thomas Clausi, a 21-year-old Frenchman, received an 18-month jail sentence and a $3.7 million fine.
More examples of fraudsters being held to account include Gilbert Armenta – the ex-lover of the notorious “Cryptoqueen” – who received five years in jail for laundering $300 million from OneCoin investors. And Cooper Morgenthau, the ex-CFO of African Gold, embezzled and gambled $5 million from various SPACs.
Public Figures as Targets: Jarryd Hayne and Crypto Scams
This is yet another unfortunate tale of deceit and of the mischievous antics of fraudsters everywhere. Even with the implementation of stricter measures and new legislation, digital assets continue to be vulnerable to criminal activity.
Even public figures like Jarryd Hayne can become victims of crypto scams, reminding us to exercise caution. As Scarpa rightly put it, “finding myself in a situation like that is horrible”. Cryptocurrencies’ rising popularity should be accompanied by education and scrutiny from investors to ensure responsible investment. Otherwise, naivety and greed will always remain the greatest enemy of the wise and foolhardy alike.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.
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