Swede who ran multi-million dollar Bitcoin scam arrested on Koh Chang

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Swede who ran multi-million dollar Bitcoin scam arrested on Koh Chang

 

Image: Manager

 

Police in Thailand have arrested a Swedish man wanted in connection with a multi-million dollar fraud.

 

Roger Nils-Jonas Karlsson, 45, was arrested on June 18 at an address on Koh Chang, where he has lived with his Thai wife for eight years.

 

Police officers seized a number of electronic devices that are believed to have been used for fraudulent activities.

 

Thai police were acting on information from the authorities in the United States via Interpol, who say Karlsson defrauded more than 3,500 victims of more than $11 million.

 

Manager reported that Karlsson told officers he set up a legitimate cryptocurrency investment website but was forced to close the site when his business started to experience huge losses.

 

 

 

 

However, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice Karlsson used websites to communicate false representations to victims in a scheme to defraud potential investors.  

 

One website, www.easternmetalsecurities.com, allegedly was registered to a fictitious person and advertised shares in a product called a “Pre Funded Reversed Pension Plan” (PFRPP).  

 

Karlsson allegedly used the website to invite potential investors to purchase shares of the plan for $98 per share in exchange for an eventual payout of 1.15 kilograms of gold per share, even though as of January 2, 2019, 1.15 kilograms of gold was worth more than $45,000.  

 

Karlsson also allegedly advised investors that, in the unlikely event that the gold payout did not happen, he guaranteed to them 97% of the amount they invested. According to the complaint, the government found no evidence of any accounts held by Karlsson that would allow him to pay off the investors.  

 

Instead, the complaint alleges, the funds provided by victims were transferred to Karlsson’s personal bank accounts and now appear to be tied up in real estate in Thailand.

 

Karlsson also directed his victims to make investments using virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin.  He allegedly defrauded no less than 3,575 victims of more than $11 million.

 

Karlsson will now be extradited back to the USA where he faces up to 40 years in jail and fines in excess of $750,000.

 

 -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-06-20

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[geoffbezoz]

Good riddance to him

 

[4675636b596f75]

5 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thai police were acting on information from the authorities in the United States via Interpol, who say Karlsson defrauded more than 3,500 victims of more than $11 million.

If he had 11 million Dollars, one has to ask why he would live in Thailand?  Cypress comes to mind as a better place, no extradition.

[geoffbezoz]

1 minute ago, 4675636b596f75 said:

If he had 11 million Dollars, one has to ask why he would live in Thailand?  Cypress comes to mind as a better place, no extradition.

Well guess he thought he would never get caught and Thailand is despite many things a very nice country to live in and guess he thought so to.  Also perhaps his Thai wife of 8 years would rather live in her own country.

[Forethat]

The Swede "will now be extradited BACK to USA"...? 

[Myran]

Let's hope he gets the full 40 years then and never sees the light of day again.

[from the home of CC]

he'll only be 75 when released, plenty of time to come back on a retirement visa...

[GeorgeCross]

1 minute ago, from the home of CC said:

he'll only be 75 when released, plenty of time to come back on a retirement visa...

 

by then only warren buffet will qualify for a retirement visa

 

 

[worgeordie]

18 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

now appear to be tied up in real estate in Thailand.

I wonder if that real estate will be sold off at fire sale prices

to certain people,to try and recoup a few dollars for the losers.

 

regards worgeodie

[worgeordie]

4 minutes ago, Forethat said:

The Swede "will now be extradited BACK to USA"...? 

USA the World police....there must have been some

that lost money there.

regards worgeordie

[Lemonltr]

31 minutes ago, 4675636b596f75 said:

If he had 11 million Dollars, one has to ask why he would live in Thailand?  Cypress comes to mind as a better place, no extradition.

Not unless they can climb trees! 

[SammyT]

41 minutes ago, 4675636b596f75 said:

If he had 11 million Dollars, one has to ask why he would live in Thailand?  Cypress comes to mind as a better place, no extradition.

Hate to break it to you, but not everyone choose to live in Thailand simply because it's the only place they can afford

[CGW]

30 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

USA the World police....there must have been some

No other country can afford to be the "World Police ???? Funny thing is they can't afford it either, glad I'm not a USA taxpayer ???? 

[balo]

On 6/20/2019 at 4:34 PM, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Roger Nils-Jonas Karlsson, 45

I checked on some Swedish websites, and it's actually his birthday today June 20, 45 years old. 

 

The celebration will take place inside a prison cell. Sorry dude, you <deleted> up the rest of your life. 

[KittenKong]

57 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

he set up a legitimate cryptocurrency investment website but was forced to close the site when his business started to experience huge losses.

Obviously fake news. Everyone knows that Crypto investments only go up and cant possibly lose you money.

[CHdiver]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Karlsson allegedly used the website to invite potential investors to purchase shares of the plan for $98 per share in exchange for an eventual payout of 1.15 kilograms of gold per share, even though as of January 2, 2019, 1.15 kilograms of gold was worth more than $45,000

I guess Bernhard Madoff will bow to Karlsson in jail, because he found even more stupid "investors". 

[Kasane]

Many criminals find refuge in Thailand. 

[dbrenn]

It's astonishing how people keep on falling for Ponzi schemes like these. 

[ukrules]

Another run of the mill ponzi type scam, sounds like he didn't even bother to keep it up over time, he just spent it all.

 

I wonder how this guy thought he would get away with it? He's dumber than his investors.

[Wilsonandson]

The Swede "will now be extradited BACK to USA"...? 

Where he'll enjoy himself there. Be a real popular guy. Time to himself, the self catering, open shower rooms and friendly company at the break a rock foundation. Mmm, mmm Swede on the menu tonight. My, my what great times lie ahead for you, sweet cheeks.

[from the home of CC]

14 minutes ago, dbrenn said:

It's astonishing how people keep on falling for Ponzi schemes like these. 

and will continue to till greed falls out of fashion..

[Mavideol]

nobody told him to use a vpn to slow down the tracking

[Bluespunk]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Karlsson allegedly used the website to invite potential investors to purchase shares of the plan for $98 per share in exchange for an eventual payout of 1.15 kilograms of gold per share, even though as of January 2, 2019, 1.15 kilograms of gold was worth more than $45,000.

Anyone who believed that claim is a moron.

[GeorgeCross]

19 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Anyone who believed that claim is a moron.

 

there's one in every bar in thailand 

 

 

[Wilsonandson]

 
there's one in every bar in thailand 
 
 

It's my round are you coming?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

he'll only be 75 when released, plenty of time to come back on a retirement visa...

 

If he can afford the 800K a year at that point (plus whatever 40 years of periodic adjustments ends up being).  Though that's assuming he gets/does the full 40 years, which is probably unlikely.

[Matzzon]

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Karlsson will now be extradited back to the USA where he faces up to 40 years in jail and fines in excess of $750,000.

Let´s just say; The future for Mr. Karlsson does not look so bright.

[observer90210]

Ouch!...almost feel sorry for the cheat...who will have to play girlie-girlie with some hard core- steroid pumped- bald - tatooed - bodybuilt gang leader,  serving life in a US Federal Facility.... and assuming that those life serving criminals in US jails, may have an aversion in the use of a condom....ouch!...ouch!...best of luck fella !!!

[norfolkandchance]

3 hours ago, Lemonltr said:

Not unless they can climb trees! 

Turkish or Greek side.

[Mitkof Island]

Swede=Koh Chang = Criminal . And this is news ? What else is new ? Check Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket,Koh Samui, Pattaya or any other tourist slum. There are thousands more like this guy in Thailand.