The QBF scam, as meticulously detailed on qbfexposed.com and supported by judicial records, represents not just a financial deception but a pivotal moment in pursuing financial integrity and justice. This Ponzi scheme, orchestrated by Roman Shpakov and Linda Athanasiadou, was ingeniously masked as a legitimate investment operation under the watch of top regulatory bodies like the Central Bank of Russia, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).
This scam's international scope underlines the complexities of modern financial fraud embedded deep into the financial institutions and regulatory authorities. The involvement of respected regulatory bodies points to significant lapses in the global financial oversight system, urgently needing more effective cross-border regulatory cooperation and due diligence.
Intricate Operations and Lavish Expenditures
Our commitment lies in revealing the full scale of this fraud that spanned from 2012 to 2021 and traversed international borders. Companies such as QB Finance LLC, Q Broker LLC, and Constance Investment LTD were instrumental in this scheme, falsely promising substantial returns to unsuspecting investors. This global operation highlights critical vulnerabilities within the international financial regulatory framework.
The Essence of Accountability
The legal implications have been significant, with the imprisonment of figures like Zelimkhan Munaev, Stanislav Matyukhin, Vladimir Pakhomov, and Evgeniya Rossieva. Their plea deal, the messages, emails, and other evidence, including Linda Athanasiadou's recorded admissions, unveiled the complex network of fraudulent operations, highlighting the intricate mechanisms used to launder funds.
Still, our narrative is broader, underscoring the essential need for accountability in the financial sector, irrespective of status or position. The involvement of figures like Shpakov and Athanasiadou and their subsequent evasion signals the need for a more robust and diligent pursuit of justice in the financial world.
Exploring Cryptocurrency Links and C98
The scam's foray into cryptocurrency is evidenced by its links with entities like Cryptopay and London Block Exchange (LBX). The involvement of Benjamin Dives, CEO of LBX, alongside Phill Millo, CEO of Argento, opens a new chapter in our investigation. The links and association of Ksenia Torress with Argento's Compartment 98 (C98), being the compartment of the Argento/QBF Bonds, further highlights the sophisticated methods employed in this scheme, prompting deeper inquiries into a sophisticated financial transaction layering and money laundering scheme and potential misuse and misappropriation of funds.
Building a Comprehensive Case
We focus on gathering a comprehensive array of evidence, including court documents, witness accounts, and communication records. This effort is vital to understanding the depth of the scam and ensuring that such deceptive practices are brought to light and addressed effectively.
Advocating for Global Financial Justice
This exposition of the QBF scam is a call for global action. We urge regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and the international community to reinforce their commitment to financial justice.
This case is a stark reminder of the necessity for stringent oversight, ethical conduct, and international cooperation in financial regulation to safeguard the interests of investors and uphold the principles of justice in the financial world.
The QBF Scam: Unveiling the Depths of Financial Fraudulence
The QBF scam, as meticulously detailed on qbfexposed.com and supported by judicial records, represents not just a financial deception but a pivotal moment in pursuing financial integrity and justice. This Ponzi scheme, orchestrated by Roman Shpakov and Linda Athanasiadou, was ingeniously masked as a legitimate investment operation under the watch of top regulatory bodies like the Central Bank of Russia, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).
This scam's international scope underlines the complexities of modern financial fraud embedded deep into the financial institutions and regulatory authorities. The involvement of respected regulatory bodies points to significant lapses in the global financial oversight system, urgently needing more effective cross-border regulatory cooperation and due diligence.
Intricate Operations and Lavish Expenditures
Our commitment lies in revealing the full scale of this fraud that spanned from 2012 to 2021 and traversed international borders. Companies such as QB Finance LLC, Q Broker LLC, and Constance Investment LTD were instrumental in this scheme, falsely promising substantial returns to unsuspecting investors. This global operation highlights critical vulnerabilities within the international financial regulatory framework.
The Essence of Accountability
The legal implications have been significant, with the imprisonment of figures like Zelimkhan Munaev, Stanislav Matyukhin, Vladimir Pakhomov, and Evgeniya Rossieva. Their plea deal, the messages, emails, and other evidence, including Linda Athanasiadou's recorded admissions, unveiled the complex network of fraudulent operations, highlighting the intricate mechanisms used to launder funds.
Still, our narrative is broader, underscoring the essential need for accountability in the financial sector, irrespective of status or position. The involvement of figures like Shpakov and Athanasiadou and their subsequent evasion signals the need for a more robust and diligent pursuit of justice in the financial world.
Exploring Cryptocurrency Links and C98
The scam's foray into cryptocurrency is evidenced by its links with entities like Cryptopay and London Block Exchange (LBX). The involvement of Benjamin Dives, CEO of LBX, alongside Phill Millo, CEO of Argento, opens a new chapter in our investigation. The links and association of Ksenia Torress with Argento's Compartment 98 (C98), being the compartment of the Argento/QBF Bonds, further highlights the sophisticated methods employed in this scheme, prompting deeper inquiries into a sophisticated financial transaction layering and money laundering scheme and potential misuse and misappropriation of funds.
The QBF Scam: Unveiling the Depths of Financial Fraudulence
The Moscow-based QBF, in collaboration with its Russian sister company Q.Broker LLC and Cypriot Company Constance Investment LTD, promised investors maximum convenience, reliability, and a significant authorized capital of 333 million rubles.
Investigations revealed that QBF did not use investors’ money to buy shares related to IPO options as promised. Instead, the funds were invested in development projects of the beneficiary of the group of companies, R.V. Shpakov, and a significant portion of the client funds were withdrawn abroad.
By 2021, QBF ceased paying investors for all over-the-counter products, blaming Q.broker LLC for not fulfilling obligations. Beneficiary Shpakov Roman reportedly disappeared abroad.
Key Players:
Roman Shpakov: Roman Shpakov: The beneficiary of the group of companies and the central figure behind the Scam.
Linda Athanasiadou: Linked with audit services through her firm, AeliusCircle and NOA Circle, she played a pivotal role in the scam’s operations. She was also responsible for the money laundering operations. Stanislav Matyukhin: The firm’s head was implicated in creating a convoluted legal structure to shield the core business from liabilities.
Modus Operandi:
QBF’s allure lies in its promises of substantial returns, leading investors to believe in the professional management of their funds. Deceptive Practices: Investors were routinely provided with fabricated monthly and quarterly reports, painting a rosy picture of profitability. However, when they sought to cash out, QBF employed a myriad of excuses to deny their requests.
The extent of the Scam:
The financial devastation wrought by QBF ranges between 2 to 7 billion Russian rubles. The list of victims reads like a who’s who of society, encompassing religious leaders, generals, ministers, and directors of major institutions.
Unravelling the Scam:
The facade began to crumble when investors encountered hurdles in accessing their funds. Further probes debunked QBF’s claims of leveraging AI for investment decisions.
Legal Consequences:
QBF’s dubious operations culminated in revoking its license in July 2021. While some perpetrators faced the legal music, many victims remained silent, possibly due to the questionable nature of their investments.
Consequences: The QBF scandal has tarnished the Russian financial sector’s reputation and underscored the dire need for stringent oversight and transparency. As the saga unfolds, it is a stark reminder of the perils of unchecked financial malfeasance.
The story of QBF has garnered significant media attention in Russia, with publications like Forbes shedding light on the intricacies of the financial pyramid.
The summary of the indictment in the criminal case №12001450007000902 details the extensive and complex illegal activities led by R.V. Shpakov, the head of the financial group “QBF”. This case involves charges of forming and directing an unlawful association and committing fraud violating Articles 210 and 159 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Elements of the Criminal Scheme:
Formation of Criminal Association: Shpakov, leveraging his influential position, formed a criminal association with a precise role distribution, focused on committing fraud through investment schemes in securities and over-the-counter option contracts.
Methodology:
The association operated through structurally separate units with specific functions. They created and registered legal entities, produced fictitious contracts, and involved direct perpetrators and unknowing participants to execute the criminal plan.
Embezzlement Process:
The scheme involved stages where potential clients were identified, deceived into believing in profitable investments and then persuaded to sign client agreements. The funds were then embezzled through various means, including creating false reports and manipulating transactions.
Roles and Duties:
As the leader, Shpakov was responsible for organizing, financing, and directing the activities, including training in deception techniques and distributing the criminal proceeds. Other key members, such as V.S. Pakhomov, Linda Athanasiadou, Matyukhin S.A., Munaev Z.V., A.S. Golubev, and E.A. Rossieva, were given specific roles in the organization, each heading different structural subdivisions and carrying out assigned functions to further the criminal objectives.
Criminal Activities and Impact:
The organization systematically committed large-scale fraud, leading to significant financial losses for numerous victims. Each specific fraud case is detailed, highlighting the systematic and coordinated approach used in the criminal activities.
Termination of Activities:
The operation of this criminal association was halted by law enforcement interventions, leading to the indictment of its members for their roles in the organization.
The QBF Scam: Unveiling the Depths of Financial Fraudulence
Financial Crime/Fraud, APOLLON Athanasiades, Argento access, Constance investment, CySec, FCA, FRAUD, LBX, LINDA ATHANASIADOU, Money Laundering, NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY, QBF, ROMAN SPHAKOV, Pakhamov V.S, Zelimkhan Munayev, Matykhin S.A, Alexei Sergeyevich Golubev, Rossieva E.A, SCAM, NOA CIRCLE, Benjamin Dives, LBX/ARGENTO BONDS, Linda Athanasiadou/Kovalenko, Interpol/Europol, MOKAS, financial fraud, financial crime, CONSTANCE, Phil Millo, Ben Dives LBX - Argento SCAM