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Tag: Binex Group

May 26, 2021

The background story of Austrian Meinl Bank and its now arrested CEO

Austria's Meinl Bank was notorious for its role in the international money laundering scene. In September 2020, FinTelegram reported that a significant portion of the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS) revealed by the FinCEN Leaks involved Austrian Meinl Bank and its subsidiary Meinl Bank Antigua. In addition, the OCCRP report titled The Vienna Bank Job revealed that the bank laundered hundreds of millions from Ukraine. Furthermore, cybercrime activists such as Russian Vladislav Smirnov also used Meinl Bank for his business. Meinl Bank has since closed; its former CEO, Peter Weinzierl, was arrested yesterday in the UK.

September 29, 2020

Binex Group and the Russian-Ukraine Connection in Vienna Cybercrime Trials

In the first of the Vienna Cybercrime Trials ("VCT"), the Israeli principal of the cybercrime organization operated via the Bulgarian E&G Bulgaria, Gal Barak, was sentenced to four years in prison in early September 2020. One reason for the relatively modest sentence was Barak's confession. Through his lawyers, Barak also submitted documents that massively incriminated his Russian partner Vladislav Smirnov and his Binex Group, making him de facto the mastermind behind the Barak scams.

September 24, 2020

FinCEN Leaks meet Vienna Cybercrime Trials

FinCEN Leaks are currently a big topic in the financial industry. The analysis of the approximately 2,500 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) leaked FinCEN documents demonstrates what FinTelegram has been stretching out for years now - money-laundering is still not really taken seriously by financial institutions. The FinCEN Leaks also have a direct connection to the Vienna Cybercrime Trials and the collapsed Austrian Meinl Bank.

March 2, 2020

Alleged Russian money-laundering scheme loses millions in bankruptcy of Austrian Meinl Bank

Early 2019, the Austrian Meinl Bank filed a money laundering report to the competent authorities on the basis of the reports of FinTelegram. The object of the suspicious activities report (SAR) was Keyring Holdings Ltd of the Russian Vladislav “Vlad” Smirnov (aka Vladislav Khokholkov). With the bank's insolvency the money is most likely gone.

September 18, 2019

Broker Scams – Another court hearing scheduled in Sofia for the extradition of Gal Barak and the frozen money!

The Israeli Gal Barak, who lives in Bulgaria, is to be extradited to Austria. After months of investigation, the Austrian authorities issued an EU arrest..

April 7, 2019

Another Boiler Room Exposed – Capital Market Solutions Serves Illegal Broker Schemes

The FinTelegram Research Team thanks its whistleblowers once again. Without their information, we would hardly be able to put together the great puzzle around the..

March 29, 2019

EFRI Campaign – Payment Services Provider Dreams Pay Closed Down Website

The EFRI PSP Class Action Campaign seems to have an impact already. EFRI and FinTelegram teams are talking to some of these PSPs to acquire..

March 16, 2019

Investor Warning – New Crypto Exchanges To Facilitate Fraud And Money Laundering For Illegal Broker Schemes

Since 2017, cryptocurrencies have been used by scam artists and fraudsters as a way out of the increasingly restrictive banking and financial system. Despite public..

February 7, 2019

ICOAdm.in – Another Questionable Project Led by Vladislav Smirnov & Gery Shalon – Part 1

There is a war going on in the illicit online broker and crypto sphere between different groups of people blaming each other of being the..

October 11, 2018

BINEX GROUP, DREAMSPAY, AND THEIR FRAUDULENT EXPANSION

We have been covering the cybercrime activities of the Wolf of Sofia, Gal BARAK, and its partners Marina Barak (previously Marina ANDREEVA), Gery SHALON, and Vladislav SMIRNOV since 2018. Our reporting was instrumental in breaking up this cybercrime organization. As a result, gal Barak was arrested in early 2019 and sentenced to four years in prison in September 2020 for investment fraud and money laundering. In addition, his wife Marina is currently on trial. The Binex Group was a centerpiece of their organization to launder money stolen from scam victims.

Compliance Report: Sergey Mendeleev, Garantex, and Exved – The Rising Role of Crypto in Russia’s Sanctions Evasion Strategy

Sergey Mendeleev, a prominent figure in Russia's cryptocurrency scene, has played a central role in the establishment and operation of two key platforms—Garantex and Exved. These platforms have been instrumental in facilitating cross-border payments and crypto transactions, potentially serving as important tools for Russia’s sanctions evasion strategy. Mendeleev's growing influence in this space, coupled with Russia's evolving regulatory framework, positions him as a key player in Russia.

Russia’s New Crypto Strategy for Sanctions Evasion

Russia’s new crypto laws, allowing mining and international payments in digital currencies, are part of a broader strategy to evade Western sanctions and reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar. This move, led by the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), opens up new compliance risks for global financial institutions dealing with Russian entities. The new laws are set to take effect in September for cross-border payments and in November for crypto mining.

Secretive Cyprus Funds Used to Obscure Megayachts and Real Estate Linked to Sanctioned Russian Banker

A recent OCCRP investigation revealed that Cyprus-registered RAIFs were used to hide megayachts and real estate linked to sanctioned Russian banker Andrei Kostin. These secretive funds, managed by Inveqo, allowed clients to avoid disclosing their ownership, raising concerns about the effectiveness of sanctions and regulatory enforcement. The case highlights the challenges of ensuring transparency and preventing financial crime in the global investment landscape.

First-Ever Crypto Seizure in Scotland Under New UK Law

Crypto has undoubtedly become mainstream, particularly in the cybercrime sphere. In a first for Scottish law enforcement, £110,000 in cryptocurrency has been confiscated from John Ross Rennie following a violent robbery. Under new UK rules, police can now seize crypto assets without needing to make an arrest, highlighting a growing focus on tackling digital crime as incidents involving cryptocurrency continue to rise.

Former Lebanon Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh Charged with Financial Crimes

It was a long-expected move. The powerful former Lebanon Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh has been arrested and charged with embezzling $42 million in public funds, part of a broader $110 million fraud case. His detention comes amid ongoing domestic and international investigations into financial misconduct during his controversial three-decade tenure. In 2022, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) froze assets worth €120 million tied to Salame.