FinTelegram has tracked the notorious Israeli lawyer Moshe Strugano for years in connection with the fraudulent binary options industry. Strugano was the lawyer-to-go for scammers to set up offshore entities and bank accounts. A new whistleblower tip claims Strugano was arrested in Athens at the end of July and is contesting extradition. We have not verified this. What is verified: parallel SEC (civil) and DOJ/SDNY (criminal) insider-trading actions filed in 2022.
Key Points
- Unconfirmed: Tip claims Strugano was detained in Athens (late July) and is fighting extradition; FinTelegram has no official confirmation yet.
- On record: SEC charged Strugano and Rinat Gazit (Apr 20, 2022) over trading ahead of Ormat’s acquisition of U.S. Geothermal; complaint alleges ~$1.2m in illicit profit (Source: sec.gov).
- On record: DOJ/SDNY unsealed a parallel indictment the same week; Strugano is described as a lawyer specializing in offshore companies. (Arrest warrants in such cases issue from courts via DOJ, not the SEC) (Source: justice.gov).
- Context: FinTelegram’s archive details Strugano’s facilitating role in the Israeli binary-options scene (e.g., Yukom/Tradorax nexus) and earlier UK attention (Source: fintelegram.com)
- Industry scale: Israel’s binary-options industry defrauded hundreds of thousands of victims globally, prompting Israel’s 2017 legislative ban; U.S. regulators and prosecutors have since brought major cases (SpotOption, Yukom/Lee Elbaz, Cartu brothers) Source: timesofisrael.com).
Short Narrative
FinTelegram has repeatedly reported on Moshe Strugano as a key enabler in the binary-options era—structuring companies and accounts that helped scammers scale cross-border operations.
Our 2020–2025 coverage situates him among the ecosystem of Israeli operators whose brands siphoned billions from retail victims worldwide. In April 2022, the SEC and DOJ/SDNY filed actions against Strugano tied to U.S. Geothermal (HTM) trading ahead of Ormat’s takeover announcement—allegations he has denied in Israeli press.
Read our reports on Moshe Strugano here.
Extended Analysis
The new Athens-arrest claim—late July with a purported extradition fight—is not yet corroborated by Greek police notices, court bulletins, or credible wire reports. That absence doesn’t prove it false; Greek extradition matters can take place on opaque timelines and sometimes surface only when a court rules (compare other high-profile Israel-linked extradition cases in Greece). Until a Greek court record, Interpol notice, or DOJ/SDNY filing reflects a custodial status, the report remains unverified (Source: ft.com).
What is clear—and documented—is Strugano’s 2022 exposure in U.S. proceedings: the SEC complaint alleges he bought >740,000 HTM shares and profited about $1.2m, while SDNY accuses him of securities fraud and conspiracy, highlighting his use of offshore structures and a Swiss bank relationship. These filings sit against the backdrop of Israel’s now-banned binary options industry and a steady cadence of U.S./EU enforcement.
Actionable Insight
- Verification targets: Greek appellate prosecutor docket numbers; Athens Police press notes; Ministry of Justice extradition decisions; defense counsel of record in Greece; any Greek court orders regarding travel restrictions or bail.
- U.S. side: Monitor SDNY docket updates and SEC case activity; any MLAT/extradition references will likely surface there first.
- Ecosystem mapping: Cross-reference Strugano-linked entities and bank relationships in prior FinTelegram files with Yukom/Cartu/SpotOption cases to trace funds and service providers.
Call for Information (Whistle42)
Were you in a Greek court or police unit when Strugano was allegedly detained in late July? Do you have a case number, custody record, travel-document data, or counsel names? Share securely via Whistle42. We especially seek Greek docket IDs, custody paperwork, and defense filings. Your evidence can help move this from rumor to fact.
