Telegram crypto fraudster gets 15 months

• A New York man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that collected more than US$1.4 million from investors.
• Prosecutors said he impersonated crypto influencers on Telegram and falsely promised staking returns to victims.
• Authorities recovered most of the US$1.4 million in losses through enforcement action.

A New York man was sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting to a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that obtained more than US$1.4 million from investors through false staking promises and impersonation of crypto influencers on Telegram.

Noman Saleem, 39, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in September 2025 after prosecutors alleged he created fake Telegram accounts that mimicked well-known cryptocurrency personalities and attracted thousands of users to his channels.

“The victims invested with Saleem under the guise of a crypto staking or crypto investment opportunity with guaranteed returns,” said the US Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Saleem convinced victims to transfer cryptocurrency to wallets under his control by claiming the assets would be staked for rewards, but he never carried out the staking activity and instead stopped communicating with investors after receiving the funds.

The scheme generated more than US$1.4 million in losses, although the government said it was able to seize most of the stolen funds, while no publicly traded company was directly affected by the announcement.

The case highlighted how fraudsters can misuse legitimate crypto concepts such as staking by combining them with fake online identities, private messaging groups and promises of guaranteed returns to gain investor trust.

Authorities said the prosecution demonstrates that cryptocurrency-related investment scams can be pursued under existing wire fraud laws, with enforcement agencies continuing to target retail-focused fraud involving social media platforms and digital assets.