WHATSAPP SCAMMERS FLEECE INVESTORS OF $15 MILLION!

SEC v. Cryptoaiml Ltd.; Cryptoaiml Capital Foundation; TSAI Pro Ltd.; TSAI Capital Foundation — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Litigation Release No. 26654, dated September 29, 2026.

The SEC charged multiple entities with defrauding hundreds of retail investors out of at least $15 million through fake investment schemes. These entities impersonated investment professionals, used fake trading platforms, and falsely claimed regulatory compliance to steal investor funds, primarily through online platforms and group chats.

In Plain English

Imagine someone pretending to be a financial expert online. They create a fake website that looks like a real investment platform and promise big, guaranteed profits using special computer programs. They convince people to send them money, often in cryptocurrency, and then steal it. They even create fake documents to make it look like the government approves of their scam.

Disclaimer: all facts are drawn from the SEC's own filings; the claims described are allegations unless and until a court rules or the parties settle, and some cases end in dismissal.

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

1. Establish Fake Online Presence Entities like Cryptoaiml Ltd. and TSAI Pro Ltd. created fake online platforms and websites, such as techstarvoip.com for TSAI, to lure investors. They falsely claimed to be certified by regulators, including the SEC, and even posted screenshots of falsified SEC filings like Form D to appear legitimate.
2. Build Trust Through Social Media The fraudsters used platforms like WhatsApp group chats and Facebook to gain investor trust. They impersonated investment professionals and established online relationships with unsuspecting clients, making them feel secure in their investment.
3. Promise Guaranteed Profits with AI Investors were promised guaranteed profits through various means, including 'AI-generated trading signals' or by 'renting' AI-programmed trading bots. For example, TSAI claimed investors could earn income by recruiting others to invest in their AI-trading bot program.
4. Direct Funds to Fake Platforms Investors were directed to deposit their funds, often in crypto assets, onto the defendants' fake trading platforms. These platforms displayed fictitious profits to keep investors engaged and encouraged further deposits.
5. Misappropriate Funds The defendants misappropriated investor funds, with Cryptoaiml Ltd. and Cryptoaiml Capital Foundation stealing over $12.5 million and TSAI Pro Ltd. and TSAI Capital Foundation stealing at least $2.8 million from approximately 1,715 retail investors.
6. Prevent Withdrawals with Fees When investors attempted to withdraw their funds, they were met with excuses, such as their accounts being frozen. They were then told they needed to pay fraudulent advance fees before any funds could be released, further draining their accounts.
7. Fabricate Regulatory Approval To bolster their fraudulent claims, the entities fabricated regulatory approval. For instance, TSAI posted a phony certificate on their website that referenced a falsified Form D filed with the SEC, making their scheme appear legitimate and regulated.

The Enforcement Action

On September 29, 2026, the SEC charged Cryptoaiml Ltd., Cryptoaiml Capital Foundation, TSAI Pro Ltd., and TSAI Capital Foundation in two separate complaints filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The SEC alleged that these entities defrauded hundreds of retail investors through online investment confidence scams, misappropriating over $12.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The complaints seek permanent injunctions, conduct-based injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil penalties. The SEC's investigation was conducted by David S. Brown, Madiha M. Zuberi, Thomas Bedkowski, Jennie B. Krasner, Bryan Hsueh, and supervised by Diana K. Tani, Laura D’Allaird, and Paul Kim. The litigations are led by Ruth Pinkel and supervised by Stephen Kam.

Original SEC litigation release ↗ · Browse all cases