15 months in prison for fake staking: how a scammer impersonated crypto influencers
A New York resident, Noman Salim, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme. He impersonated well-known cryptocurrency influencers on Telegram, luring victims into fake staking programs. In addition to the prison term, Judge Deborah K. Chasanow also imposed three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
How the Impersonation Scheme Worked
In 2020, Salim copied the username of a popular crypto influencer on Telegram. Thousands of users subscribed to his public channel. He then created a paid VIP chat room with a subscription fee ranging from $500 to $600 in cryptocurrency. Participants were convinced they were communicating directly with the real influencer and receiving exclusive trading signals.
Later, the fraudster copied the username of a second crypto influencer and launched a similar system. This allowed him to significantly expand his audience. Salim offered staking with fixed returns for periods ranging from 30 to 90 days and promised higher payouts for large deposits. However, in reality, he did not place the funds in any real staking pools.
Financial Outcome and Sentencing
Victims transferred cryptocurrency to wallets controlled by Salim. Upon receiving the assets, he would cut off communication and disappear with the money. According to the investigation, the scheme generated at least $1.4 million in cryptocurrencies and U.S. dollars. Salim returned most of this amount to the government as part of a plea agreement.
Salim pleaded guilty in September 2025. This case is part of a growing wave of frauds exploiting trust in well-known figures on social media. It also demonstrates that authorities continue to actively pursue fraudsters hiding behind anonymous crypto wallets.
Cryptalist Commentary: This story serves as a stark reminder that in the world of cryptocurrencies, where anonymity and transaction speed are advantages, trust in social media "stars" must be backed by verification. Always check the official channels of influencers and remember: promises of guaranteed returns in staking are a red flag, especially if you are asked to transfer funds to a personal wallet rather than a verified platform.