15 months in prison for fake staking: how a scammer impersonated crypto influencers
A New York resident, Noman Salim, 39, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraudulent staking scheme on Telegram. Posing as well-known crypto influencers, he deceived dozens of investors, swindling over $1.4 million in cryptocurrency and fiat money. This case is a stark example of how Telegram's anonymity and trust in "star" names are exploited for financial fraud.
How the Scheme with Fake Influencers Worked
In 2020, Salim created a Telegram channel, copying the username of a popular crypto influencer. Thousands of users subscribed, believing they were communicating with a real analyst. The scammer then launched a paid VIP chat with a subscription fee of $500–600 in cryptocurrency. Participants could write to him directly and were convinced they were receiving exclusive advice from an authoritative figure.
Later, Salim repeated the trick by copying the username of a second influencer and launched a similar subscription system. He offered "staking" with fixed returns for periods of 30 to 90 days, promising higher payouts for large deposits. In reality, the funds were never placed in real protocols—all the money went directly to wallets controlled by the scammer.
Financial Losses and Sentencing
Victims transferred cryptocurrency to wallets managed by Salim. After receiving the assets, he cut off communication and disappeared. According to the investigation, the scheme yielded at least $1.4 million in cryptocurrencies and US dollars. As part of a plea deal, Salim returned most of the amount to the state.
Judge Deborah K. Chasanow of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland also sentenced him to three years of supervised release after leaving prison. Salim pleaded guilty in September 2025. This case is part of a growing wave of fraud exploiting trust in well-known figures on social media.
Analyst's comment: This verdict is an important signal for the market. U.S. authorities are actively pursuing scammers hiding behind anonymous crypto wallets. Investors should remember: no "VIP subscription" for $500 guarantees legitimacy. Always verify communication channels and never transfer funds to wallets you do not personally control.