Fake Crypto Influencer Sentenced Over $1.4m Telegram Fraud

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A New York man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for running a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that used fake social media identities and a bogus staking program to steal more than $1.4 million from investors.

Noman Saleem, 39, was sentenced by a federal court in Maryland after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors said he impersonated well-known cryptocurrency influencers on Telegram and used their reputations to gain the trust of potential victims.

According to court documents, the scheme began in late 2020. Saleem created Telegram accounts that mimicked popular crypto personalities and attracted thousands of followers to public channels. He then invited users to join private "VIP" groups for a fee, where victims believed they were communicating directly with the influencers.

Within the private channels, Saleem promoted what he described as cryptocurrency staking opportunities with guaranteed returns over periods of 30 to 90 days. Prosecutors said no staking activity ever took place. Instead, investors sent cryptocurrency to wallets controlled by Saleem, who then stopped communicating with them.

Authorities said the scheme generated at least $1.4 million in cryptocurrency and cash. Following Saleem's guilty plea in 2025, investigators recovered a significant portion of the stolen funds. The case was investigated by the FBI's Baltimore field office.