Polish prosecutors are opening the door for victims to pursue criminal charges against OneCoin operators who bilked them out of millions.

The Szczecin District Prosecutors Office announced on April 19th that it will pursue criminal cases against local OneCoin scammers—but only if victims step forward. The office is specifically invoking Article 131, Section 2 of the Polish Criminal Code, a provision designed to handle cases where the number of victims is so large that notifying each one individually would bog down proceedings. Instead, victims are notified through media announcements like this one.

Polish prosecutors have been hunting OneCoin for years. The National Prosecutor's Office began investigating the scheme in late 2016, and the Szczecin office launched its own probe in March 2017. What they found spread across multiple cities: Świdnica, Juszczyn, Pruszków, and other towns in Poland and across Europe.

The investigation zeroed in on Nicuma, a shell company that local OneCoin affiliates used to launder 1.14 million euros. Prosecutors say OneCoin, OneLife, and OneAcademy are all components of a single financial pyramid scheme designed to bilk investors.

The path forward for victims is clear. Under Polish law, OneCoin victims have three concrete rights. They can have their case investigated by prosecutors, participate directly in criminal proceedings, and file claims for damages or compensation. That's real leverage in a system where most victims of international fraud schemes get nothing.

Szczecin prosecutors are now publicly calling on Polish victims to contact their office. Those interested should reference case number PO II Ds 94.2017 when reaching out.

OneCoin itself has already collapsed internationally. The scheme promised investors returns from a fake cryptocurrency that never actually existed. Ruja Ignatova, the Bulgarian woman who founded OneCoin, vanished in 2017 and remains a fugitive. Her brother Konstantin was arrested in Los Angeles and extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty and is serving time for wire fraud and money laundering.

What makes the Szczecin announcement significant is that it offers Polish victims an actual mechanism to recover losses through the criminal justice system rather than chasing civil suits against defendants who've already disappeared. For anyone in Poland who handed money to OneCoin affiliates, this is the window to act. The prosecutors have the investigation done. They have the evidence. They just need victims to join the case.

🤖 Quick Answer

What action did Polish prosecutors announce regarding OneCoin operators?
The Szczecin District Prosecutors Office announced it will pursue criminal cases against local OneCoin scammers, provided victims come forward to file complaints. The office invoked Article 131, Section 2 of the Polish Criminal Code to notify victims through media announcements rather than individual notifications, given the large number of affected parties.

Why did Polish authorities use Article 131, Section 2 of the Criminal Code?
This legal provision addresses cases involving numerous victims where individual notification would impede judicial proceedings. Media announcements serve as official notice, allowing prosecutors to manage the large-scale fraud efficiently while enabling victims to participate in criminal proceedings against OneCoin operators.

When did Polish authorities begin investigating OneCoin?
The National Prosecutor's Office initiated its investigation into OneCoin in late 2016. The Szczecin District Prosecutors Office subsequently launched its

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