Roman Kazimierz Ziemian, a Polish national wanted for allegedly defrauding investors of $21 million, had his Cyprus passport revoked in October. His citizenship was stripped following his arrest in Montenegro on charges connected to FutureNet, a digital currency trading platform.

Ziemian acquired Cypriot citizenship in August 2019 through the island nation's now-discontinued "golden passports" program. This scheme allowed foreign investors to obtain citizenship by investing between 2.5 million and 25 million euros. The program, long criticized for its lax oversight, became known for attracting individuals seeking to bypass scrutiny. Ziemian’s wife and son also received citizenship under this program.

The family attempted to distance themselves from their past by changing their surname to Hortman. Warsaw Interpol's cooperation with Cypriot authorities ultimately led to the revocation of Ziemian's citizenship.

Stephan Morgenstern, identified as a co-conspirator in the FutureNet scheme, employed a similar strategy. In 2019, both Ziemian and Morgenstern purchased Gambian diplomatic passports, creating multiple avenues for evasion. Morgenstern was arrested in Albania in September 2023. As of March 2024, he faced extradition to South Korea for charges related to FutureNet. Poland has also requested Ziemian's extradition, aligning with South Korea's pursuit of prosecution.

Individuals connected to the alleged fraud have reportedly attempted to suppress negative publicity. In October, an individual claiming to represent a reputation management firm contacted journalist Molly White, who covers crypto fraud. The offer began at $200 to remove a post about FutureNet and Ziemian, eventually increasing to $500. White declined both offers.

Shortly after, a lawyer named Michael Woods sent White a cease-and-desist letter, asserting her post violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Woods claimed White had copied content from his client's website. The website in question featured an older article that had, in fact, copied White's original reporting. White rejected these claims.

This pattern of behavior suggests that individuals facing exposure for alleged fraud often employ damage control measures. These efforts can include attempting to silence critics and remove information from public view.

Journalist Molly White has refused multiple offers to remove content related to FutureNet and Ziemian.