UK national Imtiaz Aslam, also known as Immy Aslam, received a $6.9 million default judgment on October 10th. This order came from a Utah federal court against his role as second-in-command of the Traffic Monsoon Ponzi scheme, following years of evading legal service.

Traffic Monsoon, founded by Charles Scoville, operated as an online advertising platform that promised high returns on investments in "ad-packs." The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) later shut down the operation in 2016, labeling it a sophisticated Ponzi scheme. Scoville was subsequently convicted and incarcerated for defrauding thousands of investors.

Aslam, a key promoter and recruiter for the scheme, left the United Kingdom when the SEC action began. He then moved to Dubai, a jurisdiction often chosen by individuals seeking to avoid legal scrutiny for financial fraud. For years, Aslam successfully sidestepped attempts to serve him with legal documents.

The court-appointed Receiver, tasked with recovering funds for Traffic Monsoon victims, faced significant challenges locating Aslam. In June, after traditional service methods failed, the court granted an unusual request. It allowed the Receiver to serve Aslam via WhatsApp messages, acknowledging his deliberate evasion.

The default judgment includes $5.08 million in principal damages. It also adds $1.8 million in prejudgment interest. This total reflects the funds Aslam allegedly received from the scheme. A default judgment means Aslam did not appear in court or respond to the lawsuit.

Securing a judgment against an overseas defendant like Aslam is one step in a complex process. Actually collecting the money remains a significant challenge. Assets held in jurisdictions like Dubai are often difficult to identify and seize.

In related proceedings, the court on October 12th issued an order concerning Maurizio Longo. Longo, an Italian promoter for Traffic Monsoon, is accused of illegally obtaining $607,174 from the scheme. The Receiver has been unable to serve Longo with legal documents as well. The court's order requires the Receiver to explain why these claims should not be dismissed due to lack of service.

The Traffic Monsoon case has affected thousands of victims globally, with total losses exceeding $200 million. The Receiver continues its work to identify and recover assets. These efforts aim to provide some restitution to those who lost money. The pursuit of individuals like Aslam and Longo is part of an ongoing effort to recoup funds from the defunct $200 million Traffic Monsoon Ponzi scheme.