New Zealand churches deny colluding with Crypto Ponzi Scheme OneCoin
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND — In a Facebook statement on May 2, a New Zealand church denied the accusation of collusion with a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme to perform an illegal activity.
One of two places of worship indicted, the Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church (SISDAC), came out strongly to deny having any links with OneCoin. Together, they have been accused of raising hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide under the disguise of promising investors huge returns.
RadioNZ clearly stated that OneCoin workers used the Samoa Worship Center and SISDAC to propagate the scam on the Samoan community who reside in New Zealand. According to one woman, a number of her congregation, approximately 100 members were lured into investing in this crypto scam. Another churchgoer revealed that one of the victims was a minister.
After reading the New Zealand’s Financial Intelligence Unit on the allegations, the Samoan authority concluded that SISDAC had knowingly participated in the suspected money laundering activity. But, the church defended itself by saying this in writing:
“SISDAC has never knowingly participated or colluded in any way shape or form with any individual or organization in this type of illegal activity… [We are] seeking legal counsel over these matters that threaten the integrity and good standing of the church, its leadership, its missional work and the well-being of its loyal membership.”