Crypto hedge fund HyperVerse, which scammed over $1.3 billion, might actually faked even its own CEO, according to The Guardian.
Investigative reports on the collapsed crypto firm determined that its chief executive officer Steven Reece Lewis does not even exist at all.
Who is Steven Reece Lewis?
Lewis was introduced to many investors as a University of Leeds graduate with a master's degree from the University of Cambridge.
The illustrious CEO claimed to also work at Goldman Sachs and "spent over a decade in the IT and Fintech industry." He was also able to sell a web development company to Adobe.
Lewis also received congratulatory messages from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, actor Chuck Norris, comedian Jim Norton, and boy band singer Lance Bass during HyperVerse's online global launch in December 2021.
None of the mentioned institutions have records of transactions with Lewis or any of the supposed companies he owns, according to The Guardian Australia's inquiries.
There were also no records of Lewis on LinkedIn and other social media aside from the promotional materials shown from HyperVerse's marketing campaigns.
As for the celebrities that greeted the CEO, all can be hired for personalized messages on Cameo.
Similar scam groups have also used the video-sharing site to add credibility to otherwise dubious claims online.
Who are the Real Leaders of HyperVerse?
If Lewis is not the actual ringleader for the crypto scam, then who?
Many transactions made by the crypto hedge fund can be traced back to the Australian bitcoin company Blockchain Global.
Blockchain Global founders Sam Lee and Ryan Xu promoted and introduced HyperVerse to most of its potential investors.
Lee even spoke as a "chairman" of HyperVerse during its launch event, while Xu is named as one of its "founders."
It is worth noting that Lee and Xu owe creditors $58 million from their operations in Blockchain Global.
Frustrated investors have already referred the two to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for supposed fraud.
International regulators have already marked both Blockchain Global, HyperVerse, and all affiliated bodies as part of a "scam" and a "potential pyramid scheme."
Lee remains in hiding after being "disturbed by people me for the mistakes they made," while Xu cannot be contacted.
