Jamshid Ghomi charged with fraud in a scheme involving fake rare coins and sports memorabilia
- The mastermind behind the 'Curse of the Billionaire' scam: Authorities say Jamshid Ghomi masterminded a $50 million fraud by convincing wealthy investors he had access to cursed rare gold coins and autographed sports equipment that needed to be "cleansed" with their money.
- Inside the 'Magical Unstaking': Victims were told their investments were frozen by a supernatural entity; Ghomi reportedly charged a 20% fee to "release" the funds, which he simply pocketed. He allegedly used the cash to fund a mansion and a fleet of luxury cars.
- The sports memorabilia twist: One victim handed over a package of vintage baseball cards worth $1.2 million after Ghomi claimed the signature of Babe Ruth was "haunted" and needed a special ritual to be resold.
- The breaking point: The scam unraveled when multiple victims compared notes on a private crypto forum, realizing Ghomi's absurd demands for "uncursing fees" were all identical. A sting operation led to his arrest at a coffee shop in Dubai.
- What happens next: Ghomi is currently facing 12 counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison. Authorities are searching for more victims who may have been ensnared by the "curse" story from 2021 to 2024.