Two Romanian men have been charged in Bergen County for a $289,000 Bitcoin scam involving counterfeit gold. The suspects remain at large, believed to have fled to Romania.
Authorities in Bergen County have charged two Romanian men, Ciprian A. Tiber and Ahmed Zarei, in connection with a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam involving counterfeit gold. The duo allegedly defrauded a victim of over $289,000 in Bitcoin during a transaction that took place in September 2023.
Ciprian A. Tiber, 33, and Ahmed Zarei, 43, are accused of orchestrating a scheme that involved an in-person meeting with a victim from Bergen County. During this meeting, they purportedly offered gold coils in exchange for more than 11 Bitcoins, which were valued at approximately $289,000 at the time of the transaction. However, the coils were later determined to be counterfeit, leading to the charges against the men.
The investigation began in September 2023 when the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department alerted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office about a fraudulent gold transaction. This prompted a year-long investigation by the Financial Crimes Unit, which uncovered the following:
On October 25, 2024, arrest warrants were issued for Tiber and Zarei, charging them with:
Despite the issuance of these warrants, both suspects had already left New Jersey, and their last known residences were confirmed to be in Romania with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service.
Prosecutor Mark Musella highlighted the growing concern over cryptocurrency scams, stating that they are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. He urged potential victims to remain vigilant, especially in online dealings involving cryptocurrency.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to locate Tiber and Zarei. The case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions and the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before engaging in such exchanges.
