$1.5 Million Crypto Scam Devastates Liberian Immigrant Community in Pennsylvania
LIMAP Calls for Federal Action, Files Complaint with DOJ, FTC, CFPB, and SEC
Darby, PA — The Liberian Mandingo Association of Pennsylvania (LIMAP) has launched a formal public appeal after more than $1.5 million was stolen from dozens of community members in a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme. Disguised as a scooter rental business, the scam operated via platforms like Cash App, Zelle, Coinbase, and Binance, exploiting the financial vulnerability of working-class immigrants.
Victims were lured by false promises of daily profits and referral bonuses, only to discover that no real business existed. Transactions were conducted in cryptocurrency, and many participants were unable to withdraw funds once the scheme collapsed. “This was not just fraud — it was digital exploitation of an entire immigrant community through trusted financial apps that failed to protect their users,” said Kafumba Lassana Sanoe, President of LIMAP. LIMAP has filed complaints with the:
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Attorney General of Pennsylvania
- FBI Philadelphia Field Office LIMAP is also urging Congress and the White House to:
- Hold hearings on fintech fraud and crypto platform accountability.
- Strengthen regulations on peer-to-peer payment systems.
- Provide restitution pathways for underserved victims of financial fraud.
“This community is grieving. People lost their savings, retirement funds, and trust in digital systems. We need federal
leadership to make things right,” added Sanoe. The association is also calling on Apple, Google, and Meta to investigate how their app platforms were used to facilitate and legitimize these scams.
About LIMAP:
The Liberian Mandingo Association of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit community organization headquartered in Darby, PA, serving African immigrants across the Delaware Valley. LIMAP works to advance economic inclusion, cultural preservation, youth development, and advocacy.
Media Inquiries & Interviews:
- Contact: Kafumba Lassana Sanoe, President
- Email: limapofficial@gmail.com
- Phone: (215) 966-7916
- Website: www.limapusa.org