French Authorities Launch Investigation into NFT Project Animoon for Alleged Rug Pull

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French Authorities Launch Investigation into NFT Project Animoon for Alleged Rug Pull0

  • Animoon: NFT initiative recognized as a rug pull scam defrauding investors.
  • $6.3 million lost: Suspected fraudulent actions examined by ZachXBT.

The NFT sector has recently encountered a significant fraudulent incident. Animoon, an NFT initiative that purported to be a feature-rich play-to-earn (P2E) game, is now facing scrutiny following accusations of deceptive practices.

ZachXBT, known for his stealth investigations, has identified Animoon as a rug pull. He disclosed that the project’s founders, using the aliases maximadam_ and marc_blata, have defrauded investors of $6.3 million.

French authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into the operation, demonstrating their dedication to probing the alleged scam. This inquiry is being conducted by the BRDA and overseen by the Economic, Financial, and Commercial Affairs Section of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Allegations Increase Against NFT Animoon Founders

In early June, ZachXBT announced on Twitter that Animoon had provided exclusive merchandise to token holders as part of its promotional efforts. The project pledged Jordan sneakers to 100 holders, off-white shirts to another 100, and supreme shirts to 50. However, as time progressed, the project team became increasingly unresponsive and offered fewer updates.

Further investigation revealed that Animoon had made misleading statements about entering a non-disclosure agreement with Pokémon, which constituted an act of plagiarism. Shortly after the NFT launch, the project’s team began to operate remotely.

During the inquiry, ZachXBT found that the project’s founders were using pseudonyms. While maximadam_ claimed to be an “NFT specialist since 2013,” questions arose regarding the team’s credibility and authenticity. Notably, both founders posted Instagram images showcasing their affluence in Dubai, which raised concerns among investors.

Additionally, investigations uncovered that trading accounts on platforms such as Binance and Kucoin had accrued profits amounting to $6.3 million. Concurrently, Animoon’s Twitter account was locked, the website became inaccessible, and the discord general chat was disabled, leaving investors with limited options for recourse or communication.

The involvement of French authorities in pursuing a criminal investigation highlights the gravity of the allegations against Animoon. Their objective is to take suitable legal measures against those deemed responsible for misleading investors.

The Animoon case emphasizes the dangers inherent in the NFT market and reinforces the necessity for investors to perform comprehensive due diligence.