Death in Crypto Land. Ultimate Exit Scam.

This is the story of a notorious death in cryptoland. Many say it’s the ultimate exist scam. Gerald Cotten, the founder of QuadrigaCX, died in 2018 under mysterious circumstances, leading to the loss of $215 million in cryptocurrency. 

Despite claims that he passed away due to what is medically considered non-fatal Crohn’s disease while in India, many customers and investigators have questioned his death, suspecting a potential exit scam.

Let us know what you think by texting us direct at: 904-867-4466. We want to hear what you believe happened in this outrageous story.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Death in Crypto Land.
• 5:34 The Mysterious Death of Gerald Cotton
• 9:46 The Rise of Quadriga CX
• 11:41 The Dark Side of Cryptocurrency
• 21:43 The Centralization of Control
• 27:56 The Collapse of Quadriga CX
• 40:45 The Aftermath and Ultimate Exit Scam
• 54:45 Recent Developments

Transcript

Death in Crypto Land. Ultimate Exit Scam

This is the story of a notorious death in cryptoland. Many say it’s the ultimate exist scam. There are recent updates from news sources and investigative sources we share. Gerald Cotten, the founder of Quadriga, died in 2018 under mysterious circumstances, leading to the loss of $215 million in cryptocurrency. Despite claims that he passed away due to what is medically considered non-fatal Crohn’s disease while in India, many customers and investigators have questioned his death, suspecting a potential exit scam.

Let us know what you think by texting us direct at: 904-867-4466. We want to hear what you believe happened in this outrageous story.

Chapters

00:00. Death in Crypto land

02:00 The Mysterious Death of Gerald Cotton

05:26 The Rise of Quadriga CX

09:11 The Dark Side of Cryptocurrency

18:43 The Centralization of Control

27:10 The Collapse of Quadriga CX

40:18 The Aftermath and Ultimate Exit Scam

51:00. Recent Developments

Key Topics: Death in Crypto Land,Ultimate Exit Scam,Gerald Cotton, dark web horror stories 2024,who is the missing crypto king,when people fake their death, exit scam ceo death, missing ceo dead or alive, crypto exchange fraud story, buy new id on dark web, fake death certificates in india, stories of people faking their death, why people change identity, cryptocurrency exchange scandal, faking death exit scam, exist scams for cybercrime, crypto currency fraud news,Quadriga,bitcoin, exit scam ceo death, missing ceo dead or alive, gerald cotton, crypto exchange fraud story, buy new id on dark web, fake death certificates in india, crypto currency fraud news, cryptocurrency fraud investigation, faking ones death, true story of people who faked their death, dark web death certificates sold, the rise and fall of Quadriga, Gerald Cotten, Quadriga CX, cryptocurrency, exit scam, Ponzi scheme, death fraud, Michael Patryin, cybercrime, financial fraud, digital currency

Takeaways

Gerald Cotton's death raised numerous suspicions and red flags.

Quadriga CX was established to capitalize on the growing cryptocurrency market.

Cotton's operations were marked by a lack of oversight and formal structure.

He mismanaged user funds and engaged in Ponzi scheme practices.

The cryptocurrency boom of 2017 masked many operational irregularities.

Cotton centralized control over user funds, leading to operational inefficiencies.

The collapse of Quadriga CX was precipitated by the 2018 cryptocurrency crash.

Speculative trading and misappropriation of funds led to liquidity issues.

The investigation into Quadriga revealed significant financial irregularities.

The mystery surrounding Cotton's death continues to fuel speculation and intrigue.

 
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you

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Imagine losing your life savings overnight only to discover that the man who held the keys to your fortune disappeared. News reports soon surface that he died mysteriously, died during his honeymoon, and of a generally non -fatal condition, Crohn's disease, while in a foreign land. Preliminary formal reports say Gerald Cotten died on December 9, 2018, at the young age of only 30 years.

while in India. And what if that death, which remained shrouded in suspicions and chock full of red flags, is how it was just the beginning of the story?

Gerald Cotten, the founder of Quadrigas Gury CX, died in 2018 under mysterious circumstances, leading to the loss of $215 million in cryptocurrency, despite claims that he passed away due to what is medically considered non -fatal Crohn's disease. While in India, many customers and investigators have questioned his death, suspecting a potential exit scam. Requests for his body to be exhumed have been made to confirm his death.

driven by the missing funds and hundreds of smack your face obvious red flags. Investigations revealed that shockingly that sarcasm because why there isn't an indictment and Warrant for him is the only shocking part to thousands of people. Cotten was involved in a Ponzi scheme mismanaging user funds before his death. Recent news reports also breathed life into the investigation and cracked open the cryptic case

of Gerry Cotten and Quadriga CX, revealing new clues that led straight to his elusive partner, Michael Patrian. Join us as we unravel the thrilling saga of deception, greed, and a quest for justice that spans continents and crosses into the darkest corners of the cryptocurrency world. This is the story of Death in Crypto Land, the ultimate

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Exit scam.

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Amidst the wild frontier of cryptocurrency, there lived a man named Gerry Cotten. Some believed he was a visionary, a dreamer. But in the end, to everyone, he was this, the architect behind one of the most perplexing sagas in the financial world, the rise and fall of Quadriga CX. Our story begins in the quaint town of Belleville, Ontario in 1988.

Belleville with its vibrant community and rich history was a city where the seeds of ambition could take root and flourish. Belleville is a small city known for its vibrant community and rich history. In 1988, when Gerald Cotten was born, Belleville was a city of about 40 ,000 people. It was known for its charming downtown area with a mix of historical buildings, local shops and small businesses that gave it a quaint small town feel.

It was here that Gerald Cotten was born into a middle class family where he would spend his formative years dreaming of the future. Gerald Cotten was known to his friends and colleagues as Gerry. Gerry's mother was a nurturing and caring figure in his life. She was deeply involved in the local community, participating in various volunteer activities and community events.

Her compassionate nature and commitment to helping others left a lasting impression on Gerry.

She encouraged his curiosity and fostered a love of learning and exploration. Growing up in Belleville, Gerry was a curious and intelligent child. He showed an early interest in technology and computers, spending hours tinkering with gadgets and exploring the early internet. His parents supported his passion, providing him with the resources and encouragement he needed to pursue

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his interests. This supportive environment allowed Gerry to develop the technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit that would later define his career. Gerry's father worked in one of the local manufacturing plants, a steady job that provided for the family, but also instilled in young Gerry a desire for something more.

The digital revolution was on the horizon and Gerry was ready to ride its wave. Gerry attended York University where he studied business and became involved in the local cryptocurrency community. His enthusiasm for digital currencies and his charismatic personality made him a well -known figure among early adopters. Gerry's technical knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit positioned him as a promising leader

in the nascent world of cryptocurrency. new way to imagine and interact with the financial world. As Gerry grew, so did his fascination with the burgeoning world of cryptocurrency. He saw in Bitcoin and its digital kin, not just a currency, but a revolution. He soon engaged with a friend who would become a co founder of Quadriga Create Sex, a young man named Michael Patrion,

The two worked with the original form of cryptocurrency called eGold, which did not have any formal blockchain tied to it. They worked together and dove deep into the original types of cryptocurrencies. Back in the early 2000s, the original cryptocurrencies did not actually have blockchain, the secure decentralized math formula that can be verified behind them.

So essentially they were playing with a digital currency, which was unregulated and unverifiable, like monopoly money, online monopoly money, like a foreshadowing event, setting the tone for the future. At some point Gerry's activities entered a gray morale and legal area and then turned straight across into the black area of illegal activities.

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Remember, this is all years before he created QuadrigaCX. At some point in his early career, Gerry's path turned to crime, an early form of cybercrime, which involved fraud and investing into these early forms of cryptocurrency. And eventually the two of them worked together on what was to become the dark web. They both found themselves working for a group called the Shadow Crew, one of the original cybercrime organizations.

Both Michael and Gerry learned from the leader of Shadow Crew, Brett Johnson, all about cryptocurrency schemes, taking advantage of innocent investors and interestingly, how to create and sell fake identities and fraudulent credit cards. Brett, who you may know, was coined by the US Secret Service as the original cybercrime godfather. He is a friend of our show and has served his penance and done his time.

He now helps organizations spot fraud and stay safe. But what is mind blowing is this, Gerry Cotten and Michael Patrion all started early on in their careers learning how to create Ponzi schemes, exit scams, fake identifications, fraudulent bank cards, and even wait for it. Fake death certificates. The news media reports never seem to connect these dots. We did that for you.

So now let's discuss the birth of Quadriga, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in Canada.

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Now, let's cover the founding of Quadrigas X. In 2013, Gerry co -founded Quadriga CX with Michael Patrine, his fellow cryptocurrency enthusiast and former co -worker at ShadowCrew. As a young, ambitious Canadian entrepreneur with a keen interest in technology and finance, he developed an early fascination with the burgeoning field of cryptocurrencies, particularly

Bitcoin, which was gaining traction as a revolutionary financial innovation. The exchange was established to capitalize on the growing demand for a reliable platform where users could buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies. Quadriga CX aimed to provide a secure and user -friendly experience, attracting both novice and seasoned investors. The initial operations of Quadriga CX were modest. In fact, the entire time Gerry operated the largest crypto exchange in Canada from his own house.

Seems like a fantastic work from home job. Good work for many if you can get it. The exchange started with a small team and limited resources. Despite these humble beginnings, Quadriga CX quickly gained traction due to its competitive fees, ease of use, and the booming interest in cryptocurrencies. And now let's explore the rapid growth and early success of Quadrigax.

As Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies skyrocketed in value, Quadriga CX experienced exponential growth. The exchange's user base expanded rapidly and transaction volumes soared. By 2017, Quadriga CX had become Canada's largest cryptocurrency exchange handling millions of dollars in transactions daily. Gerry became the public face of Quadriga CX.

frequently attending cryptocurrency conferences and giving interviews. His approachable demeanor and apparent expertise in digital currencies helped build trust with the exchange's growing number of users. QuadrigaCX was seen as a reliable platform in a market that was often plagued by uncertainty and volatility.

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Despite the apparent success and growth, Quadriga's internal operations were far from conventional. Gerry ran the exchange with a complete lack of formal structure. In fact, there was no real oversight for the millions of dollars investors were pouring in and the account reports they would receive showing their investments was skyrocketing. The truth was though, behind the scenes, very little had actually been invested into anything real.

and Gerry used their funds for personal luxuries. He would fabricate the reports. When an investor wanted to capitalize on the increased value in their Bitcoin investment, he would take the money from a new investor and pay them off. This is exactly what Ponzi scheme fraud artists do. It's textbook fraud. In fact, it's what Bernie Madoff did in the biggest investment scandal in US history. There were no detailed accounting records, no internal audits, and

no meaningful governance framework. This laissez -faire approach created an environment ripe for mismanagement and fraud. One of the most startling aspects of his operations was Gerry's method of handling of cash deposits. Cash deposits? Who does that? Gerry did. So check this out. To facilitate large cash transactions, Gerry arranged for associates and customers to deliver duffel bags

filled with cash to his house. wait. Let's do a sidebar for a second. Several former employees and associates reported that Gerry would often receive large sums of cash in duffel bags. Duffel bags filled with cash were brought to his personal residence, his house. We found some pictures of them strewn about across his kitchen counter. These cash deliveries were typically made by trusted associates.

or directly by customers who had arranged to meet him in person. Once the cash was received, Gerry would manually record the deposits, often using rudimentary methods such as handwritten notes or basic spreadsheets. This lack of formal documentation and proper accounting made it nearly impossible to track the flow of funds accurately. They were also in violation of the rules created by the anti -fruit associations.

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Gerry had claimed he abided by. But there's a catch here. Crypto is essentially unregulated, even still today, and one simply does not know and cannot enforce true compliance like we have with regulated banking institutions. That gray area is where Gerry took advantage of people. And man, did he ever take advantage of them. This practice bypassed traditional banking channels

and raised significant red flags regarding the company's adherence to anti -money laundering regulations. So when running a fraudulent business in the banking sector, and not just any fraudulent business, but one that was in fact the biggest exchange in the entire country, a con artist needs to make it, well, appear legitimate. So what did Gerry do?

He attempted to hide his fraud behind a well -designed formalization and alignment with anti -fraud associations. For that move, he gets five stars. Recognizing the growing scrutiny from regulators and the potential risks associated with their informal practices, Gerry made some efforts to align Quadriga with industry standards. In 2017, Quadriga joined several anti -fraud associations and attempted to implement BASIC AML

and know your customer procedures. These measures were designed to ensure compliance with financial regulations and to mitigate the risk of illegal activities such as money laundering. Quadriga's alignment with anti -fraud associations was, however, more of a cosmetic change than a substantive overhaul. While the exchange adopted some of the recommended practices,

The implementation was often superficial and inconsistent. The core issues of mismanagement and lack of internal controls persisted, undermining the effectiveness of these measures.

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behind the facade of security and compliance was, well, nothing but fraud and a massive historic Ponzi scheme setting up a potential exit scam when things go south. To the outside world, Quadriga appeared to be taking steps to improve its security and regulatory compliance. The exchange's website prominently featured its membership in anti -fraud associations and its commitment to protecting

user funds. Gerry often spoke about these initiatives in public forums, presenting an image of a responsible and forward -thinking leader. Internally, however, the situation remained dire. The attempts at formalization did little to address the underlying problems. The cash drop -offs continued, and the company's financial records were still incomplete and unreliable.

The misalignment between public perception and internal reality created a precarious situation that would eventually lead to disaster. Throughout Quadriga's rise, were numerous red flags that were either ignored or overlooked by users, regulators, and even some employees. The informal handling of large cash deposits, the lack of proper accounting practices,

and the minimal oversight should have raised serious concerns. However, the rapid growth of the crypto currency market and the significant profits being made blinded many to these warning signs. Gerry's charismatic leadership and the trust he had built with the user community also played a role in downplaying these red flags. Users were willing to overlook

the irregularities because of their confidence in Gerry and their belief in the potential of cryptocurrencies. This trust, however, was misplaced as the true state of Quadriga's operations was far more precarious than anyone realized. As Quadriga grew, so did Gerry's appetite for luxury. He bought planes, properties, and expensive jewelry. All the while, he used customer deposits to fuel his lifestyle, turning Quadriga into a massive

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Ponzi scheme, Quadriga's user base exploded as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies surged in value. the frenzy of 2017, Bitcoin's price soared to nearly $20 ,000 per Bitcoin, and Gerry was hailed as a visionary. A visionary. He was no visionary. Behind the facade, was nothing more than a cyber criminal and fraud.

He was often seen in media interviews confidently predicting a new era of decentralized finance. His life seemed perfect, a luxurious lifestyle, a loving wife, and a successful business. But the good times were fleeting. Beneath the surface of success, Gerry wanted more. He craved absolute control over his empire to expand his wealth beyond imagination. So let's pause for a second. That was a lot of information. Given what you now know, what are your thoughts? We want to know.

Again, text us direct in the studio and let us know what you think. Let us know what you think. By texting us direct at 904 -867 -4466. We want to hear what you believe happened in this outrageous story. Small talk sucks. So let's jump back in. At this crucial timeframe, Gerry made a pivotal decision to centralize control. He decided to lock all customer funds into cold wallets.

Cold wallets allow him to hold the keys to millions. But this move is not just about control, it was about power. The transitions to cold wallets. In a bid to enhance security, Gerry Cotten decided to manage all of Quadriga's cryptocurrency holdings in cold wallets. So what are cold wallets? Cold wallets are offline storage mechanisms considered safer from hacking attempts. This decision was marketed as a commitment

to safeguarding user assets, which further bolstered customer trust. However, this move also meant that Gerry had exclusive control over these wallets, creating a significant single point of failure. It meant that he alone, nobody else has the private keys. The cold wallets were supposed to contain the majority of the exchange's reserves, providing a buffer.

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against market volatility and ensuring liquidity for user withdrawals. In practice, however, the funds in these wallets were frequently moved to other exchanges and used for purposes other than intended, undermining the very security they were meant to provide. This centralization of power created bottlenecks. Whenever there was a need to access the cold wallets, only Gerry could authorize and execute the transactions.

This dependency on one individual began to strain the company's operational efficiency. Delays in processing withdrawals became more common, and customers started to complain about slow response times and unexplained delays. Gerry soon descended into a deep hole of secrecy. As the pressure mounted, Gerry's management style became increasingly opaque.

He rarely shared details about the cold wallets or the status of the company's reserves with anyone, not even his closest associates. The cold wallets were kept off the official books, and only Gerry knew the precise amounts held within them. This secrecy was partly a defensive measure to protect the funds, but it also stemmed from Gerry's growing paranoia about the security of the exchange.

Behind the scenes, Gerry was engaging in risky trading practices. He used the funds stored in the cold wallets to speculate on various cryptocurrencies, attempting to capitalize on market fluctuations to increase Quadriga's reserves. These trades were high stakes gambles. And while some were successful, many resulted in substantial losses to the outside world. Quadriga appeared stable and secure.

Gerry's public persona remained charismatic and reassuring, and the company continued to attract new users. However, internally, the financial discrepancies began to grow. The cold wallets, once seen as a fortress of security, had become a source of instability. In order to mask the financial shortfalls caused by speculative trading,

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Gerry began moving funds between the coal wallets and other exchanges. This constant shuffling of assets created a facade of liquidity and stability, but in reality it was a desperate attempt to cover up the mounting losses. And then of course was the creation of fake accounts.

To mask the growing financial instability and create the illusion of liquidity and activity on the platform, Gerry resorted to creating fake accounts. Operating under aliases such as Chris Marcaille and R2D2, Gerry fabricated transactions and manipulated trading volumes. These fictitious accounts were used to simulate active trading, misleading investors about the exchange's actual performance

and liquidity. These fake accounts were instrumental in maintaining the facade of a thriving exchange. He did just what Bernie Madoff had done, made it appear people were making money when in fact it was all fictional. By manipulating the internal database, Gerry could show higher transaction volumes and artificial profits, which reassured investors and attracted new users. The fabricated trades also concealed the significant deficits in Quadriga's reserves, delaying the inevitable collapse.

As the exchange's user base grew, so did the volume of deposits. Initially, Quadriga appeared profitable, bolstered by the cryptocurrency market's rapid appreciation. However, as Gerry continued to misappropriate funds and engage in speculative trading, the financial gap widened. To cover these losses, he began operating Quadriga as a Ponzi scheme.

New user deposits were used to fulfill withdrawal requests from existing users, creating a cycle that relied on a constant influx of new funds. This strategy worked for a while, especially during the cryptocurrency boom of late 2017 and early 2018, when investor enthusiasm was high and new money flowed in rapidly. However, the sustainability of this model

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depended entirely on the continuous growth of the user base and the market. For a while it worked. Gerry's charm and the booming crypto market kept the illusion alive. Investors believed in the dream he sold, unaware that it was built on lies. By the end of 2017, Quadriga had grown into the largest cryptocurrency exchange in Canada.

The largest cryptocurrency exchange in Canada at its height, had over 350 ,000 users and handled more than $1 billion in transactions. Gerald Cotten, affectionately known as Gerry, was the public face of the company. He was seen as a pioneer and a trusted figure in the burgeoning world of cryptocurrencies. To maintain the illusion of profitability and security,

Gerry created fake accounts and conducted fraudulent trades. He manipulated the exchange's data to show successful transactions and high liquidity, further convincing investors of the exchange's robustness. The Ontario Securities Commission later revealed that Gerry had created several fake identities to execute these trades, making the financial situation appear far more stable than

was. So the man who is believed to have created a fake identity is an exit scheme, had in fact created numerous fake identities while operating the Ponzi scheme. And as we will soon learn, he learned how to do this long ago when he was younger working for a dark web cyber crime gang called the Shadow Crew, alongside, yes, alongside the one and only.

Michael Patrin, we will get into that in just a second. And then it all came to a screeching halt, an implosion in cryptocurrency. The walls began to crumble. In early 2018, the cryptocurrency market began to decline. The value of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies fell sharply, leading to a decrease in new investments. This decline put pressure on Quadriga and on Gerry.

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as the inflow of funds needed to sustain the Ponzi scheme dried up. As a result, the exchange began to experience liquidity issues. Customers started reporting delays in withdrawing their funds. Initially, these delays were attributed to technical issues or banking problems, explanations that were accepted due to the general lack of understanding of cryptocurrency systems among the public. However,

As the delays continued, suspicion began to grow. Several customers took to social media and online forums to express their concerns. They shared their experiences and started to piece together inconsistencies in the exchange's operations. Investigative journalists and industry experts also began to scrutinize Quadriga more closely, raising questions about its solvency and the true state of its finances.

By early 2018, the cryptocurrency market crashed. It really crashed. mean, boom, it was in a freefall. The 2018 cryptocurrency crash, also known as the Bitcoin crash and the Great Crypto Crash, was the sell -off of most cryptocurrencies starting in January 2018. After the previous boom,

The price of Bitcoin fell by about 65 % from the 6th of January to the 6th of February 2018. It fell by 65%. Bitcoin was wiping out fortunes overnight. Quadriga, which had thrived on the bull market, suddenly faced massive financial strain. Users, panicked by the crashing market, rushed to withdraw their funds. Quadriga, unable to meet the overwhelming demand, froze withdrawals.

Behind the scenes, Gerry was grappling with a dire situation. The company's reserves were dwindling and his once unshakable confidence began to crack. Gerry found himself in a deep financial hole. Desperate to keep Quadriga afloat, he resorted to risky and deceitful tactics. He began moving user funds between accounts to cover withdrawals, effectively running a Ponzi scheme.

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The pressure mounted as the financial situation grew increasingly untenable. Gerry, who had once been the golden boy of cryptocurrency, was now entangled in a web of lies and mounting debt. As the suspicions grew, regulatory bodies started to take notice. The O .C. launched an investigation into Quadriga's operations.

Their initial findings indicated significant irregularities in the handling of customer funds and the overall management of the exchange. These findings further fueled the growing distrust among investors. By mid 2018, several lawsuits had been filed against Quadriga by disgruntled customers who were unable to withdraw their funds. These legal challenges combined with the ongoing regulatory scrutiny and social media outpouring of customer complaints,

put immense pressure on Gerry and his team. The exchange's public image began to crumble and panic started to set in. The remaining staff were often left in the dark about the true state of the company's finances. Many were unaware of Gerry's manipulations and believed the public narrative that the delays were due to technical and banking challenges.

This lack of internal communication and transparency exacerbated the company's problems and hindered any coordinated response to the crisis. Regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Securities Commission, began to take notice of the complaints and media reports surrounding Quadriga. The OSC initiated an investigation to determine whether the exchange was complying with securities laws.

and to assess the veracity of the allegations being made by users and the media. The initial findings from the OSC's investigation were concerning. They highlighted significant irregularities in Quadriga's financial practices and raised questions about the company's solvency. The investigation found that Quadriga lacked proper records, had no clear governance structure,

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and appeared to be operating in a manner inconsistent with a legitimate financial institution. The mounting pressures were serious and they were dire, intense. So what did Gerry do? He ran. Many believe he chose to disappear. And as we will show you, he knew exactly how to disappear. In December 2018, Gerry and his wife, Jennifer Robertson, traveled to India.

Officially the trip was a honeymoon combined with a charitable mission to open an orphanage. Now don't get too excited or impressed as orphanages can be bought in this part of India for only about $20 ,000 at the time. Many believe that they know that the trip was also an escape, a desperate bid to find a solution to his mounting problems. Upon arriving in Jaipur,

Gerry checked into a luxury hotel. Just days into their stay, Gerry allegedly fell ill. He had Crohn's disease, a generally non -fatal disease. As the story goes, Gerry caught and died shortly thereafter with many, many red flags. Red flags flags like a death from a nearly impossible condition to die from all at a suspicious time.

shortly after changing his will and having private keys to all the funds, owing hundreds of millions, all in a foreign country thousands of miles away from law enforcement and regulators. It's important to realize this. Studies show that people with Crohn's disease usually have the same life expectancy as people without Crohn's disease. It is important to remember that most people who have Crohn's disease lead full, happy and productive lives.

In

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In fact, there are numerous reports that Gerry had lived years of remission with no symptoms of any kind. Initially, it seemed like a minor ailment, but his condition is claimed to have rapidly deteriorated. On December 9th, 2018, he was admitted to a private hospital in Jaipur, India. There it is claimed that he passed away. The body was not examined by any independent medical provider besides the one who signed

The death certificate and the death certificate. yeah. That worthless pice of paper didn't even spell Gerald Cotten's name correctly. What is more astounding is that absolutely no news or media reports were run in India back then and nothing was originally reported about the death. And that is very, very odd and not what they do in India. He just donated money to build an orphanage.

Not only was he a millionaire foreigner, but he just built an orphanage. Can you imagine the publicity? The only thing that explains the lack of coverage is if the certificate was issued by the hospital back office without the body actually getting there and without many people knowing, which lends itself to the theory that there are insiders there willing to issue one for the right price.

The area in India where this occurred, it's so easy and cheap to get a fake death certificate that for years now, the India media has been writing about it. In fact, even in past year or so, NDTV reported in India, hundreds and hundreds of people were getting fake death certif CITs to commit fraud. What's also odd is this. Remember that orphanage he was there to claim.

Well, that was actually nowhere near where Gerry's hotel and hospital was location. I searched the name of the town where the orphanage was located at and it is 2300 kilometers away from Jaipur and would take about 40 hours continuous driving to reach. In India, news of death for a foreign millionaire would be a major story. But wait, there's more, much more.

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after his death from a non -fatal medical condition with .000075 % chance of dying from. There was absolutely no autopsy was done. The body was not given to the Indian medical examiner. Nobody confirmed the identity of any claimed dead corpse, nor saw any dead corpse, let alone could prove that Gerry Cotten in fact died.

No evidence that his body has ever been seen after going in for treatment for Crohn's disease. was instead packaged up with a closed coffin and shipped back to North America. So how hard is this to actually get away with? It was instead packaged up with a closed coffin and shipped back to North America. So how hard is this to actually get away with?

Fraud based on fake death certificates can be issued in India if you know where to ask or ask online. The cost? Only a few hundred dollars. In fact, an investigative reporter went and tested it and successfully bought his death certificate for only a few hundred dollars in less than a day, right in the area where all this happened. For a few hundred dollars in India and failure easy to find, for fraudulent reasons like life insurance fraud,

health insurance fraud, and even to hide a several hundred million dollar Ponzi scheme. Here's another red flag. Yet another story of how the death certificate fraud happens. India News reports that a lady named Amina Parban was alone sweeping the floor of her parents' home when a man arrived on a January day with a file in his hands. He introduced himself as a life insurance investigator.

and began pulling out papers, a payout claim, a passport photo, a death certificate, her death certificate. Let me repeat. He showed her a death certificate for her Amina Parbin. He asked her, did you know Amina? I am Amina, she responded, and I am in fact alive. She said it took seemingly Amina Parbin's entire family.

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with her brothers and uncles rushing over from their farms and shops to prove to the investigator that she was the victim of some kind of fraud. They eventually persuaded him to turn over the paperwork he'd brought. And that's how Parbin learned that a claim had been filed for an insurance policy on her life. One she never even knew existed. The claimant, her estranged husband, if you think this is far -fetched, you would be completely wrong.

Death fraud crimes in India encompass a wide range of deceptive activities, often involving insurance claims, property disputes, and cybercrimes in India. One of the most common types of death fraud involves individuals faking their own deaths or the deaths of family members to claim life insurance benefits or to evade prosecution. So let's pause for a second. That was a lot of information, given what you now know. What are your thoughts?

We want to know. Again, text us direct in the studio and let us know what you think. Let us know what you think by texting us direct at 904 -867 -4466. We want to hear what you believe happened in this outrageous story. Smalltalk sucks. So let's jump back in. Maybe the next segment will raise some eyebrows and change your mind. Let's address our last question.

How would Gerry know how to do all this? How to get away with faking his death? The Indian doctors in Jaipur allegedly diagnosed him with complications related to Crohn's disease. Despite their efforts, Gerry's condition worsened and he was pronounced dead within 24 hours. The news of Gerry's death sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency community. Quadriga announced his passing on January 14th, 2019.

Revealing that Gerry was the sole custodian of the exchange's cold wallets, the offline storage where the majority of user funds were kept. Without the private keys, which only Gerry knew, approximately $190 million in cryptocurrency was effectively lost. Panic ensued. Thousands of Quadriga users were left in financial limbo, unable to access their funds.

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Speculation ran rampant. Some believed Gerry had faked his death to escape the financial collapse and start a new life elsewhere. After all, India was known for death fraud and the circumstances of his death were suspiciously convenient. Investigators delved into Gerry's past, uncovering a web of deceit and financial mismanagement. They found that Gerry had been using customer funds for personal expenses and high -risk trades.

Michael Patrin, whose criminal history included identity theft and credit card fraud, became a person of interest. The partnership between Gerry and Michael, once seen as a symbiotic alliance, now appeared to be a collaboration built on a foundation of crime and manipulation. The connection between Gerry Cotten and Michael Patrin, who, by the way, had changed his identity after a felony conviction,

for falsifying identities and fraud. His real name is Omar Dehanani. Michael and Gerry's partnership was built on shared vision and complimentary skills, but it was also marked by underlying tensions and risks. Their collaboration was instrumental in the rise of Quadriga, but the unresolved issues and lack of transparency contributed to the company's ultimate collapse.

As the layers of deception unraveled, the story of Gerry Cotten and Quadriga became a haunting tale of financial intrigue, betrayal, and the dark side of the cryptocurrency boom. The mystery of Gerry's death, the missing millions, and the fate of Quadriga lingered casting a long shadow over the world of digital finance. Michael Patrine, whose real name is Omar Danany,

is a controversial figure with a history of legal issues. Born in 1983 in Canada, Donani moved to the United States at a young age. He became involved in online criminal activities, including identity theft and credit card fraud. In 2005, he was convicted and served time in a US federal prison. After his release, Donani changed his name to Michael Patrine.

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and returned to Canada where he rebranded himself as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. Gerry Cotten and Michael Patrin met through the burgeoning cryptocurrency community in Canada. Both were early adopters of Bitcoin and shared a vision of capitalizing on the growing interest in digital currencies. Their complementary skills and mutual enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies made them natural

partners. ShadowCrew, a notorious online marketplace for illegal activities, traded in stolen credit card numbers, bank account information, and fake identities. was ultimately taken down by the United States Secret Service in 2004. Members of ShadowCrew, including Omar Dehanani, who later became known as Michael Patron, were heavily involved in these operations.

Danani, a key player in ShadowCrew, worked alongside Cotten in various capacities, dealing with digital currencies and laundering money. This collaboration laid the foundation for their future partnership in establishing Quadriga, Canada's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Today, Canadian authorities are attempting to tighten the noose around the spending and keeping of hard -earned funds that investors lost through the actions of these criminals. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police

seized the assets from a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce safety deposit box in Vancouver in June 2021, after the trading platforms collapsed. A civil forfeiture claim was also filed by British Columbia in the province's Supreme Court. In the end, the long arm of the law now reaches out for Michael Patrine, whose attorney claims all was legally obtained.

that at the end of the day is ultimately up to the Canadian court system to determine. But our questions to you is this, do you believe Gerry Cotten died? We know this was all a lot of information. That was a lot of information given what you now know. What are your thoughts? We want to know. Again, text us direct in the studio and let us know what you think. Let us know what you think by texting us direct at.

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904 -867 -4466. We want to hear what you believe happened in this outrageous story. We first reported on this story over two years ago and now continue to update you as developments arise. Will Gerry Cotten ultimately slip up and be found? Money does not last forever after all. Or did he in fact pass away leaving his wife stuck with all the mess or

Was it something else? If he died, was he poisoned? And some are asking. The truth is out there and we want to know what you think. Thank you for listening. This will not be the last report on this story, but for now we wrap up this segment of Death in Crypto Land, the ultimate exit scam. He asked. Well, that wraps this up. Thank you for joining us.

We hope you enjoyed our episode. The next one is coming right up. We appreciate you making this an award -winning podcast and downloading on Apple and Spotify and subscribing to our YouTube channel. This is Cybercrime Junkies and we thank you for watching.