‘Crypto King' promised huge profits to investors

Police say Whitby native charged with fraud was soliciting new victims as recently as February

- JASON MILLER AND DANIEL RAMOS

Self-proclaimed "Crypto King" Aiden Pleterski posted pictures of a lavish lifestyle on his social media accounts, seen here in a photo included in his bankruptcy files.

"Crypto King" Aiden Pleterski may have been soliciting investors as recently as February this year, an investigation led by Durham Police alleges.

During a media conference at the Whitby-based Durham Regional Police Headquarters Thursday, Chief Peter Moreira described how the investigation dubbed "Project Swan," which was spearheaded by the Durham Police (DRPS) Financial Crimes unit spanned almost two years and involved several police services who worked in tandem with Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) investigators.

Moreira said the investigation was triggered after Durham police received complaints about investment fraud from a "large number of victims," in July 2022, which involved Pleterski, of Whitby, claiming to be an "extremely profitable investor in foreign exchange and cryptocurrency." The investors became concerned when they were unable to access money held by Pleterski, the chief said.