DiscoverLocked In with Ian BickHow I Used Venmo for Fraud, Built a $30M Crypto Empire on Lies & Avoided Prison | Ray Trapani
How I Used Venmo for Fraud, Built a $30M Crypto Empire on Lies & Avoided Prison | Ray Trapani

How I Used Venmo for Fraud, Built a $30M Crypto Empire on Lies & Avoided Prison | Ray Trapani

Update: 2025-06-22
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Ray Trapani shares his journey from small-time scams, including exploiting a glitch in Venmo, to co-founding Centra Tech—a fraudulent cryptocurrency company that raised over $25 million. Despite facing multiple charges, including securities and wire fraud, Ray managed to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. In this candid discussion, he reveals the tactics used to deceive investors, the rapid rise and fall of his crypto empire, and how he evaded significant jail time.


#VenmoFraud #CryptoScam #CentraTech #FinancialFraud #AvoidedPrison #RayTrapani #CryptoEmpire #FraudStory


Connect with Ray Trapani:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raytrapani/?hl=en


Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:

https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en

https://ianbick.com/


Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy:

https://tyson20.com/

https://woooooenergy.com/


Buy Merch:

https://convictclothing.net/collections/convict-clothing-x-ian-bick


Timestamps:

00:00:00 Launching a Netflix Documentary Journey

00:05:12 Growing Up on Long Island: Childhood and Family Dynamics

00:11:05 Navigating Adolescence Without Guidance

00:16:47 Growing Up Around Gangs and Adapting to Different Environments

00:22:22 Escaping Consequences: Moving to Florida

00:27:46 The Evolution of Financial Scam Tactics

00:33:05 High Life and Overspending in Miami

00:38:43 Surviving a Suicide Attempt and Its Aftermath

00:44:11 The Road to Crime: Childhood and Ambitions

00:49:38 The Rise and Fall of a Crypto Startup

00:54:41 The Scammer Gets Scammed: Students for Trump

00:59:46 The Lies Behind the Crypto Startup

01:05:22 Misleading Investors: The Fallout of a Fraudulent Scheme

01:10:53 Navigating Life Post-Prison

01:16:20 Navigating Legal Consequences and Restitution in Financial Crimes

01:21:50 Challenges Facing Cryptocurrency Companies in the US


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Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD:

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How I Used Venmo for Fraud, Built a $30M Crypto Empire on Lies & Avoided Prison | Ray Trapani

How I Used Venmo for Fraud, Built a $30M Crypto Empire on Lies & Avoided Prison | Ray Trapani

Ian Bick