Lead: A woman now serving as a Reform UK councillor for Wolverhampton has been identified as one of the principal figures behind a collapsed global cryptocurrency scam known as HyperVerse—an operation allegedly structured as a pyramid and Ponzi scheme that siphoned more than $1.89 billion from investors worldwide.
Susan Lawrence was elected to Wolverhampton City Council in 2024 and currently serves on its audit and risk committee. This body is responsible for independently reviewing governance practices, financial reporting processes, and overall risk management within the council’s multimillion-pound budget framework. The appointment places her at the center of oversight over public finances—despite having previously promoted investment schemes linked directly to fraudulent operations.
HyperVerse: A Global Financial Scam
The HyperVerse cryptocurrency scheme emerged between 2020 and 2022 as a digital asset platform that claimed to offer high returns through token-based investments. According to US court documents obtained by media outlets, it operated not as an actual product or service but rather as a structured pyramid model where new participants were recruited in exchange for access to funds from earlier investors—an arrangement consistent with Ponzi and pyramid schemes under financial regulation law.
In these structures, the return on investment is derived solely from incoming capital, not from any real business activity such as production, sales, or revenue generation. As stated in official filings by U.S. authorities, HyperVerse 'does not sell or purport to sell any actual product' and has no apparent source of income beyond investor contributions—making its operations legally suspect and structurally fraudulent.
Victim Impact: Financial Losses and Psychological Trauma
The scheme targeted individuals across Asia, Africa, and Oceania during its peak years, with many participants being low-income investors unfamiliar with digital finance regulations. In several cases documented through media reports and personal testimonies, people took out bank loans specifically to purchase investment packages within the system—an action that left them financially vulnerable when they were unable to withdraw their funds upon collapse.
Some victims reported experiencing severe psychological distress after realizing they had lost access to their money. One individual described feeling 'suicidal' following a failed withdrawal attempt; another recounted self-harming behaviors as a result of financial desperation. These accounts highlight not only economic harm but also profound mental health consequences tied directly to the scheme’s failure.
Susan Lawrence's Role in Promoting HyperVerse
Lawrence played an active role in marketing and promoting HyperVerse during its operational phase, particularly through public-facing promotional videos and live webinars designed for broad audience engagement. Her involvement included participation in events where she addressed community members expressing concerns about accessing their invested capital after the platform ceased operations.
She worked closely with Sam Lee—an Australian bitcoin entrepreneur who relocated to Dubai in 2021—and participated in lengthy video sessions that promoted various iterations of investment platforms linked to HyperVerse. In one such instance, Lawrence was filmed referring to herself as a 'super leader' within a scheme called Vidilook, which is part of a broader network associated with Lee’s ventures.
The Role of Co-Promoters and Regulatory Warnings
Lawrence operated alongside Desmond Amey, widely recognized as another key promoter based in the UK. The two individuals were central figures in recruiting participants through social media channels and online forums. Their combined efforts helped expand the reach of these schemes across international markets before regulatory bodies intervened.
By 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had issued an official consumer warning stating that HyperVerse may have been offering financial services or products without proper authorization from regulators—an action considered a violation under UK law governing unlicensed financial activities. Despite this public alert, Lawrence continued to promote related investment opportunities well into late 2022.
Closure of Operations and Legal Actions
The company used by Desmond Amey was shut down in proceedings conducted by the UK High Court after it became evident that millions were being funneled through fraudulent channels. In parallel, US authorities launched investigations into multiple variants of the HyperVerse ecosystem—including one version known as 'HyperNation'—which received a formal cease-and-desist order due to its classification as a fraudulent pyramid scheme.
Sam Lee faced criminal charges in the United States during 2024 for both civil and criminal misconduct related to his role in orchestrating these investment platforms. He has denied all allegations. The case remains under active judicial review with no final verdict yet delivered at publication time.
Lawrence’s Response and Reform UK's Position
The Guardian attempted to contact Susan Lawrence directly regarding her involvement, but she did not respond to inquiries made between November 2026 and early December 2026. In response to media scrutiny, a spokesperson from Reform UK issued a statement asserting that 'Cllr Lawrence was one of many victims' of the scam—claiming she lost both her pension and tens of thousands of pounds due to investing in what she believed was legitimate.
According to this official account, after losing money on HyperVerse, Lawrence joined an attempt called HyperNation aimed at recovering funds through similar investment structures. However, there is no public evidence confirming whether such recovery efforts were successful or legally valid under financial regulations.
The spokesperson further stated that Cllr Lawrence has not been questioned by any regulatory body over her links with these schemes and currently holds no involvement with any related companies or comparable platforms. This claim contradicts earlier reports indicating continued promotional activity until 2022 and raises questions about the accuracy of Reform UK’s internal vetting processes regarding candidate backgrounds.
Reform UK Under Scrutiny: Vetting Processes in Question
In recent months, Reform UK has faced mounting criticism for its recruitment practices—particularly concerning how it evaluates candidates’ past affiliations and financial histories. The case of Susan Lawrence stands out as one of several instances where individuals elected to local councils have been linked to known fraudulent investment schemes prior to taking office.
The party did not respond when asked whether its pre-election vetting team had identified any red flags related to Lawrence's background or her promotional activities with HyperVerse. This silence adds weight to concerns about transparency and accountability within the organization’s selection procedures.
Implications for Public Trust in Local Governance
This incident raises serious questions about public trust in municipal governance, especially given that a council member responsible for auditing financial reporting is also implicated in promoting an illegal scheme involving billions of dollars’ worth of investor funds. The audit committee oversees critical aspects of budget oversight—yet one of its members may have previously contributed directly to undermining such systems through deceptive marketing tactics.
If confirmed, this situation could lead to calls for independent audits of local councils' vetting protocols or even reconsideration of how political appointments are evaluated before election day. It underscores the need for robust background checks and transparent disclosure policies when individuals assume positions with fiduciary responsibilities over taxpayer money.
Conclusion: A Case Study in Financial Fraud and Governance Failure
The case of Susan Lawrence represents a rare intersection between financial fraud on an international scale and public office—a scenario where personal misconduct intersects with institutional oversight mechanisms. While she has not been formally charged with wrongdoing by any regulatory body, her active promotion of schemes that defrauded investors globally indicates potential ethical breaches within both private investment practices and civic leadership roles.
As investigations continue into HyperVerse-related operations—including those involving Sam Lee and other promoters—the broader implications for digital finance regulation remain significant. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers posed when unregulated cryptocurrency platforms are marketed to vulnerable populations through trusted figures in local communities.
The ongoing legal proceedings against Sam Lee may provide further clarity on how such networks operate—and whether similar structures could be replicated elsewhere. Meanwhile, public scrutiny will likely intensify over Reform UK’s internal processes, especially given its role in electing individuals with histories tied to financial scams.