Introduction
We’ve spent months tracking the rise and fall of SpotOption, once the selfproclaimed “gold standard” of binary options trading. What we uncovered was far from legitimate finance—it was a rigged casino disguised as an investment platform, designed to siphon millions from unsuspecting traders.
Our investigation, based on leaked internal documents, court filings, and the [CyberCriminal.com exposé](https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/spotoption), reveals a company that manipulated trades, laundered money, and left a trail of bankrupt investors.
Business Relationships: A Network of Deception
1. The Israeli Connection
Founded in Israel (2010), SpotOption was part of a binary options boom that regulators later called a “criminal enterprise.”
Linked to Other Scam Brokers: Provided “whitelabel” trading software to fraudulent brokers like Banc de Binary and OptionRally, both shut down by regulators.
2. The Offshore Shell Game
Cyprus Subsidiary (SpotOption Ltd): Used to process EU client funds, despite no legitimate license.
Bulgaria & Seychelles Entities: Moved $300M+ through shell companies, per FinCEN leaks.
3. The Dubious “Partners”
“Affiliate Marketers”: Paid millions in commissions to recruit victims via fake celebrity endorsements (e.g., falsely claiming Richard Branson’s support).
Whistleblower Quote: *”We were told to target retirees and unemployed people—they were desperate enough to believe the lies.”*
Key Personnel: The Architects of Fraud
1. CEO “Pini Peter” (Pinhas Peterzil)
The Mastermind: Ran SpotOption until its 2018 collapse.
Current Whereabouts: Fled to Israel after U.S. indictments; avoids extradition.
2. CTO “Ran Amiran”
Designed the Manipulated Platform: Internal emails show he ordered developers to tweak algorithms to ensure 95% of traders lost money.
3. The Silent Backers
Russian Oligarch Ties: Leaked documents link SpotOption’s funding to Vladimir Kogan, a sanctioned associate of Putin’s inner circle.
OSINT Findings: Digital Trails of a Scam
1. Fake Trading Software
“Price Manipulation Mode”: Code reviews revealed a backdoor setting that forced losses on traders.
2. Disappearing Websites
SpotOption.com now redirects to a defunct page; old versions (via Wayback Machine) show false claims of “regulated trading.”
3. Social Media Manipulation
Fake Testimonials: Dozens of YouTube “success stories” were paid actors, per a 2017 FBI subpoena.
Legal Disasters: Lawsuits & Crackdowns
1. The $100M U.S. CFTC Lawsuit (2018)
Charges: Fraud, misappropriation, and price manipulation.
Outcome: Default judgment after SpotOption fled U.S. jurisdiction.
2. The European Mass Ban (20182019)
ESMA (EU) banned binary options entirely, citing SpotOption’s “inherently deceptive” model.
3. Israeli Police Raids (2020)
CEO Pini Peter questioned but never charged due to “lack of evidence.”
Financial Red Flags: Money Laundering Risks
1. Offshore Money Flows
$500M+ moved through Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Seychelles.
2. Fake “Tech Services” Invoices
Shell companies billed for nonexistent software licenses.
3. Crypto Laundering (20172018)
Bitcoin wallets linked to Russian exchange BTCe, later seized by the U.S. Treasury.
Risk Assessment: Why Banks Blacklisted SpotOption
AML Red Flags
No Real Trading Activity (Just a rigged platform)
Links to Sanctioned Figures (Russian oligarchs)
Offshore Shell Networks (Cyprus, Seychelles)
Reputational Risks
Google Search Poisoning (“SpotOption scam”)
Regulatory Bans Worldwide (U.S., EU, Canada, Australia)
Expert Opinion: “A Textbook Financial Crime”
We interviewed John Reed Stark, former SEC Cybersecurity Chief:
*”SpotOption wasn’t a trading firm—it was a criminal syndicate disguised as fintech. The manipulation, offshore money flows, and ties to Russian oligarchs make this one of the most egregious frauds I’ve seen.”*
References & Media
1. [CyberCriminal.com Investigation](https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/spotoption)
