TechFlow reports that on-chain sleuth ZachXBT issued a community alert on X, stating that an individual calling himself a "MEV engineer," PokerBrat (X account @pokerbrat2019), raised at least $1.2 million from 11 people earlier this year to purchase various MEV bots (separate from Rampage), claiming these bots would soon go live. After initially agreeing to return funds due to repeated delays, PokerBrat later made up various excuses to stall, including COVID-19, health issues, exchange problems, extortion, and family emergencies. He removed multiple individuals from the project chat who raised concerns about the delays.
ZachXBT noted that PokerBrat previously pleaded guilty in 2002 for defrauding investors of $4 million, which he used to buy cars and gamble, and was sentenced in 2007 in Colorado to three years in prison for fraud after stealing money from over ten victims.
