Former Pilot Linked to Cryptocurrency Startup Owning Forum Used for Sextortion

Former track and field coach Steve Waithe was sentenced in 2024 to five years in jail for attempting to extort over 100 women into sending him intimate photos. According to legal documents, Waithe used various tactics including hacking Snapchat accounts and posing as someone who could help remove images from a forum called "LeakedBB." Bellingcat's investigation has now uncovered that the site may be linked to Jitendra Maharaj, a Christchurch-based former pilot and co-founder of cryptocurrency startup Pay It Now (PIN).

Maharaj is reported to have been involved with PIN, which billed itself as the "Stripe of crypto payments," and evidence suggests he might own LeakedBB. The forum was known for users requesting Snapchat hacks or offering to help others hack accounts in exchange for payment. This activity aligns with Waithe's methods of extorting women into sending him nude photos.

Legal documents do not name the sites where Waithe distributed these images, but Bellingcat found a cached version of a November 2020 post on LeakedBB that matches Waithe’s alleged tactics. Another thread from a few months later shows the same user offering to trade nudes of athletes he knew personally.

In response to inquiries about his potential involvement with LeakedBB, Maharaj did not reply directly but claimed ignorance when approached by The Press at his home in Christchurch's Aidanfield suburb on June 25. He stated that all the evidence against him seemed "weird" and suggested a targeted attack based on what he perceived as "manufactured evidence."

LeakedBB went offline around the time Maharaj was contacted about the investigation, raising questions about its sudden disappearance. The site remains inaccessible as of publication.

The implications of this discovery extend beyond individual cases like Waithe's sextortion scheme, highlighting broader issues in online privacy and security. The use of cryptocurrency platforms by individuals involved in illicit activities underscores the need for stricter regulation and oversight in the crypto space to prevent such misuse.

While Maharaj denies any connection to LeakedBB, the evidence linking him to the forum and his reluctance to address the allegations directly raise serious concerns about accountability in both online communities and the tech industry. The investigation into this matter continues to shed light on the interconnectedness of technology, privacy violations, and criminal activities facilitated through digital means.