A criminal investigation has been launched in Barcelona against a crypto firm, Shirtum, following allegations that it defrauded investors of at least $3.4 million through non-functional NFTs linked to footballer image rights. The case centers around six professional footballers, including World Cup winners, who reportedly promoted the dubious venture. Prosecutors claim that Shirtum used the players' endorsements to sell NFTs but failed to deliver a working platform. Victims reported that their investments were misappropriated for personal use while the company was quietly abandoned without a proper functioning product. A complex corporate structure designed to evade taxes has been identified, and allegations have surfaced that prominent players like “Papu” Gómez leveraged their reputations to promote the scheme while being inaccurately depicted as ‘founders.’ This scandal highlights the risks involved in celebrity endorsements in the cryptocurrency and NFT space. Local experts caution that trust in well-known personalities can easily be manipulated by fraudulent schemes.

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