British Actor Who Posed as HyperVerse CEO Apologises, Says He Was Not Aware of the Scam
Stephen Harrison, a British actor based in Thailand, has publicly apologized for his involvement in the HyperVerse cryptocurrency scandal .
Harrison, who was paid to impersonate the CEO of the now-defunct crypto scheme, claims he was unaware of the fraudulent activities surrounding the company.
The HyperVerse scheme collapsed amid allegations of fraud and mismanagement and left countless investors out of pocket, with losses estimated at a staggering $1.3 billion in 2022 alone, according to Chainalysis.
Harrison, who portrayed the fictional CEO Steven Reece Lewis during the scheme’s launch in late 2021 and early 2022, has expressed deep remorse for those affected.
“I am sorry for these people,” Harrison said in an interview with The Guardian, acknowledging the pain and financial loss suffered by the investors.
“I do feel deeply sorry for these people, I really do. You know, it’s horrible for them. I just hope that there is some resolution.”
Harrison’s involvement began when a friend of a friend approached him with an opportunity to work as a corporate “presenter” for HyperVerse.
At the time, Harrison, a freelance television presenter and unpaid football commentator, was seeking more work and experience.
Despite initial suspicions about the legitimacy of HyperVerse, Harrison was reassured by his agent and decided to accept the role after conducting his own research.
The actor was paid 180,000 Thai baht (approximately A$7,500 or £4,000) over nine months for his services, which also included a free suit.
His contract, provided by an Indonesian-based talent agency called Mass Focus Ltd., which has no record on the Indonesian company register, was for a three-month renewable retainer, requiring up to six hours
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