New Utopia - History

History

The project was publicised by various media outlets in Europe and the United States. In an article about fake nations, Quatloos.com called "New Utopia" a "fake nation scam". The micronation was also briefly mentioned as a scam in a Business Week e.biz online article and in a Wired News piece; the latter noted, however, that "Turney... firmly maintains his intention to build the archipelago paradise once he raises enough cash".

Long operated a Web site to promote the so-called micronation tax haven, which he claimed was to be constructed on concrete platforms at the Misteriosa Bank 115 miles west of the Cayman Islands. He offered US$350 million in unregistered bonds and also promoted a currency purchase program by promising returns of up to 200 percent.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) termed New Utopia a "fraudulent nationwide Internet scheme", and complained that Long had made "material misrepresentations and omissions concerning, among other things, the status of construction of the project, the companies associated with the project, the safety of the investment, and the status of the Commission's investigation into his activities." The SEC's case against Long (SEC v. Lazarus Long) ruled against Long in 2000, ordering him to pay a disgorgement of US$24,000, the amount he had collected thus far. The latter condition was subsequently waived due to Long's inability to pay. Long continues to maintain that the project is real and offers 'charter citizenship' to individuals who "contribute" at least US$10,000 (recently increased from US$1,500).

New Utopia's "UK Pro Consul" was interviewed by Danny Wallace for his 2005 BBC2 series about micronations, How to Start Your Own Country, in which he claimed the country's sovereignty had been recognised by the 'Principality of Thaumaturgy'. New Utopia is also now recognised by The Principality of Vanuatu.