Reform UK councillor Susan Lawrence promoted HyperVerse, which US court documents describe as an alleged pyramid and Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of $1.89 billion (£1.41 billion). Lawrence now serves on Wolverhampton city council's audit and risk committee, which oversees financial reporting for a multimillion-pound budget. Some participants who borrowed to invest reported feeling suicidal after losing access to funds, and some cases involved self-harm. Authorities have not personally accused Lawrence of wrongdoing. Reform UK said Lawrence lost her pension and tens of thousands of pounds, later joined HyperNation to recover losses, and has no current involvement in similar schemes. Lawrence did not respond to a request for comment.