Just a small timeline correction:
I remember working on that case and if my memory serves me well, the first link is their ANN thread (created Feb 17th) and the second one - bounty (created Feb 24th).
The scam accusations topic was created on March 5th, ANN was deleted and Bounty locked on the next day March 6th.
PS; I'm not trying to defend Wapinter, most of you know where I stand when it comes to managers promoting projects they haven't even checked.
(don't change the basis)
it's nice to lock the bounty thread but it leaves a great visibility to the project (in terms of referencing in particular).
When a scam is revealed, the only responsible reaction of a conscientious BM is to
delete as much information as possible and post a
warning message at the beginning and end of the thread
This is exactly why the OP
Oceanbeware thinks it is useful to open a thread (when the project should have been dead and invisible for weeks)
Wapinter is not a newbie and I think he is fully aware of the situation.