Martin Shkreli: 'Pharma bro' claims he was duped into paying $15m to scammers 'for new Kanye West album'

Controversial "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli claims he has been scammed for more than $15m (£10m) after reportedly being duped into believing he was buying the rights to Kanye West's new album.

Shkreli, who was dubbed America's most hated man after increasing the price of HIV medication from $13.50 a pill to $750, posted an offer to Kanye West to withhold the release of The Life Of Pablo to fans and instead sell it to him for $10m.

After he supposedly believed his offer, reportedly raised to $15m, had been accepted, Shkreli, who bought the Wu Tang Clan album Once Upon A Time In Shaolin for $2m in December 2015, posted a picture of himself on Twitter holding a record with the caption "another one".

However, after several jubilant posts including stipulation about which of the tracks he would permit West to release, and where he may or may not be performing, Shkreli supposedly realised the money he had paid out may have been to a hoaxer.

He posted on 14 February: "Who the f**k has my fifteen million dollars???????????"

Although it is not known if police are investigating the alleged theft, it is believed the money was not in fact paid to West, as Shkreli believed, but was supposedly taken by a hoaxer who is said to have convinced the multimillionaire to pay him for the album via Bitcoin.

He told his followers: "Someone called Daquan said he was Kanye's boy and I signed the deal to buy Pablo and sent the bitcoin. Call the police this is bulls**t."

The unsubstantiated scam is the latest in a series of unfortunate events for the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, who was arrested in December 2015 and is facing charges of security fraud. In early February, he took part in a Congressional hearing over drug pricing, frustrating politicians over his refusal to answer questions.

He is also embroiled in a feud with Wu Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, who openly called him a "s***head" following the price increase of Daraprim, to which Shkreli responded with a video threatening the rapper.

However, in his latest battle, Shkreli claims he believed he would be able to recoup his losses, stating the creator of Bitcoin was prepared to help him find the missing money he was reportedly duped into paying.

Meanwhile, West's album is still not on sale, with the rapper encouraging people to join Tidal, where they can stream his album.