Just realized right now how an ICO scam can be run... without transparency■■
What you're describing is something I understand to be a well established practice in the land of ICOs and premined altcoins. I've seen it called "salting the tip jar".  It doesn't take much effort to go find high profile "cryptocurrencies" that premined and presold 72 million tokens than as soon as their presale ended their "CEO" paid himself out a million dollars to repay "loans" and exited stage left...

I have no idea if this kind of conduct is generally unlawful, but it doesn't matter because the people creating premined alts and ICOs don't care and don't seem to suffer any negative consequences for their unethical behavior.

I think its yet another reason why people should stay far far clear of any ICO or anything like an ICO.