Published August 29, 2026 · 2 min read
Amount lost
$86,500
Amount recovered
$86,500
Duration
2 months
Elena was added to a private Telegram group by someone she'd met through a mutual connection online. The group was run by a 'senior analyst' who shared daily crypto and forex trading signals, along with screenshots of other members' profits.
Elena was guided to open an account on a trading app that mirrored the signals from the group. Her dashboard showed steady, believable gains, and the analyst was responsive and reassuring whenever she had questions, always ready with an explanation.
When Elena tried to withdraw her balance, she was told she needed to upgrade to a 'VIP tier' to unlock larger withdrawals, then pay a tax clearance fee once she had. Each payment was framed as the last one standing between her and her funds. In total, she paid in $86,500.
When Elena came to us, our investigation team traced the flow of funds through the platform and built the case needed to escalate the matter with her bank and payment providers. Through that process, we helped her recover the full $86,500 she'd lost.
Independently search the relevant financial regulator's public register for the platform or advisor's name, rather than trusting a badge or logo on the site itself.
No. Stop immediately, even if you're told it's the very last payment required. Further fees are a sign of continued extraction, not a genuine path to withdrawal.
That's a very common pattern, and it doesn't prevent us from investigating. We focus on tracing where the money actually went.
No. A free eligibility check will tell you honestly whether there's still a realistic path to recovery, even without ongoing contact.
Cryptocurrency ScamBrad was introduced to a fake trading platform by someone posing as a professional broker on Instagram. We helped him recover $418,000 of the $550,000 he lost.
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Romance ScamChristine was targeted on Instagram by someone posing as an online fitness personality. We helped her recover $43,000 of the $50,000 she lost.
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Job / Task ScamTyler was offered a work-from-home 'product boosting' role through a messaging app, then asked to pay refundable deposits to unlock his earnings. We helped him recover $14,600 of the $18,200 he lost.
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