Lost my inheritance to a 'financial guru' from Instagram, now she wants 'fees' to withdraw. Scam?

Oh Hannah, I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's absolutely a scam, every single part of it. The 'withdrawal fee' or 'tax' is just another layer to extract more money from you. They'll keep coming up with new excuses – 'regulatory fees', 'anti-money laundering fees', 'account verification fees' – it never ends. You won't see any of your money back once you pay that. The profits you saw? Fabricated. The platform? Fake. It's a classic pig butchering scam, starts with romance/friendship, then moves to a fake investment. The best thing you can do now is stop all contact with her and *do not send any more money*. Collect every single piece of evidence – screenshots of chats, transaction records, the platform URL, everything. Start with your local police in Singapore, then look for their equivalent of a financial crimes unit. Also, consider reporting to the FBI IC3 even from Singapore, as these scams are usually international. It might feel embarrassing, but you're not alone, and reporting is crucial. There are also organizations like ChainAbuse that help track crypto assets, if that was involved. It's a long shot but worth trying to trace any funds. Prioritize your mental health now.

STOP right now. DO NOT send another single dollar. This is a classic scam tactic. Many, many people have fallen for this exact same trick – they 'invest', see fake profits, try to withdraw, and then are asked for various 'fees' or 'taxes'. It's all a lie. The money is gone. If you send more, that money will also be gone. You need to cut off all communication with this person immediately. Block her on everything. Change your passwords if you shared any info. Then, report it to the Singapore police; they have a dedicated Anti-Scam Centre. Also, report to your bank. Even if they can't recover funds, they need to know about the fraudulent transactions.

Hannah, my heart goes out to you. Please, please, *do not send* another cent. This is 100% a scam. That 'tax' is a trick, they just want to drain you completely. That platform is rigged. I'm so sorry you've been exploited like this, it's not your fault, these scammers are incredibly sophisticated and manipulative. What you're feeling is valid. Take a deep breath. Gather everything you have – screenshots, bank statements, transaction IDs. Report it to your local authorities. In the US, we'd report to the FBI IC3, and I read that Singapore has its own similar cybercrime unit. Every piece of info helps, even if it feels small. Lean on your support system if you can. You're not dumb; you were targeted by professionals.

Honestly, at this point, you're probably out of luck. Once they ask for more money as a 'fee' to get your original money out, it's a guaranteed second scam. They've already got your inheritance, they're just pushing to see how much more they can squeeze. These Instagram 'gurus' and their 'exclusive platforms' are red flags flying high. You should have been more careful with an inheritance, especially online. Report it if you want, but don't expect anything back. Learn from this.

Oh Hannah, my dear, this just breaks my heart. Please listen to everyone saying DON'T pay that fee. It's absolutely a scam. They know you're desperate, and they're preying on that. This isn't your fault, these people are predators, and they're incredibly good at what they do. I know the shame is immense, but please try to push past it and report it. In Australia, we'd go to the AFP. For you, find out who the financial crime division is in Singapore and give them everything you've got. The screenshots are super important. It won't be easy but talking about it is the first step. You're not alone in this.

This is textbook. The 'financial guru' on social media, the rapid friendship-building, the exclusive platform, the 'guaranteed' profits, and finally, the impossible withdrawal and the 'fees' required to unlock your funds. It's a pig butchering scam, and that $3,000 for 'withdrawal fees' is just another payment directly to the scammers, it won’t get you your money back. Your funds are not trapped; they are gone. It's very common for these operations to originate from Southeast Asia, making reporting from Singapore particularly relevant. Your primary steps from Singapore should be to report it to the Singapore Police Force, specifically their Anti-Scam Centre. Provide them with all communication, transaction details, and the fake platform's URL. Also, notify your bank about the fraudulent transactions immediately. Unfortunately, recovery is very unlikely given the nature of these schemes, but reporting is crucial for intelligence gathering and preventing others from falling victim. Do not engage further or pay additional fees, as this only compounds your loss.

i know exactly how this feels. exactly. i lost my savings to someone on facebook who was doing this 'exclusive investment' thing. it was like looking at my own story when i read your post. they also asked for 'tax' money and 'release fees'. i sent it, i was so desperate, and of course, nothing came back. i felt so foolish, so empty. please hannah, don't send them another cent. save yourself that extra heartache. it's gone. in south africa, we don't have many options for reporting these cross-border things, but i still went to my bank. they couldn't help, but it felt a little better to tell someone. you're not dumb, you were fooled by someone very clever and cruel. i hope you find some peace.

Oh man, Hannah, I'm so sorry. This is literally exactly what happened to me, just with a different app. She was from 'Hong Kong' initially then 'moved' to Dubai. Met on Instagram, lots of sweet talk, then the 'amazing' crypto investment platform. I put in about $20k. When I tried to withdraw, guess what? 'Transaction fees', 'tax fees', 'membership upgrade fees'. It was never-ending. I kept sending more, convinced the next payment would unlock it, then I hit rock bottom. I eventually got a friend involved, and he just plainly said, "Dude, it's gone, they're playing you." It hurt, but he was right. Like everyone here is saying, DO NOT SEND MORE. It's a sunk cost. Cut contact. Report it to Singaporean authorities. It's a brutal lesson, but you're not alone. We get it.

Hannah, I'm sending you strength. This is so tough, and I'm a survivor of a similar thing. That 'fee' is just them trying to get more out of you. The money isn't there, waiting; it's gone. I remember how confusing it was when they spun up another 'reason' why I couldn't get my money back. They make you doubt yourself. Please, just block her and everyone associated with the platform. Stop all communication. You need to protect any remaining funds and your peace of mind. Report it to your bank and police, even if it feels like a long shot. They are professional criminals, and you were their target. You're strong for even reaching out.

Hey Hannah, really sorry to hear you're going through this awful situation. It's a classic move in these pig butchering scams. They build trust, show you 'profits', and then when you try to withdraw, they hit you with these bogus 'fees' or 'taxes'. It's pure manipulation to extract more money. What you absolutely need to do now is stop all interaction with this person and do not send any more funds. Every penny you send from now on is just more money directly into their pockets, and you'll never see it again. Start by reporting this to the Singapore Police Force's Anti-Scam Centre. They are actually quite good with these types of cases. Give them every detail, every screenshot, every transaction record. Also, inform your bank about the fraudulent transactions. It's a painful process, but you're not alone, and there are resources to help you deal with the emotional fallout too.

Oh no, this is a classic scenario. The 'advance fee' is the biggest red flag here. They keep moving the goalposts, asking for more money for 'taxes,' 'fees,' 'processing,' etc., all to extract more cash. The platform showing fake profits is designed to keep you hooked. This person is absolutely not a 'financial guru' and has scammed you. Report this to the FBI IC3. They might not recover your money, but every report helps track these criminals.

I know EXACTLY how you feel. That pit in your stomach when you realize. I got hit by a similar crypto scam last year. Lost about C$8k. They even started asking for 'insurance fees' after I requested a withdrawal. It felt like my whole world was collapsing. The worst part is the shame, right? Like you're an idiot for falling for it. But you're not. These scammers are pros at manipulation. It's not your fault.

This sounds exactly like what happened to my neighbour. He invested in a 'property development' scheme he saw on Facebook, run by someone claiming to be in Dubai too. They asked for more money for 'legal fees' and when he questioned it, they just went dark. He never saw a penny again. Please, whatever you do, DO NOT send them that extra $3,000. It will just vanish. You need to contact your bank IMMEDIATELY and see if they can do anything about the transactions, though it's unlikely if it's been a while.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's devastating to have your inheritance disappear, and it's completely understandable to feel scared and confused. These 'gurus' prey on people's hopes, and it takes a toll. For what it's worth, many people fall victim to these investment scams. You did the right thing by asking questions here instead of sending more money.

As for reporting, since you're in Singapore, you can check with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for scam advisories and reporting channels. They might be able to guide you on next steps.

Ugh, that 'pay fees to withdraw' thing is such a common scam tactic. It's designed to drain every last dollar you have. I got caught in a 'romance scam' mixed with an investment pitch a couple of years ago. The guy was charming, said he wanted to partner on a business with me, then asked for money, and when I wanted it back, he invented 'transfer fees' and 'exchange rates'. It’s a harsh lesson, but you’ve stopped yourself from sending more money, which is great. Try filing a report with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) – they track scams.

This happened to me too. Exact same story, except it was crypto and not forex. Someone on Telegram promised huge returns. I put in about €10,000, which was my savings. The site looked super legit. When I tried to withdraw, they said I needed to pay a 20% 'compliance fee'. I told my wife, and she immediately said it was a scam. I was devastated. I'm still trying to recover, but reporting it to BaFin here in Germany felt like a first step, even if it didn't get my money back immediately. Stay strong.

Hang on, 'exclusive forex platform'? Dubai 'trader'? 'Profits look real'? And now they want MORE money to release IT? Yeah, that's not a 'guru', that's a thief. Sorry to be blunt, but you've been scammed. They make the fake profits look good to lull you into a false sense of security. Never ever pay an 'advance fee' to get your own money back. That's the oldest trick in the book. Report it to the police in Singapore, and also the FBI IC3.

Oh dear, I'm really sorry to hear you've encountered this. It sounds incredibly stressful, especially with your inheritance involved. It takes courage to reach out when you're feeling so vulnerable.

Many people have been tricked by these sophisticated scams. The key thing is that you stopped yourself from sending more money! That's a huge win.

Since you're in Singapore, please consider reporting this to the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force. They handle financial crimes and might have specific advice for this type of investment scam. Don't give up hope.

Jeez, this is rough. I went through something similar with a fake job offer that required me to pay for 'training materials' and 'certification'. Lost R20,000 ZAR. The person was super persuasive, even sent me a fake company ID. When I asked for a refund because the job didn't materialise, they demanded more 'admin fees'. It felt like my whole life savings just evaporated. I eventually reported it to the South African Police Service, but honestly, getting the money back feels like a long shot. Just gotta learn and move on, sadly.

No, you're not dumb, and this is definitely a scam. They lure you in with fake profits, then hit you with bogus fees. I was duped by a 'vitamin supplement' scheme where I invested £500. They promised massive returns, then refused to send the products or my money, demanding 'shipping insurance'. I argued, then they just blocked me. My husband was furious but mostly worried about me. I felt so stupid. I tried reporting it to Action Fraud here in the UK, but got nowhere. Just don't send any more money, please.