My 'new mentor' from a professional network got me with a fake crypto platform, now what?

Oh wow, Hugo, I'm so incredibly sorry this happened to you. Please, please, don't feel stupid or embarrassed – these scammers are pros, and they target people across all walks of life, often through trusted-looking platforms. This is classic 'pig butchering' where they build trust over time, show fake profits, and then demand more money for taxes/fees to 'withdraw'. The small withdrawal you got was just bait to hook you deeper.

First, report this immediately. In France, you should contact the national police services (Police Nationale or Gendarmerie) and file a complaint. Keep all your communications with 'Anna', screenshots of the CoinEgg platform, transaction records (from Revolut, your bank, etc.) – everything. Also, report to your bank (Revolut) about the fraudulent payments. While recovery is often difficult with crypto, reporting is crucial for law enforcement to track these networks. Also, consider filing a report with the FBI IC3, even as a non-US citizen, as these scams often have international ties. They can't investigate individual cases as much but it helps them map out the bigger picture.

Hugo, my heart goes out to you. I went through something very similar here in Singapore, though mine was more the romance angle, but the *method* was identical. The slow build-up, the 'mentor' vibe, the convincing screenshots, the small successful withdrawal... it's all part of their playbook. I lost a significant amount too. The embarrassment is real, I know.

Here, MAS (our financial authority) constantly warns about these. In your situation, after reporting to local authorities, maybe see if there's any European equivalent to ChainAbuse that can help trace the crypto? It's a long shot, but sometimes they can flag the wallets, which might freeze funds if they move to a regulated exchange. Don't beat yourself up. These people are criminal masterminds. Just focus on reporting and protecting yourself from future attempts, because they often try again once they know you're vulnerable.

Please, Hugo, DO NOT pay that 'tax payment'! I'm shouting this because it's another lie, another trap to drain more money from you. There are no 'taxes' you need to pay to withdraw funds from a legitimate crypto platform directly to your bank account, especially not like that. It's just a tactic to get you to send more money. If you send it, it'll just disappear like the rest. You won't get your original investment or this 'tax money' back. It's designed to keep you on the hook, hoping. Cut off all contact with them immediately. Block 'Anna', block any numbers, don't reply to any emails. It's a cruel game they play.

Yeah, what Brittany said. Seriously, block them. They'll keep trying to find ways to get more money out of you. They'll pretend to be lawyers, regulators, 'recovery agents' who can get your money back for a fee. It's all just the same scammer, or their friends. Once you're identified as a victim, you become a target for secondary scams too. So be super wary of anyone reaching out claiming they can 'recover' your funds. NO ONE can magically get your crypto back, especially not for an upfront fee. It's super important you understand that.

To expand on Megan's point about reporting, when you file with the FBI IC3 (even if you're not in the US, I mean it's primarily for US victims, but they do handle international complaints if there's a US connection to the scam, which often happens with these types of operations), make sure you provide every little detail. The more info they have, the better. Screenshots of the chat, the fake platform CoinEgg, any wallet addresses they gave you, any transaction IDs, the bank accounts you sent money to – everything. And if you used a crypto exchange to buy the initial crypto before sending it to CoinEgg, report it to that exchange too. They might be able to flag the receiving address if it's still active on their platform. It's a long shot for recovery, but every piece of info helps law enforcement piece together these complex criminal networks.

Oh man, Hugo, I'm right there with you. Exact same thing happened to me here in Cape Town last year. Except mine was a 'friend' from a language exchange app. Lost almost my whole savings to a platform called 'BitForex impersonators' – it looked so real, the charts, everything. I even did the small withdrawal. It works because it's designed to mimic legitimacy. The worst part is the feeling of betrayal, not just the money. I reported it to the local police, but honestly, recovery isn't great here. It's just a database entry. I hope you have better luck with the European authorities. It's a horrible, horrible scam. You're not alone.

Adding to the advice about reporting, it's vital to gather all your digital forensics. This includes, if possible, the URL of the fake CoinEgg site, any IP addresses you might have found from their communication (though this is often masked), and any email headers from their messages. The more technical data you have, the better the chances for cybercrime units, especially those with international reach, to build a case. In Germany, I know the federal cybercrime unit really emphasizes detailed digital evidence. Also, make sure you change passwords for any accounts that might have been compromised or that you used for communication, especially if you reused passwords anywhere. These scammers are sophisticated and might try to access other accounts.

It's so tough, Hugo. Everyone gets caught up sometimes. The 'tax payment' thing is absolutely a scam. It's the final squeeze. Don't pay it. The money's gone, I'm afraid. It's heartbreaking, I know. I still think about the money I lost to my own situation. For me, I didn't even bother reporting much because I didn't think it would do anything. It was a local bank transfer initially, then crypto. So hard to trace. I just wrote it off as a very, very expensive lesson. Probably not the best advice, but I just wanted to move on. Hope you find some peace eventually.

Hey Hugo, I understand the dread you're feeling. I was in a similar spot a few years back, only mine was marketed as a *real estate* investment that turned out to be fake. The initial smaller profit distribution, the whole shebang. For me, what helped most emotionally was seeing a therapist and talking about the shame and anger. And financially, I focused on rebuilding. I froze my credit reports, changed all my passwords (like Felix suggested!), and just accepted that the money was gone. It's a painful process, but you will get through it. Sharing your story here is a huge step, thank you for being brave enough to do it. It helps warn others.

Hugo, please don't be embarrassed. It takes a huge amount of courage to share what happened. These criminals are professional manipulators. My partner almost fell for one where he met someone on a 'hiking enthusiast' forum, again, totally legit-looking, then they started talking crypto on some shady platform. Luckily, I caught on before he transferred serious money, but he was already emotionally invested. The 'tax payment' demand is always the giveaway; it's designed to make you panic and pay more without thinking. Like others said, don't send another cent. Report it locally, and maybe check with the FCA or AFM if they have any warnings about CoinEgg or similar platforms, just to help with official records. They might not help *you* recover but it helps *them* track the perps.

Ugh, that's rough. 'Anna' used a classic tactic – building trust through a professional context, then luring you into a fake investment. The small withdrawal was a masterstroke of manipulation, making it seem real. For France, your primary route is the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). They handle complaints related to financial scams. Also, file a report with the national police; they have specific cybercrime units. Don't expect to get the money back easily, but reporting is crucial.

Oh no, that sounds absolutely dreadful. Feeling embarrassed is completely understandable, but please don't blame yourself. Scammers are incredibly skilled at what they do, and they prey on people's trust and aspirations. It takes a lot of courage to share this story, and you've done the right thing by reaching out for help. You're definitely not alone in this.

Hang on. A 'tax payment' to release funds from a frozen account on a crypto platform? Like, what is this, The Bahamas in the 90s? CoinEgg is likely just a shell site, same as BitForex impersonators. They probably just pocketed the cash the moment you sent it. The Revolut withdrawal was likely a pre-programmed 'win' to hook you. Stick to regulated exchanges, maybe Binance or Kraken if you got to stay in crypto, but definitely don't send them another cent. They're not going to release anything.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It’s a horrible feeling to realize you've been tricked, especially when it felt so legitimate. Please be kind to yourself. You were misled by someone you trusted in a professional setting, which is a really difficult situation to navigate. Taking action now, like reporting it, is the brave and smart thing to do.

Camille is right, don't beat yourself up. It’s easy to fall for these schemes when they look so professional and when someone you think you can trust is guiding you. The fact that you managed to withdraw a small amount first is a common tactic they use to build confidence. Now, the key is informing the authorities. In France, besides the AMF, your local Gendarmerie or Police Nationale can take reports for online fraud.

This is a textbook advance-fee scam superimposed on a fake investment platform. 'Anna' is likely a persona managed by the scammers, and CoinEgg is their fake outfit. The entire interaction—the platform, the 'growth,' the withdrawal, and the 'tax' demand—is designed to fleece you. Your recourse is limited, but reporting is essential for law enforcement to track these operations. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a good place to file a U.S.-centric report, and France has equivalent bodies. Report to your bank too, though recovery is unlikely at this stage.

Aaargh, this is grim. The 'tax payment' is the classic final hook. Once you pay that, they’ll just invent another fee or say it's been seized, etc. CoinEgg is almost certainly a scam site. Do *not* pay them any more money. Go to the French police or Gendarmes *immediately*. They can investigate, and it creates a record. Also, check out ChainAbuse – they sometimes track scam operations and platforms.

My condolences on this severe financial loss. The scenario you describe is a sophisticated form of social engineering combined with investment fraud. They likely knew you were new to crypto, hence the professional facade. The initial small withdrawal is a well-known psychological trick to overcome skepticism. For reporting in France, the AMF is the correct financial regulator, and the Cybercrime Unit of your local police or Gendarmerie is the investigative body. Forward any communication you have with 'Anna' and details of CoinEgg to them. For international tracking, reports filed with entities like the FBI IC3 can help consolidate data.

Oh là là, feel so sorry for you. What a terrible experience. It's true, these 'mentors' can be very convincing, especially when they show these fake dashboards with huge gains. The part where they ask for more money after you've already invested? That's the biggest red flag. My advice: stop all communication with them, and report it to the French authorities right away. You can file a complaint online on the government portal service-public.fr or go directly to your local police station.

Mate, that's a shocker. It really stings when you think you've got a good connection on a professional network, and then bam, it turns out to be a scam. They really know how to play the game, don't they? That small withdrawal is a classic move. Just remember, you're not alone, and feeling stupid is normal but undeserved. Report it to the police; in Australia, we'd go to Scamwatch and then the AFP.

The 'tax payment' is the giveaway. This is a classic 'advance fee' scam. They create a sense of legitimacy with the fake platform and the initial withdrawal, but the goal is always to get you to pay more money, which they'll then steal. In Europe, especially if you used a service like Revolut, report it to your national financial regulator. For Germany, that would be BaFin, but since you're in France, the AMF is your contact. Don't send them any more funds. It's gone.

Oh honey, I know exactly how you feel. I lost thousands on a fake platform too, met through LinkedIn. They even had fake customer support chats that looked real. I felt like such a fool for weeks. The key thing is to report it. Go to your police and file a report. Maybe check out ChainAbuse online, they have resources for victims. Don't let them get away with it. You are not alone. We are survivors.

This cuts deep. Being a victim of such a sophisticated scam, especially when it starts from a professional connection, is devastating. The simulated growth and the small withdrawal are designed to trick you into a false sense of security. My advice from the Netherlands: report it to the FIOD (which is the investigative department of the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, handling financial crimes) and also to the AFM. Even if you're in France, international cooperation exists and reporting matters. Don't send more money; it's a trap.