#action-fraud
9 questions tagged with #action-fraud
A company called 'Global Debt Solutions' wants a 'security deposit' to get my crypto back. Legit or another scam?
Hi everyone, really hoping for some advice here. I lost a significant amount of crypto last year, probably around 8k GBP, to one of those dodgy investment platforms. I reported it to my bank and to Action Fraud here in the UK, but honestly, didn't expect much. It was a really dark time for me. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got an email out of the blue from a company calling themselves 'Global Debt Solutions'. They said they'd found my case through a 'public database of scam victims' and could help me recover my funds. They've been quite professional, providing some details about my original loss that only I and the scammers would know (which is unsettling, honestly). Now they're asking for a 'security deposit' of about 15% of the lost amount, saying it's to secure the funds once they're recovered and before they can be released to my wallet. They promise it's fully refundable. My gut says no, but a small part of me desperately wants this to be real. Has anyone heard of these guys, or anything like this? Am I just about to get scammed again?
My 'mentor' from a professional networking site vanished with my crypto on some fake platform. Any hope from UK?
I'm feeling so numb right now. I met someone really convincing through a professional networking site, thought they were a legitimate mentor, a 'guru' in crypto. We chatted for months, they built so much trust, even helped me with some career advice. Eventually, they convinced me to invest in what they called a 'private blockchain project' – said it was exclusive, high returns, you know the drill. I poured a significant chunk of my redundancy package into it, about £15,000, transferred in crypto, mainly ETH. Now, the 'platform' they directed me to, which looked super slick, is gone. Completely inaccessible. They've ghosted me on all channels. I've tried reaching out to Action Fraud already, but it felt like I was just filling out a form into the void. Did anyone in the UK actually get anything back after reporting to them? Or is there something else I should be doing? I just feel so stupid and desperate.
My 'new partner' from a travel app took my savings on a fake crypto platform, now what?
I'm heartbroken and honestly, just mortified. I met someone really lovely on a travel planning app – you know, the kind where you share itineraries and tips. We talked for months, seemed really genuine. He eventually convinced me to 'invest' in crypto through a platform he swore was legitimate. Said he had a friend working there, showed me screenshots of his own huge gains. I put in almost 15,000 GBP, my entire emergency fund, over a few weeks. It looked like it was growing, I even saw some small 'withdrawals' appear in my bank account initially, which made me trust him even more. Then, I tried to take out a larger sum and suddenly, nothing. The platform locked my account, and he disappeared. His profile on the travel app is gone, all our chats deleted. I feel so incredibly stupid. I'm in Brighton, UK. What can I even do? Is there any way to get my money back? Who do I report this to first? I'm just at a complete loss.
Crypto Recovery Firm wants a 'wallet validation fee' to get my funds back. Is this a new scam?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling so desperate right now. About six months ago, I fell for a really sophisticated crypto investment scam – lost most of my life savings, over £15,000. It was absolutely devastating. I reported it to Action Fraud, but honestly, didn't hear much back, which made me feel even worse. Then last week, I got an email from a company called 'CryptoSecure Retrieval'. They said they track lost funds and had identified some of mine. They sounded super professional, lots of legal jargon and 'case numbers'. They sent me a 'contract' and now want a 'wallet validation fee' of about £1,200, which they say is refundable and necessary to 'link my new secure wallet' to the recovered funds before they can transfer them. They even mentioned they work closely with the FCA (which gave me a tiny bit of hope, maybe stupidly). I'm so wary after being scammed once, but a part of me desperately wants to believe this could be real. Has anyone heard of this 'wallet validation fee'? Is this how recovery actually works, or am I about to lose even more money?
Lost a huge amount to a 'financier' from a professional networking site, now my crypto is gone. Any hope from UK?
I'm gutted. Met this person through LinkedIn, someone who seemed super legit, professional bio, connections, everything. They started talking about crypto, like, really convincingly. Said they could help me make some serious returns with 'insider strategies' on a platform I'd never heard of before. I was hesitant at first, but they were so patient, so reassuring, always available to chat. Eventually, I transferred a significant chunk of my savings, something like low five figures, into this platform. Everything looked good for a bit, saw my 'returns' growing. Then I tried to withdraw, and surprise, surprise, can't access it. They've ghosted me too. I feel so stupid. I've heard about Action Fraud, but is it even worth it? What's the process like? I'm in Sheffield, UK, and just feeling utterly lost and embarrassed.
A 'recovery firm' called 'Funds Retrieval Global' wants a 'tax exemption certificate' fee. Scam or legit?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling so desperate and confused. A few months ago, I lost nearly £8,000 to a dodgy crypto investment platform – total pig butchering scam, they just vanished. I reported it to Action Fraud here in the UK, but tbh, I haven't heard much back. Then, out of the blue, I got an email from a company called 'Funds Retrieval Global'. They said they track these scams and found my case. They even knew some specifics about the platform I lost money on, which freaked me out a bit, but also gave me hope. They've been really professional on the phone, telling me they've located my funds on some blockchain. Now they're asking for a 'tax exemption certificate' fee, about £700, which they say is needed to release the funds back to my UK bank account. They insist it's a refundable fee once the money is transferred. My partner thinks it's another scam, but I really want to believe it's real. Has anyone heard of this 'tax exemption certificate' thing? Is this a legit step in recovering crypto, or am I just about to get scammed again?
Is 'Crypto Justice Advocates' asking for a 'private key recovery fee' just another scam?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling so desperate right now. Last year, I lost a significant amount of money, about £8,000, to a crypto investment scam. I was so embarrassed and felt really stupid. I reported it to Action Fraud back then, but honestly, nothing really came of it. It's just been a painful memory I've tried to forget. Now, out of the blue, I got an email from a company called 'Crypto Justice Advocates'. They somehow knew all the details of my loss – the platform, the amount, everything. They said they've identified a way to recover my funds, but they need an upfront 'private key recovery fee' of about £600 to proceed. They have a really professional-looking website, and the email seemed very convincing. They even mentioned the specific exchange I used. Part of me is so hopeful, but another part is screaming 'scam' after what I went through before. Has anyone dealt with these guys or anything similar? I'm in Birmingham, UK, and really don't want to fall for another trick.
Lost my crypto to a 'sweetheart' from a language exchange app, what now from Scotland?
Honestly, I'm mortified even writing this. I met someone on one of those language exchange apps, you know, Tandem or HelloTalk. We clicked really well, loads in common, chatted for weeks, then months. Started talking about investing, he said he had a really good 'mentor' and was making serious money on some crypto platform called ZG.com. Showed me screenshots, said he'd help me set up an account, teach me the ropes. Felt so real, like a genuine connection. I transferred about 15k GBP in Bitcoin over to ZG.com, and for a bit, it looked like it was growing. He was so supportive, always encouraging. Then suddenly, couldn't withdraw anything. Support just ghosted me. He disappeared too. I feel like such an idiot. I'm in Glasgow, Scotland. Is there *anything* I can do? I've heard of Action Fraud but is that even relevant for crypto? And what about the emotional side? I feel so stupid and betrayed.
Lost my life savings to a 'sweetheart' from Instagram, now my crypto's gone. What can I do?
I seriously feel like such an idiot. Met this amazing woman on Instagram, you know? She just seemed so... genuine. We talked for months, loads of video calls, really built up a connection. She started talking about crypto investments, said her 'uncle' was an expert and had this platform, super secure, high returns. Said she'd had great success with it, wanted me to join her. I, like, transferred about 40k GBP over maybe 3 months into this platform she swore by. Even saw the balance grow for a bit, couldn't withdraw anything though, which she said was 'normal' at first. Then poof. The platform's gone, her Instagram is gone, everything. My whole life savings, just gone. I feel so ashamed, can't even tell my mates. Who do I even report this to? Is there any hope, or am I just completely screwed?