#broker-scams

My 'broker' told me I need a 'crypto tax clearance fee' to withdraw. What even is that?

Hey everyone, I'm kinda freaking out here. I've been trading crypto on this platform for a few months, thought I was doing pretty well, actually made some decent 'profits' according to their dashboard. When I tried to withdraw a significant amount last week – low five figures – they put my request on hold. Now they're telling me I need to pay a 'crypto tax clearance fee' just to process the withdrawal. Seriously, what is that? Is this a real thing? I've never heard of it, and it feels like another hurdle. I gave them scans of my ID, proof of address, everything. They kept pushing me to deposit more, which I stupidly did early on. I'm in Chicago, and my bank (Chase) said they can't do anything because it's crypto and international. Is my money just gone?