#fake-investment
5 questions tagged with #fake-investment
Lost my inheritance to a 'future partner' from a dating app. Now my money is gone from a fake investment platform – any hope from South Africa?
Feeling absolutely devastated and, honestly, stupid. I met this guy on a dating app a few months ago, and he seemed so perfect. We talked for ages, video calls, everything felt real. He eventually started talking about this amazing crypto investment opportunity, super exclusive, only for his 'closest friends'. Said it was with some platform he called 'WealthFlowPro'. He helped me set up an account, even guided me through buying crypto on a real exchange and then transferring it to WealthFlowPro. I put in a significant portion of my inheritance – low six figures, thinking I was building a future for us. For a while, the returns looked incredible on their platform. Then, suddenly, he disappeared. And WealthFlowPro's website is just… gone. No way to log in, no support. I've tried reaching out to him, but his number is disconnected, and he's vanished from the dating app. I'm in Johannesburg, South Africa. Is there ANYthing I can do? I've reported it to the local police, but they seemed overwhelmed. I feel so alone and foolish.
Met my 'soulmate' on a cooking app, lost everything to a fake crypto platform. Can I ever see my money again?
I'm just... reeling. I met someone on a cooking app, like, a few months ago. We talked every day, shared recipes, really connected. He seemed so sweet, said he was an investor based in Hong Kong but traveled for work. After a while, he convinced me to 'invest' in crypto with him, said it was a special platform he used, guaranteed returns. I put in a bit at first, saw the 'returns', then stupidly, idiotically, poured in my life savings. We're talking low five figures, money I was saving for a house. Then, poof. He's gone, the platform is gone, my money is gone. I tried contacting the 'customer service' but it's just dead air. I'm in Philly, totally embarrassed and heartbroken. I already reported it to my bank, but they said because I authorized the transfers, there's not much they can do. Where do I even go from here? Is there *any* chance of getting any of it back? I feel so dumb.
Lost my savings to a 'new friend' from a fitness app on a fake crypto platform, what now?
Feeling so incredibly stupid right now. I met someone really nice on a fitness app about three months ago, we chatted loads, seemed really genuine. We moved to WhatsApp, and eventually, he started talking about crypto investments. He seemed so knowledgeable, showed me screenshots of huge profits from this platform he called 'WealthStream Pro' – I know, I know, red flags everywhere now, but at the time I just trusted him. He walked me through setting up an account, even helped me transfer funds from my Chase bank account to a crypto exchange, then to this 'WealthStream Pro' platform. I put in about $12,000, which is basically my entire emergency fund. Now the site is gone, his number is disconnected, and I just feel sick to my stomach. I've heard about the FBI IC3, but do they even bother with amounts like this? And what about the actual crypto traces? Any advice on what I should do next or if it's even worth reporting?
Lost my life savings to a 'mentor' from a professional networking app, fake crypto platform. Should I even bother reporting from Australia?
I met someone on a professional networking app back in November last year. Seemed really legitimate, talked about career goals, investing in future tech, all that good stuff. He quickly became a 'mentor', really. After a few weeks, he introduced me to this 'exclusive' crypto platform, not CoinEgg or anything, a different one, with supposed high returns. I was hesitant at first, but he was so convincing, always had answers, even showed me screenshots of his own 'profits'. Long story short, I put in about $4,000 to start, saw fake gains, then he pushed me to invest more, like, my superannuation. I know, I know. I pulled out my life savings, about $150,000 AUD, and transferred it in over a couple of months. Now the platform is gone, his profile is gone, and I'm left with nothing. I'm in Newcastle, Australia. I feel like such an idiot. Is it even worth reporting to ASIC or anyone? Will anything even happen?
Friend from a gaming app led me to a fake investment platform – where do I even start reporting?
I'm feeling really stupid right now. I met this guy through an online game a few months back – we chatted a lot, seemed really genuine and helpful. He eventually started talking about investment opportunities, crypto stuff, and told me about this platform that looked legit. I put in about 8,000 Euros, most of my savings, after he showed me 'his' profits. For a bit, it actually looked like I was making money on the platform's dashboard, but when I tried to withdraw, they started asking for more fees, taxes, all sorts of excuses. Now I can't access anything. He's ghosted me. I just feel so… violated. I know it's a romance scam/pig butchering thing now, but I was so careful, or I thought I was. I'm in Lyon, France. What should my first steps be for reporting this? Is there any way to track the money or get it back?