#south-africa
27 questions tagged with #south-africa
Lost access to all my crypto on wjnos.com after 'upgrading' account, what do I do?
Hey everyone, I'm feeling sick to my stomach. I've been dabbling in crypto for a bit, mostly small stuff, but about six months ago I got into this platform called wjnos.com. Everything seemed fine, I was even making some decent 'returns' on their spot trading and futures, you know? Anyway, they announced this mandatory 'account upgrade' to a VIP level for all users, saying it was for 'enhanced security' and 'better liquidity'. To do it, I had to transfer more crypto to cover the upgrade fee and meet a higher minimum balance. I did that, about 12k USD worth of USDT and BTC. Now, suddenly, I can't log in. My account is just gone. Customer service chats are dead ends. The website still looks active but I'm locked out. My partner is furious, and honestly, I don't know what to tell him. Is wjnos.com a known scam? Is there any way to get my funds back? I'm in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, if that helps.
Lost my inheritance to 'the one' from Facebook, now fake platform wants 'security deposit' to withdraw. Help?
Feeling like such an idiot, guys. I met someone on Facebook, a really lovely person, or so I thought. We chatted for months, long calls, shared so much. Eventually, they started talking about this crypto platform, saying it was a 'safe' way to grow my inheritance money. Said they'd made a lot, wanted us to build a future. I put in a significant amount, not everything thankfully, but a big chunk. It showed growth, and when I tried to withdraw some profits for my sister's medical bills, it got complicated. First, they said there were 'system security issues' because my IP address changed, then demanded a 'security deposit' of $3,000 to 'verify my identity' and unlock the withdrawal function. Now the person has ghosted me. I'm in Durban, South Africa. Is there any way to recover this? I've sent money through local banks and also some crypto from my Luno account. I feel so ashamed and desperate. What can I do?
My binary options platform wants a 'compliance deposit' to release funds, is this a scam?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a bind and feeling super stressed out. I've been dabbling in binary options for a few months now, mostly because I saw some ads on social media promising quick returns. Things were going okay, I even saw some 'profits' building up on their platform. The specific one I'm using is called 'ProfitPulse' – yeah, I know, should've been a red flag. Anyway, I tried to withdraw about 7,000 USD last week, which isn't a fortune but it's a good chunk for me right now. They've been stalling for days, and now they're saying I need to pay a 'regulatory compliance deposit' of 1,500 USD to 'prove I'm a legitimate trader' before they can process the withdrawal. They sent me some official-looking PDF about international finance regulations. This sounds incredibly dodgy, but I'm desperate to get my money out. Has anyone experienced this? Is this a standard thing for binary options or am I totally being scammed here? I'm in Port Elizabeth and feeling pretty hopeless right now.
Uxxxx Rxxxx Fxxx wants a 'legal clearance fee' for my lost crypto. Is this another scam?
Okay, so I was stupid enough to fall for a crypto investment scam a few months back. Lost almost all my savings, like R80,000, maybe more. I've been kicking myself ever since. Then last week, I saw a post in a Facebook group, a 'review' from someone claiming Uxxxx Rxxxx Fxxx helped them recover their funds from a similar scam. It looked legit, like, really detailed, not just a quick comment. I was desperate, so I contacted Uxxxx Rxxxx Fxxx. They've been really responsive, got all my transaction details, and they even showed me some 'proof' that my funds are traceable on the blockchain, saying they're 'frozen' but accessible. Now they want a 'legal clearance fee' of about R15,000 before they can release anything. They say it's for international regulatory compliance. I'm so scared this is just another way to take more money from me. Has anyone dealt with these guys? Is this standard procedure for recovery, or am I about to get scammed again? I really can't afford to lose any more.
A company called 'Reclaim Funds Now' wants a 'due diligence fee' to recover my initial crypto loss. Is this another scam?
Hey everyone, I'm really struggling here. A few months ago, I lost about 8k USD to a crypto investment scam. It was one of those fake trading platforms, felt so dumb after. I reported it to the local police here in East London, but honestly, nothing came of it. I'd kind of given up, resigned to the loss. Then out of the blue, I got an email. It was from a company called 'Reclaim Funds Now'. They said they track these crypto scams and have a high success rate. They even mentioned the specific platform I lost money on, which freaked me out a bit, like how did they know? Anyway, they're asking for a 'due diligence fee' of about $500 before they can start the recovery process. They claim it's for legal checks and to verify the transaction chain. My gut is screaming 'SCAM ALERT' again, but a tiny part of me, the desperate part, is thinking 'what if?' Has anyone dealt with these guys or anything similar? Is this just another trap?
A company called 'Trading Loss Expert Reviews' wants a 'risk assessment fee'. Is this another scam?
Hey everyone, I'm feeling so desperate here. I lost a significant amount – low five figures – to a crypto trading scam back in December. It was awful, wiped out my savings. I reported it to the local police, but honestly, didn't get much hope back. A few weeks ago, I got an email, unsolicited, from a company called 'Trading Loss Expert Reviews'. They claimed they saw my 'case' online somewhere (which spooked me a bit, how did they know?). They sound really professional, sending me case studies and testimonials, saying they specialize in recovering crypto losses. They've done a bunch of consultations with me, mostly over Telegram, and now they're asking for a 'risk assessment fee' upfront to proceed. It's not a huge amount, but after what happened, I'm just so wary. Is this legit? Or am I about to get scammed a second time? I can't afford to lose any more money.
My forex broker is demanding an 'international compliance audit fee' to process my withdrawal, is this legit?
Hi everyone, I'm really worried. I've been trading forex with this broker, let's call them Global Markets (they're not regulated by ASIC or anything, I know, my bad). I've managed to make some decent profits, about 7-8k USD after a few months. When I tried to withdraw, they suddenly froze my account and told me I needed to pay an 'International Compliance Audit Fee' of 15% of my balance to 'verify my funds origin' before they can process *any* withdrawals. They say it's for anti-money laundering and to comply with international regulations. I put in a significant chunk of my savings, honestly. I'm in Joburg, and things are tight. My gut is screaming scam but they keep sending me official-looking documents. Has anyone else encountered this specific fee? I'm so scared I've lost everything. What should I do?
Lost my savings to a 'sweetheart' from a language app, now my crypto is gone via a fake platform called 'XBT Exchange'. Any hope from South Africa?
Okay, I'm mortified even typing this out, but I'm desperate. I met this person on a language exchange app, they seemed so genuine, super sweet, patient with my terrible French. We chatted for weeks, moved to WhatsApp, and then they started talking about 'crypto trading opportunities'. They convinced me to put money into this platform called 'XBT Exchange' – looked totally legit, had charts, everything. I started with a small amount, saw 'returns', got excited, and then put in nearly all my savings, about 15k USD equivalent. I even borrowed a bit from my sister. Now, the site is gone. Just poof. My 'sweetheart' blocked me everywhere. I'm in Durban, South Africa, and I feel like such an idiot. Is there anything, anything at all, I can do? Or am I just completely screwed? I've got screenshots of chats and the 'platform' before it vanished.
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.
Is a 'regulatory compliance fee' from this recovery company a legit request, or another scam after I lost money?
Okay, so I got totally fleeced a few months back on a crypto investment thing that turned out to be a total sham. Lost about 120,000 ZAR, which was basically my life savings after years of working construction. I was devastated, really. Then, last week, I got an email out of the blue from a company calling themselves 'Global Recovery Services'. They said they track scam victims and could help me get my money back. They knew all the details about my original loss, which freaked me out a bit but also made me think maybe they were legit. They've been super responsive, sent me a 'case brief' and everything, and now they're saying they've located my funds but need a 'regulatory compliance fee' of about 15,000 ZAR to release them. They want me to pay it to some overseas account. My gut is screaming scam, especially after what happened before, but a small part of me really wants to believe it's real. My wife says absolutely not, but what if? Has anyone heard of this 'regulatory compliance fee'? Is this how legitimate recovery works?
My 'wealth manager' disappeared after I sent my crypto to an exchange called ZG.com - any hope?
Feeling totally lost and frankly, pretty stupid. I met this guy online, seemed legit, super professional, you know? He introduced himself as a wealth manager. Over a few weeks, he convinced me to move a chunk of my crypto – mostly BTC and ETH – from my regular wallet to this new exchange he recommended, ZG.com, saying it had better returns and he could manage it more actively there. I mean, it looked like a real exchange, had charts, trading pairs, everything. Now, for the last three days, he's just vanished. No replies to messages, his 'client portal' on ZG.com is gone, and the ZG.com site itself? It's just a blank page. Completely. Like it never existed. I'm talking a significant portion of my life savings here, probably low five figures. I feel sick to my stomach. Is there any, any tiny shred of hope I can get any of this back? I'm in Cape Town, South Africa, and I don't even know where to begin. Do I go to the police? Is it even traceable?
My 'broker' EuroFX is demanding a 'regulatory compliance fee' to release my withdrawal. Scam?
Okay, so I got into this online trading thing a few months back, through a referral from someone I met on a social media group – they seemed legit, always posting about their 'wins'. I started with EuroFX, invested a few thousand, and things looked good, my account balance grew pretty fast. I thought I was really smart, lol. Anyway, I tried to withdraw some of the profits last week, just to test the waters, right? And now they're saying I need to pay a 'regulatory compliance fee' before they can process the withdrawal. They sent me some official-looking document, but it just looks like a PDF someone made up. It's about 8% of my total account balance. I'm based in Pretoria, South Africa, and I'm really starting to panic. Is this a new scam? Or is this actually a thing with brokers sometimes? I'm so scared I've lost everything.
Lost my inheritance to a 'financial advisor' from a professional networking app. What now?
I'm feeling so incredibly stupid and ashamed right now. I met someone on what I thought was a reputable professional networking app, you know, for business connections. They seemed really legitimate, talking about global markets, crypto trends, all very impressive. We moved to Telegram, and after a while, they started talking about this 'exclusive' investment opportunity on a platform called CoinEgg. I'd just inherited a significant sum from my grandmother, and they convinced me it was a perfect way to grow it quickly. I transferred a substantial amount of Bitcoin into their CoinEgg account. Everything looked good for a few weeks, I saw the numbers going up. But when I tried to withdraw even a small portion, suddenly there were 'taxes' and 'fees' that just kept piling up. Now, they've vanished, and the CoinEgg platform is gone. I'm in Johannesburg, South Africa, and I feel like such an idiot. What can I even do? Is there any way to report this effectively or get my money back?
Feeling so foolish, lost everything to a 'friend' from a hobby forum. What can I do now?
I just feel so stupid right now. I met this guy on an online gardening forum, we really connected over our love for succulents and indigenous plants. We moved to WhatsApp, and he was so sweet, seemed genuine. After a few weeks, he started talking about this amazing crypto investment platform, 'BitForex' or something, saying his uncle worked there and he was making serious returns. I was hesitant, but he kept sending screenshots and talking about our future together, how we could buy a big plot of land for our nursery idea. I ended up putting in about R90,000 (roughly $5k USD), then another R70,000 when he said there was a 'VIP package' coming. Now, the platform is gone, his WhatsApp is gone, and I can't access anything. I've tried searching online but all I find are warnings about BitForex impersonators. I'm in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. My life savings are gone. My family doesn't even know. What are my options? Is there anything at all I can do, or am I just out all that money?
My 'wealth manager' disappeared with my crypto after I sent it to ZG.com. Is there any way to get it back?
Hey everyone, feeling really stupid and desperate right now. I met this guy online, he seemed super legit, called himself a 'wealth manager' and was really convincing about crypto investing. He got me to open an account on something called ZG.com, which he said was a new, high-yield exchange. I trusted him, transferred about 15k USD worth of BTC and ETH from my Coinbase account to ZG.com through a few steps he guided me through. He even showed me 'profits' on the ZG.com interface. But then, about a week ago, he just vanished. Can't reach him. And ZG.com? The site's still up but my account is empty, and I can't withdraw anything. It feels like a total scam. Is there anything, anything at all, I can do? I'm in Cape Town, this was most of my savings.
Is a 'fund validation fee' from a company called 'Wealth Restoration Group' another scam?
Hey everyone, I'm feeling sick to my stomach again. Last year, I lost a significant amount of my savings, about 150k ZAR, to a crypto investment scam. It was just awful, felt so stupid after. I reported it to the local police here in Joburg, but tbh didn't get very far. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got an email from a company called 'Wealth Restoration Group'. They said they track crypto and could get my funds back. They sound super official, mentioned things like 'blockchain forensics' and 'regulatory compliance'. Now they're asking for a 'fund validation fee' of about 15,000 ZAR before they can release my supposed recovered funds. It feels... too similar to the first time. I'm desperate to get my money back, but I can't afford to lose more. Is this another trap? Has anyone dealt with these guys or heard of this 'fund validation fee' before?
My 'broker' demands a 'liquidity assurance fee' to withdraw profits. Is this legit or am I being scammed?
Hey everyone, I'm feeling really stupid right now, could use some advice. I got into forex trading late last year after seeing some ads on Instagram. This 'broker' platform looked legit, had a decent interface, and my 'account manager' was super attentive. I put in about $2,000 to start, and they kept showing me these amazing 'profits' on my dashboard. It went up to like $15k really fast. So, I tried to withdraw a portion, like $3,000, just to see if it works. But now they're saying I need to pay a "liquidity assurance fee" of $1,500 before they can process the withdrawal. They say it's to ensure market stability and prove I'm a serious trader, and that it's fully refundable once the withdrawal clears. It sounds really fishy to me, but I also don't want to lose the $15k if it's actually real. I'm based in Joburg, and I used my local bank for the deposit. Has anyone heard of this before? What should I do? I'm so stressed out.
My 'broker' is asking for a 'regulatory compliance certificate' to release my profits. Scam?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling really stupid and desperate right now. I put about R80,000 (roughly $4k USD) into a forex platform that was introduced to me by someone I met online. They seemed really legit, shared screenshots of their 'profits' and it all looked so professional. I made some good trades, or at least that's what the platform showed, and now I want to withdraw my profits, which are showing as about R250,000. But when I tried to initiate the withdrawal, the 'account manager' told me I need to pay for a 'regulatory compliance certificate' first, saying it's standard procedure for large withdrawals. It's another R15,000! I already borrowed money for the initial deposit and I'm terrified I've been conned. Is this a real thing or am I just throwing good money after bad? Any advice would be so helpful, I'm panicking.
My 'mentor' from a professional networking site vanished with my crypto. Any hope from South Africa?
Okay, so I'm writing this from Port Elizabeth, feeling like a complete idiot. Met this guy on a professional networking site – you know, the one where everyone's supposed to be legit and building connections. We started chatting, then moved to WhatsApp, and he was really convincing about crypto. Said he was a 'wealth manager' with years of experience, even sent me screenshots of 'his' portfolio doing amazing things. He got me to invest on this platform, not a major one, said it was 'private' for his clients. Started small, saw profits, so I put in more. Like, almost everything I had saved up, maybe 15k USD equivalent in crypto. Then, one day, the platform went offline. Tried to contact him, messages stopped delivering. He just vanished. My account on the platform is gone. No way to withdraw anything. I've seen some stuff online about 'pig butchering' and it sounds exactly like what happened to me. I've reported it to my bank, but they said since I authorized the transfers to the crypto exchange (before it went to *their* platform), there's little they can do. Is there any point in reporting this in South Africa? Or to international bodies? Feeling pretty hopeless right now.
Crypto 'advisor' drained my Trust Wallet after I gave them seed phrase for 'verification', any hope?
Hey everyone, feeling completely sick to my stomach right now. I was in a crypto Telegram group, and this 'advisor' messaged me directly, saying they could help me optimize my staking returns. They seemed super legit, knew all the lingo, and had a bunch of testimonials in the group. They asked for my Trust Wallet seed phrase saying they needed it to 'verify' my wallet balance for some special staking pool, promising huge returns. Like a total idiot, I gave it to them. Within minutes, everything was gone. All my ETH, my BNB, my USDC... poof. I saw the transactions happen on Etherscan, straight to an address I don't recognize. I've reported it to my local police, but they just looked at me blankly. Is there genuinely ANY way to recover funds once someone has your seed phrase? Or am I just completely out of luck?
A company called 'Global Asset Recovery Agency' wants a 'security deposit' fee. Scam or legit?
Hi everyone, I'm feeling really stupid right now. About six months ago, I lost quite a bit of money, like, a low five figures, in a forex scam. It was one of those 'invest and get rich quick' things, totally my fault for believing it. I reported it to the local police here in Cape Town, but honestly, didn't expect much. Now, out of the blue, I get an email from a company calling themselves 'Global Asset Recovery Agency'. They claim they've traced some of the funds and can get them back for me. My heart literally jumped. They've been really professional, sending me documents and everything. But now they're asking for a 'security deposit' before they can release the funds, saying it's a standard procedure to cover potential legal fees if the other side disputes. It's about R20,000 (roughly $1,000 USD). My gut is screaming no, but a small part of me desperately wants this to be real. Is this a common thing for legitimate recovery? Or am I about to get scammed again?
My 'broker' is demanding a 'compliance audit fee' to release my crypto. Is this legit?
Okay, so I've been dabbling in crypto trading, found this platform through a social media ad, seemed pretty good. Put in some money, made some profits, or at least that's what my account balance says. Now I want to withdraw a decent amount, like in the low five figures, and they're telling me I need to pay a "compliance audit fee" first. Like, another 5% of my withdrawal amount. They say it's for "regulatory checks and anti-money laundering protocols" before they can release my funds. I'm in Bloemfontein, so trying to figure out if this is a standard thing with crypto brokers or if I'm just getting played. I've already put a fair bit in, and this feels like another hurdle. Has anyone else encountered this? Is this normal business practice or a total red flag? I'm honestly so worried.
My 'broker' is asking for a 'liquidity pool contribution' to release my profits. Is this legit?
Hi everyone, i'm feeling really stressed out. i've been trading with this broker, let's call them 'ApexTrade Global', for about 4 months now. i put in around $3,000 initially, and after a lot of 'guidance' from my 'account manager', my balance is showing over $15,000. i was super excited, thinking i could finally pay off some debts. But now, when i try to withdraw, they're saying i need to make a 'liquidity pool contribution' of 15% of my profit before they can process anything. They're telling me it's standard procedure for high-profit withdrawals to ensure market stability and that it's fully refundable after the withdrawal. It just sounds so fishy. I've already sent them so much money. Is this a common thing? Or am i being scammed again? I really can't afford to lose any more money, especially not after seeing this 'profit'. Any advice would be really appreciated. What should i do?
My 'broker' is demanding a 'reserve capital deposit' to release my profits. Is this another scam?
Feeling so stupid right now, but hoping someone can help. I got into forex trading a few months back after seeing some ads on social media, you know, the usual 'make passive income' stuff. Found this broker, IronFX offshore, through a friend who said they had good returns. I invested about $3k, then kept putting in a bit more, eventually got my account up to like, low five figures. Pretty exciting for me, never had that much money in one place before. Now I want to withdraw a significant chunk, and suddenly they're saying I need to deposit something called 'reserve capital' – like another 15% of my profits – to 'activate the withdrawal gateway'. They're saying it's standard procedure for large withdrawals to ensure liquidity. This sounds totally fishy to me. I've already put in so much. My partner is really mad, says i'm just throwing money away. Has anyone else encountered this? Is it a common scam tactic? What can I even do if I've been had? I'm in Cape Town.
Lost my life savings to a 'new friend' from a fitness app, fake crypto platform. What can I do in SA?
I'm heartbroken. I met this guy on a fitness app, you know, for motivation and accountability. We started chatting, and it felt so genuine. He slowly, very slowly, started talking about crypto investments, specifically this platform he was using, said it made him really good profits. I was hesitant at first, but he was so persistent and seemed so caring, always sending encouraging messages. Eventually, I put in a small amount, and it showed returns. Then more, and more, until I'd invested almost everything I had, my whole life's savings and a portion of my emergency fund. Now the platform is gone, his number is disconnected, and I feel like such an idiot. I'm in East London, South Africa. I've heard about Action Fraud in the UK but what about here? Is there even a point in reporting it? I feel so ashamed.
Lost my life savings to a 'friend' from a gaming community, fake crypto app. What can I do in SA?
I'm feeling so numb right now. I met this person through a gaming group on Discord, and we were chatting daily for months. They seemed really cool, super supportive, and we even talked about meeting up eventually. Then they introduced me to this 'exclusive' crypto investment platform, showing me screenshots of amazing returns. I started small, and it actually did show profits, so I invested more and more, thinking I was securing my future. I even took out a small loan. They pushed me to put in my entire life savings, which I did, into what I now realize was a fake app. Now, the 'friend' is gone, the platform is gone, and I can't access anything. My bank thinks it was a legitimate transfer initially. I feel so stupid. I'm in Johannesburg. Is there anything I can even do from South Africa? Any point reporting this, or am I just completely out of luck? Any advice on who to contact here?
Lost my crypto after a SIM swap, phone company says it's not their fault. What now?
Evening everyone, I'm absolutely beside myself. Last week, my phone suddenly lost signal. Thought nothing of it at first, maybe just coverage. But then my bank notifications started pinging, and when I eventually got a new SIM from my provider (Vodacom), I saw my crypto wallet (Metamask, mostly ETH and some Polygon) had been completely drained. Low five figures gone, just like that. Turns out, someone did a SIM swap on my number. They used my number to reset passwords and bypass 2FA, then got into my crypto accounts. I immediately contacted Vodacom, but they're basically shrugging, saying they followed all their security protocols and it's my problem. I feel like they're just washing their hands of me. I've reported it to the local police here in Port Elizabeth, but honestly, I don't have high hopes. Has anyone experienced this? Is there *any* way to trace this crypto or get it back? I'm desperate, this was my life savings.