#tax-deposit-scam

My unregulated 'broker' is demanding a 'tax deposit' before I can withdraw my profits. Is this legit?

Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a panic. I've been trading with this company I found online, let's call them 'Global Trade Pro' (not a real name, just for privacy), for about six months. Everything seemed fine, even made some decent profit — or so I thought. I decided to withdraw some of my earnings, about 12,000 euros, to pay for some home renovations. Now, they're telling me I need to pay a 'tax deposit' of 1,800 euros before they can process the withdrawal. They sent me some official-looking documents with seals and everything, claiming it's a new regulatory requirement for profits over a certain amount. They say it's fully refundable once the withdrawal clears. My gut is screaming scam, but my head is also thinking, what if it's real? I've already put in a good chunk of savings. I'm based in The Hague. Has anyone ever encountered anything like this with an unregulated broker?