Not all scams start with a phishing link or a fake exchange. Some start with a message like:
“Hi, I saw your profile and thought you looked interesting. Do you invest in crypto?”
That’s how this case began.
A client came to us after losing $36,000 in USDT and Bitcoin to someone she believed was a legitimate crypto trader. They had chatted for months. He sent screenshots of trading profits, shared investment “tips,” and gradually earned her trust.
What she didn’t know: it was all fake.
The Setup
The scammer found her on Instagram and struck up a casual conversation. Over time, it shifted to crypto. He claimed he was making money trading and offered to “teach” her how to do the same.
Eventually, he introduced her to a platform — a site that looked like a legit exchange. She deposited funds. The profits rolled in (on paper). But every time she tried to withdraw, there was an excuse.
More verification needed. A tax fee. An “unlock” charge.
She kept sending money. Until her account was suddenly frozen.
The Investigation
When she contacted Lost Coin Rescue, she was devastated. She thought she had found both a mentor and a partner. Instead, she had been manipulated by a professional scammer.
We began by analyzing the deposit addresses. Funds were split across wallets, swapped into multiple tokens, and routed through obscure exchanges. But the blockchain told the real story.
We traced several transfers to a centralized exchange that had been used in similar romance scams. That gave us a lead.
Recovery Steps
We prepared a full evidence package and submitted a formal recovery request to the exchange. The report included:
- Proof of the scam platform and fake trader profile
- All transaction hashes
- A narrative timeline
- Screenshots of chat conversations
Because we acted quickly, the exchange was able to flag one of the accounts involved and temporarily freeze funds.
The Result
The client recovered $21,000 of the $36,000 lost — a significant win in a case where most victims never recover a cent.
Lessons from This Case
- Romance scammers are often patient, calculated, and skilled at emotional manipulation.
- If a “trader” you met online asks you to use a specific platform — be skeptical.
- Real crypto platforms never charge extra withdrawal fees or taxes.
- Recovery is possible, especially if funds land on compliant exchanges.
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