Abnas Global
In California, a consumer was introduced to a crypto asset trading platform named Abnas Global through a contact known only as “Tina” via messaging apps WhatsApp and WeChat. Following Tina’s guidance, the victim downloaded the platform’s app, set up an account, and transferred crypto assets for trading, leading to an account balance exceeding $2,017,141.86. However, when attempting to withdraw funds, the platform demanded a payment of $240,000 in “taxes” or face asset confiscation. Tina offered to assist with part of the tax, but further demands for payments totaling over $1,200,000 were made before the victim realized they had been scammed, as none of the sites are operational anymore.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The victim’s experience with Abnas Global exemplifies the pig butchering scam, a method where victims are lured into investing significant amounts only to be manipulated into paying fees or taxes before being cut off from their funds.
DYDX Wallet
A Californian fell prey to a scam involving DYDX Wallet after connecting with an individual named “Nathan” on social media. Nathan, claiming to be a financial consultant, invited the victim to join a WhatsApp group for trading advice. The victim opened an account on DYDX Wallet, made a deposit, and paid Nathan for trading signals. However, when attempting to withdraw their money, they were hit with a demand for an additional $3,000 commission. After losing a total of about $22,000, the victim realized the site was no longer operational, and this should not be confused with the legitimate dYdX exchange.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The DYDX Wallet incident reflects the pig butchering scheme, where individuals are manipulated into investing under fraudulent pretenses, ultimately leading to financial loss.
MIC Markets
Two victims from California reported losing significant sums with the crypto trading app MIC Markets. The first victim was lured by an acquaintance who convinced them to deposit $45,000, believing their funds had doubled. However, the victim faced withdrawal blocks and demands for “taxes” before being able to access their funds. The second victim was introduced to MIC Markets through a dating app and was manipulated into investing large amounts after being shown false profits. In total, losses reached approximately $20,000.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
Both accounts highlight the tactics used in pig butchering scams, where victims are drawn in with promises of high returns, only to be trapped by fabricated fees and demands for additional payments.
cptlimily.com
In another case, a Californian met individuals named Mr. Michael and Nancy online, who offered to teach them how to trade crypto on cptlimily.com. After initially showing profits, the victim was convinced to join a joint account, only to later face demands for a 20% commission before any withdrawals could be made. Ultimately, the victim lost over $57,000 with no recovery possible as the site is no longer operational.
Investment Group Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The cptlimily.com case exemplifies how investment group scams function, using seemingly legitimate offers to lure victims into substantial financial losses.
Xperiatrade
A California resident encountered a scam involving Xperiatrade after being approached by an investment advisor on Instagram. Following their instructions, the victim opened an account and began trading, yet was faced with demands for payment for an encrypted code to access their funds when attempting to withdraw. In total, the resident lost $5,080 with no funds recovered.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Xperiatrade incident is a classic case of a pig butchering scam, where victims are manipulated into investing with promises of returns, only to face insurmountable barriers when attempting to retrieve their funds.
Presalexaitoken.com
A Californian was scammed by a site called presalexaitoken.com, which offered a 50% bonus in XAI coins for Bitcoin deposits. The victim sent 0.1 BTC but was unable to claim their promised bonus, as the site subsequently displayed an automated message indicating that the team was offline. Funds were not recoverable, and this site is also no longer operational.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This incident highlights the risks associated with investment platforms that promise rewards that are too good to be true, often leading to significant losses for unsuspecting investors.
Crypto Plumb
A California resident reported a scam involving Crypto Pumb, where they were lured by an individual claiming to be an investment broker. After opening an account and investing, the victim found themselves unable to withdraw their funds, facing excuses about account freezes due to suspected money laundering. The victim lost over $300,000 in total, with no funds recovered as the site is no longer operational.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Crypto Pumb case is another example of a pig butchering scam, where victims are led to believe in the legitimacy of a trading platform, only to be blocked from accessing their investments.
Bitnice
A Californian was approached via WhatsApp and persuaded to invest in the Bitnice platform. Initially, the victim saw profits, but when attempting to withdraw funds, they were faced with demands for payments to release their assets. Ultimately, the victim lost over 1 Bitcoin and several Ethereum tokens, with no recovery possible as the site is no longer operational.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Bitnice incident demonstrates the common strategies used in pig butchering scams, where initial success is used to manipulate victims into investing more funds, ultimately leading to significant financial losses.
Moon X Beast
A Californian believed they were participating in a legitimate Bitcoin giveaway through a TikTok video featuring a popular personality. After attempting to withdraw funds from the moonxbeast.com website, they were told they needed to send additional Bitcoin to qualify for withdrawals, leading to further demands for payments. The site is no longer operational, and the victim has not recovered any of their funds.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This situation underscores the dangers of scams masquerading as giveaways, often exploiting public figures to gain the trust of potential victims.
Cosmictop.cc
A resident opened an account with cosmictop.cc, initially believing they were making successful trades. However, when attempting to withdraw additional funds, the site demanded exorbitant fees for commissions and security verification, resulting in a total loss of $150,000. The site is no longer operational.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
The cosmictop.cc case exemplifies the manipulative tactics used by fraudulent trading platforms, which often involve creating false urgency and threats to extract additional funds from victims.
Rich Airdrop Scam
A California resident was tricked into providing personal information after interacting with a purported YouTuber named “Rich” who promised an airdrop of a crypto token. The victim lost $7,855 when their crypto hard wallet was hacked.
Crypto Giveaway/Airdrop Scam
This incident highlights the risks associated with airdrop scams, where individuals are often led to compromise their personal information under the guise of receiving free tokens.
X-presale.io
A Californian reported sending $800 in crypto assets to x-presale.io, believing they were purchasing tokens. However, the victim has not received any tokens, and the site is no longer operational.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This case serves as a reminder of the potential pitfalls in engaging with presale offerings, particularly when the platform lacks transparency and verification.
Bit-jet.com
A victim reported losing $10,000 to the fraudulent platform Bit-jet.com. After believing they were investing in a legitimate trading service, the victim was unable to recover any funds.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Bit-jet.com incident highlights the importance of conducting thorough research before investing in online trading platforms, as many may be fraudulent and designed to exploit unsuspecting investors.
CLFCOIN
A Californian was introduced to a crypto trading platform called CLFCOIN through a group chat on WhatsApp. Following the group’s instructions, the victim opened an account and deposited funds. Initially, the account appeared profitable, but demands for payment of taxes before withdrawing funds led to a total loss of $25,000.
Investment Group Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The CLFCOIN case illustrates how investment group schemes can lead to significant financial losses, often by preying on individuals’ trust and the allure of collective trading strategies.
Coin Online
A California resident reported losing approximately $30,000 after being lured into investing in Coin Online, a trading platform introduced by a supposed financial expert. After initial successes, withdrawal requests were denied due to alleged regulatory issues, culminating in total loss.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with investment platforms that promise high returns but ultimately make withdrawals increasingly difficult.
Qexbit
A California victim reported losing more than $762,000 to Qexbit after being persuaded by an individual they met online. The victim’s account was frozen on the platform, and demands for exorbitant service fees followed, resulting in a total loss of funds.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Qexbit case exemplifies the dangers of engaging with online trading platforms that leverage personal relationships to manipulate victims into investing large sums.
Bridgewater-gh.com
A Californian was led to invest in a crypto trading website called Bridgewater-gh.com by a friend met on a dating app. After transferring funds, the victim faced demands for personal identification and verification fees, resulting in total loss of funds.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Bridgewater case highlights the importance of being cautious and skeptical about investment opportunities introduced through personal connections, as they can often lead to scams.
Coinefx
A California resident reported losing over $571,936.70 after being guided by an acquaintance to invest in Coinefx, where they faced demands for verification fees and taxes before being able to withdraw funds.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Coinefx incident demonstrates how scams can be perpetrated through seemingly legitimate trading platforms, where individuals are pressured into making further investments under false pretenses.
Malcoin
A Californian reported losing access to funds on a platform named Malcoin after being convinced to invest through a supposedly reputable site, with demands for additional payments leading to a total loss of their investment.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This case serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and skeptical about online trading platforms that may not be legitimate or operational.
Bits-Controle
A California resident reported being scammed by a website called Bits-Controle, where they were promised profits through a bitcoin mining operation, but ultimately lost their investment.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Bits-Controle incident highlights the risk of scams that promise returns through unverified mining operations, which can lead to significant financial loss.
ASX.USA
A Californian victim reported being scammed after being introduced to a fraudulent trading platform by someone they met online. Despite initially believing they were making profits, the victim lost approximately $75,000 after being pressured into making additional deposits.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The ASX.USA case exemplifies the methods used in pig butchering scams, where victims are drawn in with initial profits only to face demands for further payments.
Coinfeeai
A California resident reported losing $10,000 after being convinced to invest in CoinFee AI, where the promises of high returns ultimately led to total loss after withdrawal requests were blocked.
Investment Group Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
This incident underscores the importance of skepticism and due diligence when engaging with online investment groups and platforms.
Leeds Brokerages
A California resident reported losing $30,000 after investing in Leeds Brokerages, following guidance from supposed financial experts. When attempts to withdraw funds were met with demands for additional payments, the victim realized they had been scammed.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Leeds Brokerages case is another example of how scams can prey on individuals seeking financial advice, often leading to substantial losses.
Wealth BAX Finance
A California victim reported being scammed out of more than $300,000 after being convinced to invest in Wealth Bax. Promises of high returns were followed by demands for tax payments before any withdrawals could be made.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This case highlights the dangers associated with platforms that promise returns but ultimately make it difficult to retrieve invested funds.
TPKcoin
A California resident reported being scammed after being introduced to TPKcoin through a messaging app, believing they were making profits. When withdrawal requests were blocked, the victim lost a total of $4,200.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
The TPKcoin incident exemplifies the manipulative tactics used in online trading scams, where victims are coerced into further investments under false pretenses.
SILD Group
A California victim reported losing over $85,000 after being lured into a fraudulent investment group by a supposed professor. Promises of high returns were followed by demands for substantial fees before any withdrawals could be made.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
The SILD Group case serves as a cautionary tale regarding investment groups that may be fronts for scams, often leading to significant losses.
BTIG
A Californian victim reported losing money after engaging with the BTIG investment group through WhatsApp, where the promise of high returns was met with demands for fees that ultimately led to total loss.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The BTIG experience illustrates the risks associated with investment groups that may be operating scams under the guise of legitimate investment opportunities.
Trust Pips
A California victim reported losing money to Trust Pips after being convinced to invest with promises of high returns on crypto trading. When withdrawal requests were met with demands for additional payments, the victim realized they had been scammed.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Trust Pips incident serves as a reminder to remain cautious when dealing with investment opportunities that promise high returns but require upfront payments.
Accord Crypto
A California resident reported losing money after being lured into investing with Accord Crypto, believing they could earn high returns. When withdrawal requests were blocked, the victim lost a total of $50,000.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Accord Crypto case illustrates how scams can operate under the guise of legitimate investment opportunities, often leading to significant financial losses.
Graph Web TSI Plus
A California victim reported losing funds after being introduced to a fraudulent crypto trading platform called Graph Web TSI Plus. The victim was unable to withdraw their funds and lost a considerable sum.
Fraudulent Trading Platform
This situation highlights the risks associated with investment platforms that lack transparency and verification.
Dydx
A Californian reported falling victim to a scam involving Dydx after being lured by a supposed investment advisor. The victim lost a total of $50,000 after being pressured into making multiple deposits.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Dydx case exemplifies the methods used in pig butchering scams, where victims are manipulated into investing larger sums.
Unison FX Limited
A California victim reported losing approximately $230,000 to Unison FX Limited after being convinced by an online acquaintance to invest in cryptocurrency. When withdrawal requests were met with demands for taxes, the victim realized they had been scammed.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Unison FX Limited incident serves as a cautionary tale regarding the risks associated with online investment platforms, particularly those that leverage personal relationships.
Reliable Option Trade
A California resident reported being scammed by Reliable Option Trade after being convinced to invest significant sums. The victim faced demands for upfront fees before being able to withdraw funds, ultimately leading to a total loss.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Reliable Option Trade case highlights the manipulative tactics used to extract money from victims under the guise of legitimate trading opportunities.
RB Hood
A Californian reported losing funds to RB Hood after being convinced to invest through a fraudulent platform. Demands for taxes and other fees led to a substantial loss of funds.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The RB Hood incident exemplifies the risks associated with trading platforms that may not be legitimate or operational.
Bit Global Options
A Californian was scammed by Bit Global Options after being lured into investing by a supposed broker. The victim faced repeated demands for taxes before being able to withdraw funds, leading to a total loss of approximately $50,000.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Bit Global Options experience illustrates the common strategies employed by scammers to extract funds from victims under false pretenses.
Kraken
A Californian victim reported losing funds after being introduced to a fraudulent trading platform posing as Kraken. Demands for taxes led to significant financial loss.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Kraken case serves as a reminder to be cautious when engaging with platforms that may impersonate legitimate exchanges.
X Coin Trading
A California resident reported being scammed by X Coin Trading after being convinced to invest by an acquaintance. The victim faced demands for fees before being able to withdraw funds, leading to a total loss.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The X Coin Trading incident exemplifies the manipulative tactics used in online trading scams.
Bitstamp
A Californian reported losing funds after being introduced to a fraudulent trading platform impersonating Bitstamp. The victim faced significant losses due to demands for taxes and fees, ultimately leading to total loss.
Pig Butchering Scam – Fraudulent Trading Platform
The Bitstamp case highlights the risks associated with scams that impersonate legitimate
