Recognize the pattern
How it starts
Dating apps, social media messages, group chats or an unexpected text.
The promise
A knowledgeable friend will help you profit.
What happens next
Small withdrawals build trust; fabricated profits encourage larger deposits before invented fees block access.
Signs to watch for
- A new relationship shifts to investing
- Directs crypto to a supplied wallet
- Demands payment before withdrawal
Start with what you can do now
If this happened to you
Stop sending crypto or paying withdrawal fees.
Notify the exchange you used and save wallet addresses and transaction IDs.
Report the online fraud at IC3.gov. Recovery is not guaranteed.
What to save
Keep the original records. Use copies to organize the details.
- Contact profiles
- Platform URLs
- Wallet addresses
- Transaction hashes
Before you send money
- Keep dating separate from investing
- Do not rely on platform screenshots
- Keep private keys and seed phrases private
These guides explain common patterns. The facts of your situation and your payment provider’s rules determine which steps are available.