WhatsApp Scam Reports

Investment / Crypto Scam

What is an Investment / Crypto Scam scam?

A contact promises guaranteed, unusually high returns on a crypto or trading platform, often showing fake screenshots of gains, then stalls or disappears once you try to withdraw funds.

Red flags to watch for

  • Returns are described as "guaranteed" or fixed regardless of market conditions.
  • Screenshots of gains are shown, but you never see the platform process a real withdrawal.
  • You are pushed to increase your deposit right when you ask to cash out.
  • The trading app is a private link or APK, not something listed on an official app store.

What to do

A successful small withdrawal is not proof the platform is real -- scammers deliberately let an early withdrawal through to earn trust before a larger deposit, the same pattern behind pig butchering. Verify any trading platform is licensed with your local financial regulator, not just "well-reviewed" inside a chat group, before depositing anything at all.

How common this is, officially

IC3's "Investment" category received 72,984 complaints in 2025, with reported losses of $8.6 billion.

— FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report

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Frequently asked questions

How is a scam type determined for a report?

The reporter selects it when filing, from a fixed list of common patterns -- not inferred automatically from the notes.

What if a report matches more than one pattern?

Reporters pick the single closest match. Read the notes on each report for the full description, which often blends more than one tactic.

How often is this page updated?

Immediately — every count here reflects the reports on file in real time, not a periodic snapshot.

Report this to official agencies

This case file is a self-reported community record, not an official investigation. If you were targeted, consider also filing a report with a national or international fraud authority:

Been targeted by a scammer?

File a report with the number, name, and what happened — it's published immediately and warns the next person who searches.

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