In early 2020, a U.S. military veteran reached out to us after losing a significant portion of his savings to a fraudulent trading platform. The company had lured him in with professional-looking dashboards, fabricated profit graphs, and “priority support” that seemed legitimate—until he attempted to withdraw his funds.
When he tried to cash out, the platform suddenly claimed he needed to pay a “security clearance fee” before they could release his balance. This tactic, now common across fake trading ecosystems, is designed to pressure victims into sending even more money while creating the illusion of a regulatory requirement.
Our investigation uncovered the full structure of the fraud:
• A complete timeline reconstruction, mapping each communication, login event, and payment
• Wallet tracing across 11 intermediary Bitcoin addresses, revealing how the scammers attempted to obscure the trail
• A fraud-pattern report comparing activity from other victims linked to the same network
• Evidence successfully used by the victim’s bank to reverse multiple transfers
Beyond the technical work, this case highlighted something equally important: clear, respectful communication. Many victims—especially veterans, seniors, and first-time investors—feel ashamed after being deceived. Our responsibility is to provide clarity, not judgment, and to guide clients through the recovery process with transparency and professionalism.
Cases like this one have continued to shape how we approach vulnerable victims and complex fraud scenarios. To learn more about our methodology, you can explore our financial investigations practice.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a fraudulent trading platform, our team can review your documentation and provide next steps. For a confidential consultation, please contact us.