I was searching for a remote job in the blockchain industry when I received an email from “Blockchain Innovations Inc.”, a supposed tech firm hiring crypto analysts. The recruiter, Michael Lee, claimed they found my profile on LinkedIn and were impressed with my background in crypto trading.

The job sounded perfect—$80,000 per year, fully remote, and paid in Bitcoin. They sent me an offer letter, complete with an employment contract, NDA, and company policies. The onboarding process seemed professional, requiring me to submit:

A copy of my passport or driver’s license
A utility bill for address verification
My crypto wallet address to receive payments
Feeling excited, I submitted everything. A few days later, they asked for a $1,000 “security deposit” to activate my trading account. I hesitated but, fearing I’d lose the job, I sent the payment.

Then, silence. The recruiter disappeared. The website and LinkedIn profiles of “Blockchain Innovations Inc.” were deleted. Worse, my identity was used to open crypto exchange accounts for fraudulent activities, and my wallet was drained.

What I Learned
✔ Legitimate jobs NEVER ask for payments or crypto deposits.
✔ Always verify a company’s background. Check official websites, LinkedIn, and employee reviews.
✔ Never share personal documents with unverified sources. They can be used for identity theft.