We recently received a complaint that sheds light on a troubling cryptocurrency scam involving multiple platforms, including crypto.com, usdcpolygon, atomic wallet, and a fraudulent recovery service operating under Regain-asset.com. The scam started with an individual who was approached by representatives of a fake company called Travel Zoo Hotel Optimizer, which purportedly offered investment opportunities. These scammers initiated contact through various means, including WhatsApp and email, establishing a sense of trust before slowly leading the victim into a complex web of deceit.
The victim was directed to make several transactions involving different wallets and platforms, transferring substantial sums of money in USDC and Bitcoin. Promises of high returns were made, with constant reassurances from individuals claiming to be part of the investment team. The scammers also requested access to the victim’s computer through AnyDesk, a remote desktop software that allowed them to gather sensitive information and closely monitor the victim’s activities.
As the fraud progressed, the scammers introduced additional parties, including names like Owen Kozak and Liam Cooper from a supposed “Refund Force” and Regain-asset.com. These entities promised to recover the victim’s lost funds, but their help came at a steep price—8% of the recovered amount. When the victim tried to withdraw their funds, they were hit with absurd fees, such as an “International Channel Withdrawal Fee,” which was just another way for the scammers to extract more money.
The signs of a scam became evident when the victim was repeatedly asked to pay these arbitrary fees, and withdrawals were systematically blocked. When the victim realized what had happened, they had already lost $9,000 in various transactions.
While this scam follows a pattern we’ve seen before, it’s important to note that the presence of multiple platforms and individuals involved, including Regain-asset.com, makes it highly complex. Investigators should focus on tracking the cryptocurrency transactions across the wallets mentioned and examine communications with the individuals posing as customer support and recovery agents. Based on the details, this is undoubtedly a sophisticated scam that leverages fake investment opportunities and technical manipulation through remote access.