Hello,
I’m really sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience. However, it’s important to clarify that what you’ve described sounds like a classic case of an impostor scam. The details you’ve provided suggest that the individuals claiming to be from E* Trading Financial and Rodger A. Lawson were likely not affiliated with the legitimate E* Trade company.
These scammers are skilled at impersonating reputable companies or individuals to gain trust and then exploit it for financial gain. It’s a common tactic where they create a sense of urgency and promise high returns on investments, only to keep asking for more money under various pretexts.
I strongly recommend reporting this incident to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local consumer protection agency. Also, it might be helpful to reach out to the actual E* Trade company and inform them about this scam being conducted in their name. They might issue a warning to other potential victims.
Please don’t blame yourself too harshly; these scammers are very convincing and prey on people’s trust and financial needs. Moving forward, always double-check the legitimacy of any company or individual offering investment opportunities, especially those that contact you unsolicited.
Stay strong and take care.