URL of Scam: sage-stone.com

Type of Scam: Cryptocurrency Scam
Amount Lost: $3,280.00

Victim Description:
The victim transferred funds via cryptocurrency to a scam platform called sage-stone.com. The transfer occurred within the last week, indicating this is a recent and possibly ongoing scam. The victim believed they were engaging in a legitimate transaction but ended up losing $3,280 due to the fraudulent activities of the site.

Cryptocurrency Address Used:

0x6Ca35BB5e88b2d1FF8fF818b530f62ee3A646dC8

Open-Source Intelligence Analysis: Key Details of sage-stone.com Scam

Scam Overview:
sage-stone.com appears to be a fraudulent platform designed to scam users by posing as a legitimate investment or service provider. The victim was convinced to send cryptocurrency to the platform, which then resulted in the loss of funds without any legitimate return or service provided.

Domain and Hosting Information:

Domain Name: sage-stone.com

Registrar: Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. d/b/a HiChina (www.net.cn)
Registration Details:Registered On: January 18, 2024
Expires On: January 18, 2025
Updated On: January 18, 2024
Status: ok
Name Servers:dns1.hichina.com
dns2.hichina.com

The domain was recently registered, which is common in many scam operations that frequently change names and online presences to evade detection and continue their fraudulent activities. The use of Alibaba Cloud Computing (HiChina) as a registrar indicates that the domain was registered using a reputable service, which scammers often use to lend an air of legitimacy to their operations.

Scammer’s Tactics:

Recent Domain Registration: The scam site was registered very recently, which is a typical tactic used by fraudsters to start a scam, exploit it, and then abandon the domain as soon as it is exposed.

Cryptocurrency Payments: The use of cryptocurrency to facilitate transactions is preferred by scammers due to the difficulty in tracing and reversing payments.
No Goods or Services Provided: The victim sent funds expecting some form of return or service, which was never provided.

Recommendations:
Cease Further Transactions: Immediately cease any further transactions with sage-stone.com and similar platforms.

Report the Incident: Report the scam to local authorities, cryptocurrency exchanges where the wallet is hosted, and online scam awareness websites to alert others of the fraudulent activities associated with this domain.
Blockchain Analysis: Utilize blockchain analysis tools to monitor the scammer’s wallet address and potentially trace where the funds are moved. This could help in identifying the scam network or other wallets associated with the scam.
File a Complaint with the Registrar: Contact Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. to report the fraudulent use of the domain and request an investigation. Although domain registrars have limited power in these situations, raising awareness can help.
Secure Your Wallet: Ensure your cryptocurrency wallets are secure, implement two-factor authentication, and be vigilant about any unauthorized activities.

Conclusion:
The victim’s experience with sage-stone.com is a typical example of a cryptocurrency scam where the fraudsters create a plausible but fraudulent platform to solicit funds from unsuspecting victims. After receiving the funds, the scammers cease communication or provide excuses, leading to financial loss for the victim. Given the nature of the scam and the use of cryptocurrency, recovering the lost funds may be challenging, but immediate action in reporting and monitoring can help mitigate further risks and alert potential victims.

Sage-stone.com presents itself as a promising investment platform, yet behind its polished facade lies a fraudulent scheme designed to exploit unsuspecting investors. The platform’s outward professionalism masks a lack of genuine customer service and regulatory compliance, signaling a typical investment scam.

Victim Story: Lured by Promises and Trapped by Threats

Victim Story: Lured by Promises and Trapped by Threats

Victim has reported significant financial losses after being enticed by promises of high returns. One victim shared that they were motivated to learn cryptocurrency trading and were subsequently threatened with a ransom demand of $70,000. The victim was given five days to pay the ransom or face being locked out of their account. This threat was issued just one day prior, and their last recorded transaction occurred at the end of August. Despite seeing their funds on the platform, withdrawal attempts remained futile, and repeated outreach to customer support yielded no response.

Transaction Analysis: Identifying the Scam Pattern

The scam involved repeated transfers to a single wallet ID. On April 30, 2024, 0.09834973 ETH was sent to 0x6Ca35BB5e88b2d1FF8fF818b530f62ee3A646dC8 . This address received subsequent transactions of 0.128848 ETH on May 16, 2024, and smaller amounts of 0.035609 ETH on August 15, 2024, 0.035706 ETH on August 21, 2024, and 0.035775 ETH on August 29, 2024.

Significant USDC transfers were also traced to the same wallet ID. Notable transactions included 298.35298 USDC on June 5, 2024, followed by a larger amount of 1,997.44 USDC on June 11, 2024.

Domain Insights and Registration Details

The domain registration for Sage-stone.com reveals details consistent with fraudulent sites:

Domain: sage-stone.com
Registrar: Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. d/b/a HiChina (www.net.cn)
Registration Date: 2024-01-18
Expiration Date: 2025-01-18
Last Updated: 2024-01-18
Name Servers: dns1.hichina.com, dns2.hichina.com
The recent domain setup suggests that Sage-stone.com was likely created for a brief operation aimed at rapid fund collection before disappearing.

Warning Signs of Fraud

Promises of High Returns: Scams often promise unrealistic gains with minimal risk.
Inaccessible Support: Users report unsuccessful attempts to reach customer service.
Recent Domain Registration: A short operational window is common in fraudulent schemes.
Consistent Wallet Activity: Repeated use of a single wallet for multiple transactions indicates fund consolidation for fraudulent purposes.
Final Thoughts

Sage-stone.com displays unmistakable characteristics of a scam investment platform, including misleading promises, restricted fund access, and a recently established, dubious domain. Potential investors should avoid engaging with this site and report any incidents to the appropriate authorities to prevent further losses.