URL of Scam: tfxtradin.com

Type of Scam: Forex Mining Scam
Amount Lost: $8,146.00

Victim Description:
The victim initially invested $500 with a broker from the website tfxtradin.com, under the premise of engaging in forex trading and mining. After a couple of weeks, the victim was contacted by the broker, who claimed that the trades were complete, and they needed to pay a 10% fee in Bitcoin to withdraw the profits. The victim reluctantly sent $1,890 in Bitcoin, believing the request to be legitimate. However, after this payment, the scam spiraled, with the scammer continuing to ask for more funds under various pretenses, including claims of issues with the transfer system. Over time, the victim paid an additional $12,000, believing the return on investment was legitimate. The scammer continued to escalate the amounts, claiming the account had grown to $189,000, and demanded $18,900 to release the funds. The victim finally recognized the fraud, stopped communicating with the scammers, but the total amount lost was $8,146 due to the Bitcoin payments made during the scam.

Cryptocurrency Addresses Used:

Wallet Address 1: 3F4yAzeVZhr44CpCSv8CQXD6Mw2UDXemf2
Wallet Address 2: bc1qyqf4vx2c6ydymzd7ssrwz83xu438frt8uhqn0t
Wallet Address 3: bc1q0tqa6jsc5lshmmz69tk80naj4jfv3q5t6e9tr9

Open-Source Intelligence Analysis: Key Details of TFXtradin.com Scam
Current Website & Platform Details:

The website tfxtradin.com appears to be a fraudulent platform offering “forex mining” services. It promised high returns on forex trading, a practice often linked to both legitimate and illicit schemes. The scammer used the guise of a successful trading system to entice the victim into investing, with promises of significant returns. This was backed by fabricated trading results and manipulated urgency, such as “pay now to release your funds” and “your account has grown exponentially.”

Domain and Hosting Information:

Domain Name: tfxtradin.com
Registrar: Internet Domain Service BS Corp
Registration Details:Registered On: November 30, 2022
Expires On: November 30, 2024
Updated On: December 2, 2023
Status: ok
Nameservers:buffy.ns.orangewebsite.com
siti.ns.orangewebsite.com

This domain is relatively recent, having been registered in late 2022, and is likely associated with fraudulent operations. The domain’s nameservers are hosted on orangewebsite.com, which is a hosting service commonly associated with less reputable websites.

Scammer’s Tactics:

Initial Investment Request: The scammer made an initial request for a modest investment of $500, which seemed reasonable at the time.
Escalating Payments: After the initial payment, the scammer fabricated an urgent need for more funds to cover supposed “transaction issues,” eventually requesting $18,900 to release funds that were promised to be over $189,000.
Promises of High Returns: The victim was told they could withdraw their profits after paying certain fees, only to face repeated requests for more money, with the fraudulent trading account “growing” by a factor of 10.
Psychological Manipulation: The scammer used pressure tactics, claiming that it was illegal for the victim to withdraw without paying first. The victim eventually became emotionally and financially invested, making additional payments totaling $12,000, hoping to recover their initial investment.

Recommendations:
Investigate the Wallet Addresses: Tracking the cryptocurrency wallets used in the scam, such as 3F4yAzeVZhr44CpCSv8CQXD6Mw2UDXemf2 , may provide insights into the scammer’s broader network or additional victims.
File a Complaint: It is important for the victim to report the scam to the relevant authorities, including financial regulators, the cryptocurrency exchange used to make the transactions (if applicable), and anti-fraud organizations.
Cease Communication with Scammers: The victim should stop all communication with the scammer and avoid sending any more funds.
Blockchain Monitoring: Using blockchain analytics tools, the transactions associated with the scam can be traced to see where the funds were sent, although the chances of recovery are slim once funds have been moved through multiple wallets.

Conclusion:
The TFXtradin.com scam is a typical example of a forex mining and trading scam. The victim was initially lured in with a modest investment offer but eventually became trapped in a cycle of escalating payments, each justified by fabricated claims of trading success and withdrawal issues. Ultimately, the scam resulted in a total loss of $8,146, despite promises of a large return on investment. The scammer used high-pressure tactics, emotional manipulation, and promises of quick wealth to coerce the victim into paying more money. The scam is ongoing, with the scammer threatening legal consequences to keep the victim from withdrawing.

Scam Details:
The fraudulent scheme revolved around tfxtradin.com, which lured victims with promises of high returns on Bitcoin trading. The victim transferred 0.28416 BTC to the wallet address 3F4yAzeVZhr44cpCsv8cQXD6Mw2UDXemf2 but was unable to recover their funds or achieve any advertised returns, revealing the scam’s fraudulent intent.

Domain Information Analysis:

Domain: tfxtradin.com
Registrar & Name server: Internet Domain Service BS Corp
ISP: Advania Island
Registration Details:Registered on November 30, 2022
Set to expire on November 30, 2024
Last updated on December 2, 2023
Registrant Contact:Name: Domain Admin
Organization: Whois Privacy Corp.
Address: Ocean Centre, Montagu Foreshore, East Bay Street, Nassau, New Providence, BS
The use of privacy protection services and a registrar based in the Bahamas indicates efforts to obscure the true operators behind the domain.

Recommended Actions:

• Report the Scam:
• Contact the exchange or platform from which the BTC was sent. Share the transaction ID and wallet address for investigation and monitoring.
  File a report with local law enforcement or a global cybercrime unit such as Europol or the FBI’s IC3.
• Consult Legal Professionals:
  Seek legal advice, particularly from firms specializing in cryptocurrency fraud, to explore options for recovery or civil action.
• Monitor Wallet Activity:
  Use blockchain analysis tools to track any movement of funds from the scam wallet address.
• Strengthen Digital Security:
  Review and secure all cryptocurrency wallets. Enable two-factor authentication and use secure hardware wallets if possible.
• Spread Awareness:
  Share your experience on scam-reporting platforms, social media, and cryptocurrency forums to warn others about tfxtradin.com.
• Conclusion:
  The trading scam through tfxtradin.com led to a loss of $12,000 worth of Bitcoin. Prompt reporting, legal consultation, and public awareness are essential to mitigate the impact and prevent future victims from falling prey to similar schemes.