Scam Name: Coinbitedge Investment Scam

Calculated Amount Lost: $7,704 USD
Scam URL: coinbitedge.com

Victim Description:
The victim was directly contacted by a person named Colin Gladman via Twitter, who introduced them to the investment platform Coinbitedge. Initially, the victim invested $500, but the scammer pushed for additional deposits. Over time, the victim deposited a total of $4,011. On July 5, the victim was informed that their profits had reached $79,479, but when attempting to withdraw those profits, they were hit with multiple fabricated fees.

Scam Tactics:
Initial Contact and Persuasion:

The victim was contacted by Colin Gladman on Twitter and introduced to Coinbitedge. Colin initially encouraged the victim to start small by depositing $500, which the victim could afford at the time.

Pressure to Continue Investing:
Colin continued to pressure the victim to keep adding funds to the investment, ultimately resulting in the victim depositing a total of $4,011.

Fabricated Profits:
On July 5, the victim was told by Colin (via WhatsApp) and Mark (via email, representing Coinbitedge) that their account profits had reached $79,479. This was presented as a substantial return on their investment, which excited the victim.

Fake Withdrawal Fee:
When the victim began the withdrawal process, they were told that a withdrawal fee of $3,973 was required to release the funds. The victim sought help from family and friends and paid the withdrawal fee, expecting to receive the profits within 48 hours.

International Tax Fee:
In the 47th hour, the victim received another email stating that they needed to pay an additional international tax fee of 10% of their profits (which amounted to $7,947) before they could receive any money. At this point, the victim realized they had no way to pay the tax and could not access the funds.

Total Loss:
The victim lost the $4,011 deposit, the $3,973 withdrawal fee, and was unable to recover any of the promised profits, totaling a loss of $7,704.

Wallet Addresses Involved in the Scam:
Receiving Addresses:

• bc1qd5kdmgc4wq9g6lzjs9j5xlqt4tz4a0tkgwhq30
• bc1qzakk6wd6vgmefe0svsehv8p7tqjw468a6ng5mr

Scam Overview:
The victim was deceived by an individual named Colin Gladman, who contacted them on Twitter and encouraged them to invest in the Coinbitedge platform. After an initial deposit, the victim was convinced to continue investing larger amounts. The scam escalated when the victim was informed of fabricated profits and subsequently pressured to pay both a withdrawal fee and an international tax fee. Ultimately, the victim lost a total of $7,704 and was unable to recover any of the funds.

Recommendations:
Report the Scam:
The victim should immediately report the incident to authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or their local law enforcement. This will help track the perpetrators and may help in further investigations.

Consult Legal Counsel:
Given the significant amount lost, the victim should consider consulting with a legal professional specializing in fraud or cryptocurrency scams. They may be able to provide guidance on potential actions to take, such as recovering funds or filing a lawsuit.

Blockchain Transaction Tracking:
The victim should use blockchain explorers to track the provided wallet addresses. These tools can help identify any transactions associated with the addresses and may reveal further information about the scammer’s activities or other victims involved.

Alert Family and Friends:
The victim should inform family and friends about the situation to prevent anyone else from becoming involved in similar scams. Raising awareness is an essential step in stopping scammers from continuing to prey on others.

Do Not Engage with the Scammers:
The victim should avoid any further communication with Colin Gladman, Mark, or anyone claiming to be associated with Coinbitedge. Engaging with scammers can lead to additional manipulation or further financial loss.

Monitor Bank Statements and Financial Accounts:
The victim should monitor their financial accounts and credit reports to ensure no further fraudulent activity occurs. If additional payments were made outside of the initial transaction, those should also be reported.

File a Complaint with Financial Institutions:
If the victim used a financial institution (bank or payment processor) to make the deposits, they should contact those institutions and report the scam. Some financial institutions may offer fraud protection or help recover the funds through chargebacks, especially if payments were made via credit card or bank transfer.

Public Awareness:
The victim can share their experience on social media, scam reporting websites, and cryptocurrency forums to warn others about Coinbitedge and the tactics used by scammers like Colin Gladman. This can help others recognize the signs of similar scams before it’s too late.

Domain Information:
The scam was facilitated through the website coinbitedge.com, which was registered with HOSTINGER operations, UAB. The domain was registered on December 5, 2022, and is set to expire on December 5, 2024. The domain has clientTransferProhibited and clientUpdateProhibited status, which typically indicates the scammers are trying to lock the domain to prevent any unauthorized changes or shutdowns.

Domain: coinbitedge.com
Registrar: HOSTINGER operations, UAB
Registered On: 2022-12-05
Expires On: 2024-12-05
Updated On: 2023-11-08
Status: clientTransferProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited
Name Servers: ns1.dns-parking.com, ns2.dns-parking.com

Conclusion:
The victim lost $7,704 to a scam orchestrated by Colin Gladman, who initially contacted them via Twitter and convinced them to invest in Coinbitedge. The scam involved fabricated profits, fake withdrawal fees, and an international tax payment demand. Despite being pushed into paying additional funds, the victim was unable to recover any of the money. Immediate action should be taken by reporting the scam to authorities, tracking blockchain transactions, and seeking legal advice. Additionally, raising public awareness and avoiding further engagement with the scammers are essential steps.