A friend introduced me to a self-proclaimed crypto consultant named Ethan Blake, who claimed to help people grow their crypto portfolios through strategic investments. He had a professional website, a strong social media presence, and glowing reviews from supposed clients. Ethan seemed approachable and knowledgeable, sharing insights about market trends and new projects during our initial conversations.

Ethan offered me a personalized investment plan, which required me to send him $15,000 to manage on my behalf. He explained that this was a common practice among his clients who lacked the time or expertise to trade themselves. He promised bi-weekly updates and guaranteed returns of at least 20% within three months.

Initially, everything seemed to go as planned. Ethan shared detailed updates about the trades he was making on my behalf and even showed screenshots of my growing portfolio. Encouraged by the progress, I sent another $5,000 to expand the investment.

But after three months, when I asked to withdraw some of my earnings, Ethan began making excuses. First, he claimed that the funds were tied up in ongoing trades, then blamed delays on “market volatility.” Soon, he stopped responding altogether, and his website and social media accounts were deleted.

I later found out that several other people had been scammed in the same way. Ethan was not a consultant but a con artist who used his charm and fake credentials to lure victims. The screenshots he shared were manipulated, and the reviews on his website were fabricated.

This experience taught me to never trust individual consultants or traders without thorough verification. Always check for third-party reviews, look for regulatory licenses, and avoid handing over control of your funds to anyone, no matter how professional they seem. In crypto, it’s better to take the time to learn and manage your investments yourself than to rely on unverified “experts.”