Scam Name: BitGoldMe Cryptocurrency Scam

Calculated Amount Lost: $29,145 USD
Scam URL: bitgoldme.com

Victim Description:
The victim engaged with bitgoldme.com, an online platform that falsely advertised itself as a cryptocurrency trading service. After making an initial deposit of $29,279 USD, the victim was shown over $100,000 USD in trading profits. However, when attempting to withdraw funds, the victim encountered barriers and was told they must pay a $14,000 USD tax before they could access the funds. This is a typical scam tactic, where after building trust and showing fake profits, scammers demand additional payments to “release” the funds.

Scam Tactics:
Fake Profits:
The scammers convinced the victim that their initial investment had grown significantly, showing inflated account balances. This is a common tactic to convince victims to deposit more money, or in this case, make the $14,000 USD tax payment.
Withdrawal Restrictions:
When the victim attempted to withdraw funds, they were told that a tax was required, a standard red flag in scams. No legitimate trading platform would require such a fee before allowing a withdrawal.
Fake Analyst or Trader:
The victim was in contact with an analyst, who likely was a scammer pretending to assist with trades. The victim was persuaded to trust this individual and their so-called investment advice.
Cryptocurrency Payment:
The scammers used the following cryptocurrency address to collect payments from the victim:
0xd6efc7c9b06c35c9818df95d36abe77494fdc683. This address could be used to trace the scam, though tracking may require further investigation.
Cryptocurrency Address Involved:
0xd6efc7c9b06c35c9818df95d36abe77494fdc683
Tracking the address through a blockchain explorer may provide additional insights into the scam’s broader activities and possibly identify other victims or related addresses.

Domain Information:
The domain bitgoldme.com was registered on March 31, 2024, and is set to expire on March 31, 2025. The domain is relatively new, and the site may still be operating to deceive other potential victims. The registrar is Dominet (HK) Limited, and the site uses Cloudflare for its DNS management, which is commonly used by fraudsters to hide the true origin of a website.

Domain: bitgoldme.com
Registrar: Dominet (HK) Limited
Registered On: March 31, 2024
Expires On: March 31, 2025
Updated On: March 31, 2024
Status: ok
Name Servers:junade.ns.cloudflare.com
kinsley.ns.cloudflare.com
Scam Overview:
The victim lost $29,145 USD through an investment scam on bitgoldme.com. After making a deposit, they were told their funds had grown, but when they attempted to withdraw, they were informed of a $14,000 USD tax fee. This is a classic sign of a scam, as scammers often use this type of story to extract more money from victims before disappearing.

Recommendations:
Report the Scam:
The victim should immediately report the scam to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This may help authorities take action to prevent others from falling victim to the same scam.
Track Blockchain Transactions:
The victim can use a blockchain explorer to track the cryptocurrency address 0xd6efc7c9b06c35c9818df95d36abe77494fdc683, which may provide insights into the scam’s wider operations or help identify related fraudulent addresses.
Consult Legal Professionals:
Given the substantial loss, the victim should consider contacting a lawyer who specializes in cryptocurrency fraud. Legal experts may offer advice on recovery options, even though the chances of recovering funds from a cryptocurrency scam are often slim.
Cease Communication with the Scammer:
The victim should stop communicating with the scammers immediately. Blocking the scammers’ contact details (email, phone numbers, etc.) is essential to prevent further manipulation.
Monitor Financial Accounts:
The victim should monitor their cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts for any unusual activity. This may help prevent further unauthorized transactions.
Raise Awareness:
Sharing the experience on websites like Scamwatch, Trustpilot, and Reddit can help inform others about bitgoldme.com and prevent more people from falling for the same scam.

Conclusion:
The bitgoldme.com scam targeted the victim with false promises of high returns on cryptocurrency investments. After making an initial deposit of $29,279 USD, the victim was told their account grew significantly. When they tried to withdraw funds, the scammers demanded a $14,000 USD tax fee. The victim should immediately report the scam, track the cryptocurrency address, and consult legal professionals.