A fraudulent trading platform, pc.hagradg.cc, recently ensnared a California resident in a Romance-Baiting scam, a sophisticated scheme targeting investors in forex, metal, oil, CFD, and cryptocurrency markets. The victim initially deposited $100 and saw their account balance rise to over $1,500. However, when they attempted to withdraw funds, the platform demanded an additional $900 to release the money. After questioning the demand, the victim was locked out of their account entirely. The platform is now offline, and no funds have been recovered.

In a related case, another individual lost $25,000 through a similar scheme at m.hagradg.cc. The victim was first approached on Facebook by someone who shared common interests. After weeks of communication, they were introduced to the platform and encouraged to trade “spot gold.” Over time, they invested $8,000 and became trapped in a “VIP Deposit Event,” preventing them from withdrawing funds unless further deposits were made. When a friend investigated the platform, it was revealed that it falsely claimed an affiliation with Goldman Sachs and had only been established in August 2023.

These cases highlight the manipulative tactics used in fraudulent trading scams, where victims are lured through social connections, convinced their investments are growing, and then pressured into making additional deposits before ultimately being locked out of their accounts. Once the fraud is exposed, the platforms disappear, leaving victims with no recourse.