Not long ago, I became a victim of an Instagram cryptocurrency scam that felt embarrassingly real. I started following an Instagram account claiming to belong to a crypto trading expert named “TraderMike.” His profile was incredibly persuasive, showcasing luxury cars, expensive trips, and screenshots of massive trading profits.

Intrigued, I messaged him for advice. Surprisingly, he responded warmly, offering personalized coaching and access to his exclusive trading signals for a small fee of $250. Excited about the opportunity, I quickly paid, expecting to learn valuable strategies to multiply my investment.

Initially, he provided trading signals and recommendations, but each trade resulted in significant losses. When I confronted him, he claimed I wasn’t following his instructions properly and suggested I upgrade to his premium mentorship service for another $500. Feeling suspicious and frustrated, I refused, at which point he immediately blocked me and deleted our conversation history.

After this upsetting experience, I learned through online research that “TraderMike” was a fake persona built entirely from stolen images and fabricated testimonials, scamming countless users like me. This taught me never to trust social media mentors who demand upfront fees or promise guaranteed profits. Genuine experts typically won’t pressure followers into paying immediately and will demonstrate legitimacy through independent sources.