Urgent Warning: A fraudulent scheme reported under the name STEcapital has been targeting individuals by convincing them to take out loans and credit cards to engage in deceptive transactions.

Details of the Scam:

• Scam Name: STEcapital
• Scam Website: stecapital.cc
• Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin
• Transaction Hash: bc1q843wq3p9e8dj2e4pa6pyv9h3e8w9vgg8stvf3d

Victims of this scam have reported substantial financial losses, with criminals persuasively encouraging significant financial risks. The nature of these transactions suggests a highly organized scam operation aiming to exploit personal financial capacities for fraudulent gains.

If you have any information related to transactions with this website or have experienced similar issues, please share your experiences. Collecting such stories can help understand this scam’s scope and aid in preventive efforts by alerting potential targets. Your input could also support ongoing OSINT investigations by providing crucial data to pursue these criminals effectively.

Domain Analysis

The scam website STEcapital (stecapital.cc) is a fraudulent online trading platform registered on March 14, 2024, and set to expire on March 14, 2025. The domain is managed by GoDaddy.com, LLC, with Cloudflare, Inc. providing hosting services. The website is associated with various restrictions, such as being clientDeleteProhibited, clientRenewProhibited, clientTransferProhibited, and clientUpdateProhibited, indicating attempts to maintain its operational status despite potential legal actions.

The registrant information is hidden through Domains By Proxy, LLC, in Tempe, Arizona. The website has minimal online presence and low authority scores, lacking organic search traffic and backlinks from credible sources. It has only 14 backlinks from 12 referring domains, with most links being either nofollow or originating from low-quality sites.

A victim reported losing £272.34 on April 30, 2024, and £291.39 on May 4, 2024, totaling £563.73. The scammers coerced victims into making transactions using the Bitcoin receiving address bc1q843wq3p9e8dj2e4pa6pyv9h3e8w9vgg8stvf3d. This address has transacted three times, receiving and sending a total of 0.00966874 BTC, equivalent to approximately $587.82. This address currently holds a zero balance.

Stecapital.cc Review

The STEcapital website presents itself as an international broker specializing in Contracts for Difference (CFDs), aiming to offer high-quality online trading services. The company emphasizes its mission to empower traders through an easy-to-use platform, favorable trading conditions, and a focus on security and transparency. It is evident that STEcapital targets novice and experienced traders, promising support and continuous optimization of their trading solutions to keep pace with industry innovations.

The platform claims to provide diverse trading opportunities, including forex, indices, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. It highlights ultra-low spreads, transparent trading conditions, and advanced technology and tools. The website also mentions unique trading products like “Bundles,” which are ETFs designed by their experts to offer balanced exposure to different markets.

The contact section provides several ways to reach the company, including a phone number (+44 1884210604) and a physical address (Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1HN, United Kingdom). Additionally, there are links to legal documents such as the Terms & Conditions, Refund Policy, Privacy Policy, KYC Disclaimer, and AML Policy.

Red Flags

Despite the polished presentation, there are several red flags that could indicate the website might be a scam:

1. No Regulatory Information: The website does not mention any regulatory body overseeing its operations, which is critical for any financial trading platform. Legitimate brokers typically provide detailed regulatory information and licenses from recognized financial authorities.
2. Lack of Social Media Presence: The website does not provide links to social media accounts, which are common for legitimate businesses to build trust and engage with clients.
3. Generic Content: Much of the website’s content is filled with generic statements about the company’s mission, vision, and values without providing substantial details or proof of its claims. This tactic can be used to lure in clients without offering genuine services.
4. High-Risk Warning: While it’s common for trading platforms to issue risk warnings, emphasizing the possibility of losing all invested capital could be a way to prepare clients for inevitable losses due to fraudulent activities.
5. LiveChat Feature: While offering live chat support is common, it’s noteworthy that they emphasize it significantly. In some scams, live chat features give an illusion of constant support while stalling for time or providing misleading information.

In conclusion, while STEcapital’s website appears professional and offers a range of trading services, the absence of regulatory details, obscured contact information, lack of social media presence, generic content, and overemphasis on risk highlight several red flags that potential clients should be wary of.

Stecapital.cc Reviews

STE Capital has been identified as a potentially fraudulent entity by several sources. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a warning, stating that the firm “may be providing or promoting financial services or products without our permission” and advised to “avoid dealing with this firm and beware of scams.”

Multiple reviews on Trustpilot corroborate this warning. Users report aggressive behavior from representatives when attempting to withdraw funds, with one reviewer stating, “When I refused to pay a broker fee, Thomas became very aggressive and verbally abusive”. Another review highlights a common tactic where the firm allows deposits but blocks withdrawals, ultimately taking the deposited money. One user mentioned, “They let you add money but take it all in the end”.

YouTube videos also caution against investing with STE Capital, describing it as a scam. One video explicitly states, “Terrible Scammer”.

Furthermore, the firm is noted for its suspicious activities, including using pay-as-you-go phones to avoid tracing and fabricating positive reviews. A Trustpilot user observed, “Notice how all 5-star reviews have never been reviewed before.”

In conclusion, numerous warnings and reviews consistently describe STE Capital as a scam, employing unethical practices to defraud investors. Potential investors should avoid engaging with this firm to prevent financial losses.

Bottom Line

After thoroughly examining the information available, it is evident that STE Capital raises numerous red flags characteristic of a scam operation.

The warnings from reputable authorities like the Financial Conduct Authority, alongside consistent reports from users detailing aggressive and unethical practices, paint a concerning picture.

The firm’s tactics of demanding additional deposits for withdrawals and manipulating customer interactions highlight a pattern of deceit.

Coupled with suspiciously orchestrated positive reviews and the usage of untraceable communication methods, these factors significantly undermine the firm’s credibility.