One day, I received a direct message on Instagram from what appeared to be the official account of a popular cryptocurrency influencer I had been following for years. The message congratulated me for being selected for an exclusive investment opportunity. They claimed to be launching a private investment group that guaranteed high returns by pooling funds for “insider trading opportunities” in emerging altcoins.

The message seemed genuine—it came from an account with thousands of followers, professional posts, and even verified endorsements. The influencer provided a detailed plan outlining the returns and asked for a minimum investment of $5,000, to be sent directly to a wallet address.

Eager to participate, I sent the funds and was added to a private Telegram group filled with other “investors.” The group was active, with members discussing their investments and claiming they had already seen returns. However, weeks went by, and when I inquired about my earnings, the account stopped responding, and the Telegram group disappeared. I realized too late that the influencer’s account had been hacked, and the entire operation was a scam.