I’ve always been curious about automated trading in the crypto space, so when I came across a platform called TradeGenius AI, I was intrigued. The platform promised advanced AI-driven trading algorithms that could analyze market trends and execute trades with pinpoint accuracy. The website featured glowing testimonials, screenshots of successful trades, and even a demo video showcasing the bot in action.

To get started, I had to create an account and deposit at least $5,000 into their platform. I hesitated initially but was won over by the testimonials claiming users had doubled their investments within weeks. After setting up my account, I watched the bot in action, making small, seemingly successful trades. It appeared to be legitimate.

A week later, the platform suggested upgrading to a premium account to unlock “higher-frequency trades” and better returns. Trusting the system, I deposited another $10,000. However, when I tried to withdraw my funds two weeks later, the platform flagged my account for “unusual activity” and required a “verification fee” of $1,000 to process the withdrawal.

This was the first red flag, but I reluctantly paid the fee, desperate to access my money. After the payment, the withdrawal process stalled again, citing “additional blockchain fees.” Realizing I had been scammed, I attempted to contact customer support, but all my emails went unanswered, and soon the platform disappeared entirely.

This experience was a painful reminder to never trust trading bots or platforms that demand large upfront deposits. Always verify their legitimacy through independent sources and avoid services that charge fees for withdrawals. Genuine platforms are transparent about their operations and don’t hide behind excuses to delay or deny access to your funds.