The Impersonation Scam That Tricked a Close Friend
This story isn’t about me, but it hit very close to home because it happened to my best friend. She was new to cryptocurrency and eager to learn, so when a verified-looking account claiming to be a famous crypto educator messaged her on Twitter, she was thrilled. The account said they were impressed by her interest in blockchain technology and wanted to guide her on how to grow her portfolio.

The person offered her a spot in a “mentorship program,” where she could learn exclusive strategies and gain early access to promising tokens. The catch? She needed to start with an “investment seed” of $5,000 to show her commitment. My friend was hesitant, but the person sent screenshots of their past “students” who had doubled or tripled their initial investments. They even shared a Zoom link to a private call where they answered her questions in a professional and convincing manner.

Feeling reassured, my friend transferred the $5,000 to the wallet address they provided. After the transfer, the mentor promised to set up her “investment account” and provide her with updates. A week passed, then two, with no updates. When she followed up, she was blocked on all platforms. The wallet address she sent the money to had been emptied.

When she told me what happened, I helped her investigate, and we discovered the account was a sophisticated fake. The scammers had replicated the real educator’s account, complete with a verified badge, and used social engineering to build trust.

This painful experience taught both of us to always verify who we’re interacting with, especially on social media. If someone offers mentorship or exclusive opportunities, verify their identity through official channels. Scammers know how to mimic real professionals, and they prey on those eager to learn or invest. Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is.