I never thought I’d fall for a referral scheme, but crypto can make you do things you wouldn’t normally do. This story is about how I lost $2,000 by trusting a platform that seemed to offer a great referral bonus.

It started with an ad I saw online about a crypto trading platform that promised huge returns and a referral program. If you referred a friend, you’d get 10% of their deposit as a bonus. I was intrigued, especially since I had a few friends who were interested in getting into crypto. I signed up, deposited $1,000, and started referring friends. Sure enough, the bonuses started coming in, and my account balance grew. It all seemed legitimate.

After a few weeks, my account had $2,000 in it, which included my initial investment and the bonuses from the referrals. That’s when I tried to withdraw. The platform asked for a $300 “processing fee” before they could release the funds. It seemed a little strange, but I was already in deep, so I paid the fee. After that, the excuses kept piling up. They needed more documentation, more fees, and eventually, they stopped responding altogether. I realized too late that the whole thing had been a scam.

What I learned from this: If a platform is pushing hard for you to refer others and promises high bonuses, it’s probably a scam. The more they focus on recruitment, the more you should be wary. Keep yourself safe and keep others safe by sharing these experiences. If something feels off, trust your gut and walk away.