My father is a cautious man. He’s never been into get-rich-quick schemes or risky investments, but when he saw multiple people in his circle talking about a “stable” cryptocurrency called TrustX, he decided to dip his toes in. This was early 2023, and TrustX was being marketed as a token tied to real-world assets, offering small but steady returns and long-term growth. It promised to be the safer side of crypto—something perfect for people like him.

He invested close to $6,000, which was a portion of his retirement savings. He showed me the website, and I had to admit—it looked impressive. They had legal-looking documents, registration numbers, and endorsements from supposed financial advisors. It wasn’t until months later that things started to feel off.

My dad noticed that the platform would delay his withdrawal requests. They claimed “technical difficulties,” then later “wallet maintenance,” and eventually stopped responding entirely. I did some digging and found that their so-called registration number didn’t even exist, and the advisory board photos were stock images. Just like that, his entire investment was gone.

This hit our family hard—not just financially, but emotionally too. Watching someone I love go through that kind of betrayal, knowing it was all a scam hiding under the promise of safety, was painful. That’s when I realized the biggest risk in crypto isn’t always greed—it’s misplaced trust. These platforms are becoming more clever, more convincing, and more targeted toward everyday people who just want to grow their savings.

If you’re considering crypto investments, please be cautious. Verify every detail, double-check credentials, and never rely solely on what a website or influencer says. Sometimes, the “safest” looking options are the most dangerous of all.