Someone I met online wants to teach me crypto trading. Is it a scam?
Yes. A new online friend who turns the conversation to crypto and offers to guide you is running the most expensive scam of all: they lead you to a fake trading platform, let you win at first, then take every deposit. The friendship is the bait.
The approach is slow and personal. The platform looks professional and shows your balance growing. When you try to withdraw a large amount there is a tax, a fee or a "verification" to pay first. The money was never invested.
Signs to watch for
- The friendship started with a wrong-number message or a dating match.
- They show their own profits and offer to "teach" you, with patience and no pressure at first.
- The platform or app is one they sent you a link to, not one you can find through official channels.
- You deposit through crypto or an EFT to a private account.
- Any fee to withdraw means the money is gone. Stop paying.
Frequently asked questions
- I withdrew a small profit. Doesn't that prove it works?
- No. Letting you withdraw a little is how they get you to deposit a lot.
- What can Veritaza check?
- The photos, messages, number, email and name of the person for signs that they are a known scammer. Veritaza does not check trading platforms.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for R99.
Check a person