Sulev, 38, from Pärnu, wasn’t the type to fall for internet nonsense. He had a good job, a stable life, and a small group of trusted friends. So when an old schoolmate named Arto messaged him on Facebook and started chatting again, it felt natural.
They joked about old memories, shared a few memes, and soon the conversation turned to “crypto.” Arto said he had been making good money through a private investment platform.
“It’s not public yet — invite-only,” he said. “But I can get you in.”
At first, Sulev was skeptical. But this wasn’t a stranger — it was someone he’d known for years.
So he signed up. The site looked clean, professional. Arto even showed screenshots of his “profits.”
Sulev started with €100. Within days, the dashboard showed €137.
He withdrew the profits — and it landed in his account the next day.
That’s what convinced him.
He reinvested €500, then €1,000. He was chatting daily with Arto, sharing results, getting tips.
Then came a platform update:
“New verification step required for withdrawals over €1,000 — a security deposit of €350.”
Sulev paid it. Then another fee popped up:
“Regulatory compliance — €450.”
He messaged Arto.
“All normal,” Arto said. “I paid those too. Worth it, trust me.”
Sulev sent it. His balance now showed over €4,000, but every withdrawal attempt got blocked with new reasons:
- “High-volume transfer delay fee”
- “Smart contract gas fee”
- “Account unlock process”
Eventually, the platform stopped responding.
Then Arto stopped replying.
That’s when it hit him: Arto’s account had been hacked.
It wasn’t his old friend talking to him — it was a scammer using his profile.
He lost over €2,000.
Sulev’s Words:
“I didn’t fall for a website. I fell for a friend — or at least, who I thought was a friend.”
Lesson:
Scammers now hack real accounts to build instant trust. If someone you know suddenly recommends an investment or asks for money — call them. Don’t chat. Hear their voice. Confirm.
And remember: real investments don’t require surprise fees to get your own money back.