How It Starts

A wide landscape: a path of round stepping stones winds up a grassy hill, each stone bearing an icon in sequence — a chat bubble, a heart, a rising chart, a coin — and the path ends abruptly at a cliff edge.

The scam follows a predictable arc. First comes contact: a message, a match, a text that seems to have gone to the wrong person. Then comes time: days or weeks of friendly conversation, shared interests, growing warmth.

Then comes the introduction: an investment platform, a tip from a trusted source, an offer to show you how it works. The platform looks real. An account is opened. Small amounts are invested. Returns appear on screen. A small withdrawal works. The victim invests more. Then a larger withdrawal is requested. Fees are demanded. The platform freezes. The money is gone, and so is the person who introduced them to it.