Romance scamsOntario·Partial recovery guided
A dating app connection that asked for crypto “safekeeping”
Ellen met someone online who never visited in person, then asked her to hold coins in a new wallet “until they could meet.”
After months of daily messages, the contact pushed Ellen to move savings into crypto and share screenshots of balances. When she hesitated about a large transfer, the tone turned urgent. She stopped sending more and reached out for guided recovery. We walked her through account setup, reviewed what had left her control, and helped reclaim what could still be traced.
What mattered
- Genuine partners do not need you to open wallets for them
- Urgency and secrecy are common pressure tactics
- Stopping early often preserves more than trying to “fix” the relationship
Case 01 of 06 · Related: Romance scams
Pig-butchering schemesBritish Columbia·Recoverable balances identified
A friendly tip that became a locked “investment” site
Marcus was introduced to a private trading platform that showed rising profits he could never withdraw.
A new contact on social media steered Marcus toward a sleek app. Balances climbed on screen. When he tried to cash out, support demanded extra payments to “unlock” funds. He contacted us instead. We treated the on-screen profits as fiction, focused on deposit trails, and guided him through reclaiming what remained recoverable — with clear language and no trading pressure.
What mattered
- Unwithdrawable gains on a private site are a red flag
- Requests for more money to release funds are classic long-con tactics
- Recovery starts with deposits and traces, not fake profit screens
Case 02 of 06 · Related: Pig-butchering schemes
Fake investment platformsAlberta·Case reviewed and guided
A cloned exchange that blocked withdrawals
Priya deposited into a site that looked like a major exchange, then found withdrawals delayed and taxed without end.
Ads and a “broker” on chat led Priya to a familiar-looking brand with almost no public history. Deposits worked; withdrawals did not. She created a recovery account and shared what she could remember about wallets and timelines. We reviewed the case with a person, explained what could still be pursued, and kept every step paced to her comfort.
What mattered
- Cloned brands and chat-only support are warning signs
- You do not need perfect records to start a conversation
- Official recovery channels never demand secrecy from family
Case 03 of 06 · Related: Fake investment platforms
Wallet drainersQuebec·Remaining balances secured
An airdrop link that emptied a wallet
James connected a wallet to claim an airdrop and watched coins leave without typing a send amount.
A link in a group chat promised a free mint. After connecting, approvals drained assets quickly. James felt foolish and delayed asking for help. We explained that drainers rely on signatures, not intentional sends, then guided him to secure remaining addresses and reclaim what could still be recovered — carefully, without seed-phrase requests.
What mattered
- Never connect a wallet to an untrusted airdrop or mint
- Asking for help early is not admitting fault
- Legitimate support never asks you to paste a seed phrase
Case 04 of 06 · Related: Wallet drainers
PhishingManitoba·Account secured; recovery started
A fake login page after an urgent “security” email
Nora clicked a message that looked like her exchange and entered details on a lookalike page.
The email warned that her account would freeze unless she verified within hours. The link was slightly off. After she signed in, funds moved. She contacted us through the official site. We confirmed we never ask for a seed phrase, helped her understand what happened, and began guided recovery for what could still be traced.
What mattered
- Urgency and freeze threats are classic phishing bait
- Check domains carefully before signing in
- Use only the contact channels listed on this website
Case 05 of 06 · Related: Phishing
Fake customer supportNova Scotia·Damage contained; recovery guided
“Help desk” that wanted remote access
Tom searched for wallet support and was contacted by someone claiming to be MetaMask help.
A comment-section “agent” offered to fix a stuck transaction if Tom installed remote access and shared a recovery file. He stopped before finishing and reached out through our Contact page. We walked him through securing what was left and reclaiming recoverable assets, with patience for how shaken he felt.
What mattered
- Real support rarely contacts you first on social chat apps
- Do not share seed phrases or recovery files with cold contacts
- Pausing mid-scam is a win — recovery can still start from there
Case 06 of 06 · Related: Fake customer support