What happened to the client
A client approached LastResorty after losing approximately $78,000 to what appeared to be a legitimate online investment platform. Initially, the client had been shown impressive account growth and regular updates from a supposed investment adviser. Encouraged by the apparent returns, they continued depositing funds.
When the client eventually tried to withdraw their balance, the platform demanded additional payments for supposed taxes and administrative fees. Even after these payments were requested, the withdrawal was never processed.
Our work on this file, step by step
Reviewing the evidence
The first step was to review the client's account of events, transaction records, communications, and available payment documentation. The purpose was to establish a timeline of the suspected fraud and identify which transactions and organisations could potentially be investigated.
Identifying recovery avenues
The investigation identified several relevant transaction records and potential avenues for further action. Depending on the payment methods involved, these avenues included contacting the relevant financial institutions, documenting the suspected fraud for reporting purposes, and examining cryptocurrency transaction records where applicable.
Organising the findings
With the findings organised, the client was better positioned to pursue the available recovery channels and understand the next steps.
We traced the money to USDT on the Ethereum blockchain. Acting quickly, we gathered all the information and supporting evidence and sent a report to Tether, the company that issues USDT, which froze the assets. The client got back the full amount they had invested.
- Lost
- $78,000
- Returned to client
- $78,000
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
What other victims can learn from it
This example demonstrates how LastResorty can approach an investment fraud case through structured evidence collection, transaction analysis, and the assessment of legitimate recovery options.
