A Hong Kong woman lost nearly $1 million after being pulled into a fake AI-powered crypto investment scheme that promised steady returns.
Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender says the victim was targeted through Telegram by scammers posing as investment experts offering access to an automated trading strategy.
According to Bitdefender, the scammers lured the woman to invest by pitching AI-powered trading that comes with low risk and consistent profits. The firm says the victim was directed to a platform that appeared legitimate, with real-time charts and growing profits designed to build trust.
Convinced that the operation offered a real investment opportunity, Bitdefender says the woman made 17 crypto transfers involving the stablecoin USDT (Tether) and the layer-1 platform Ethereum (ETH). In total, the woman deposited $982,000 into the fake investment platform.
But when she tried to withdraw her funds, her requests were delayed and then denied. The scammers also asked for additional payments in an effort to drain more funds from the victim.
Bitdefender says the woman’s case is not isolated and that new groups could target the same victim by offering crypto recovery services.
“They pose as investigators, legal experts, or recovery agents. But this is yet another trap that causes even more financial damage.”
The cybersecurity firm offers a few habits that could save people from AI and crypto investment schemes.
“Question the hype: ‘AI-powered’ doesn’t guarantee legitimacy. Avoid unsolicited investment offers: especially on Telegram or WhatsApp. Verify platforms independently: never trust links sent in messages. Test withdrawals early: a blocked withdrawal is often the first serious red flag. Watch for guaranteed returns: they don’t exist in real investing.
If something feels off, trust your instinct.”
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