2025-12-27 01:21:24

A recent case exposure has drawn attention: Pakistani law enforcement dismantled a cross-border crypto scam network involving up to $60 million. Honestly, the scam methods in this case are not new, but the details clearly illustrate the problem.

The operation process of the scam gang is as follows— they impersonate experienced traders or "insiders" on social media and instant messaging apps, using long-term social engineering (gradually building trust) to persuade you to join so-called "high-yield cryptocurrency investment platforms" or forex trading platforms. The enticing returns are actually just hooks.

When your invested funds approach $5,000, these people start to change their tune. They demand more money under various pretexts—such as taxes, withdrawal fees, account verification fees... making one excuse after another. Once you make a payment, your account is immediately frozen, and they disappear without a trace.

What do the seized items in this operation reveal? 37 computers, 40 mobile phones, over 10,000 international SIM cards, 6 illegal payment gateways—this is a complete criminal industry chain. The police have arrested 22 suspects, including 8 from abroad, and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau has依法立案侦查.

In simple terms, the key points of this type of scam are: fake platforms, forged identities, and gradual inducement. The prevention methods are straightforward—official channels are the real ones, don’t be blinded by high returns, and be cautious when money is involved. The crypto market itself carries risks; don’t let scammers scam your money for free.

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

16 Likes

Reward
16
5
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

AirdropHunterZhang

· 20h ago

Hey, isn't this the same trick my friend got caught with? I've heard the 5000-dollar meme too many times. People who interact daily and try to exploit the system are the easiest to fall for it. When they just want to break even, their minds stop thinking clearly. Honestly, these guys are more professional than the ones cutting leeks. The industry chain is so complete... I'm a bit convinced. Official channels are the real deal. That's true, but how many people actually listen? When they hear high returns, they get completely mesmerized. So, when it comes to free airdrops, you really need to keep your wits about you. Greed is truly deadly.

View OriginalReply0

OffchainWinner

· 21h ago

$60 million, these people really have scaled up, but to be honest, this trick has been everywhere for a long time. It's just a different skin but the same old story. These scam groups are truly outrageous. Each one claims to be a "trading expert," but in reality, they just want to drain your wallet. The key is that victims are really easy to be fooled. Once they get $5,000, they start asking for all kinds of fees. I just want to ask, how can anyone still believe this? --- It's already this late, and people are still falling for such low-level scams. High returns? Laughable. If it were really that good, it wouldn't be your turn. --- 10,000 international SIM cards—how much can they make? An entire scam industry chain is just dismantled like that. Serves them right. --- Basically, don't expect a pie in the sky. When you see tempting returns, you should tighten your nerves. --- These people are indeed professional, but anyone with normal intelligence should see the flaws, yet they still throw money in. --- Official channels are truly the only way out. Everything else is nonsense. Remember this one point, and that's enough. --- There are so many pitfalls in the crypto market, yet people still jump in. I really worry about you guys.

View OriginalReply0

SocialAnxietyStaker

· 21h ago

$60 million, this scam gang is really professional, with a complete industry chain that’s frightening. No wonder ordinary people can’t defend themselves. These scammers are just betting on people's desire to get rich quickly. The words "high return" are always the strongest hooks. They start demanding money at $5,000, truly a well-crafted scheme. I've seen too many people fall into the trap. Wow, with so many SIM cards and payment gateways, their cross-border crimes to evade regulation are really wild. By the way, the most important thing is to have some judgment yourself. Official channels are really easy to recognize. No matter how tempting, you should think twice.

View OriginalReply0

MoonBoi42

· 21h ago

$60 million, these people are really daring. But to be honest, I've seen this trick too many times, just changing the shell to continue to cut. The most outrageous thing is those "withdrawal fees," have you heard of them? A classic script of crypto scammers, truly impressive. If you ask me, as soon as you hear about high returns, you should be alert. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Those 37 computers and 40 phones, what kind of professional gang does that require... It's terrifying when you think about it. By the way, Pakistan has caught quite a few this time, 8 of them are foreigners. How rampant are these transnational scam networks? Actually, it boils down to two words—don't be greedy. If you are greedy, you will suffer losses. To those who dare to invest $5000 in a stranger’s platform, I can only say... be more cautious. This story is starting to cycle again, always the same tricks, always the same victims.

View OriginalReply0