Recognise the typical progression of a fake investment platform.
Check whether a provider is authorised and registered.
Respond after sending money or identity documents.
Practice example
A “broker” demands tax before releasing profit
09:415G ▮▮▮
‹?Investment adviser•••
Today, 09:41
Your balance has reached RSD 680,000. Pay another RSD 68,000 in tax and you can withdraw the full amount immediately.
+Message
Fictional situation for practice.Show the example explanation
Profit exists only on screen
The person requesting payment may also control the displayed balance.
Another payment unlocks withdrawal
Demands for “tax”, “release” or “verification” can extend the loss.
A fast and certain result is promised
Investment carries risk; guaranteed high returns are a warning sign.
How the scam usually progresses
Contact often starts with an advert, message or call from a “personal broker”. The first payment may be small and the platform then shows rapid balance growth. When you try to withdraw, new conditions appear: tax, commission, verification, insurance or a minimum additional payment.
The displayed balance is not independent evidence of a real investment. The scammer may control both the platform and the adviser explaining what to do.
Checks before paying
Identify the provider’s full legal name, address and country of registration.
Verify permission for the specific service in the competent regulator’s official register. Company registration alone is not an investment-services licence.
Do not use a “register” link supplied by the broker. Open the regulator’s site independently.
Understand withdrawal, fees and the contracting party before the first payment.
Stop signals
guaranteed or unusually fast profit;
pressure to pay or borrow immediately;
instructions to install remote-access software;
transfers to an individual or continually changing accounts;
no withdrawal without another payment;
support only through chat, with no verifiable identity or licence.
If you have already paid
Stop further payments and discussions about “releasing” funds.
Contact the bank or payment provider immediately through an official channel. Provide method, amount, time and payee for every transfer. Recovery cannot be promised.
If device access was granted, follow the remote-access guide. If documents were sent, ask the police and issuing authority for advice appropriate to the circumstances.
Report suspected unauthorised investment services to the relevant regulator, police and FIN-CSIRT according to the event.
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A platform shows a large profit but demands another payment for withdrawal. What do you do?
Why does this matter? The screen can be fabricated and the new payment may simply be the next stage of the scam.
Send a smaller amount to test the withdrawal.
A smaller payment still increases exposure without proving the balance is real.
Stop paying and verify the provider in an official regulatory register.Correct answer
Independent licence verification separates facts from the platform display.
Borrow money because the deadline is short.
A deadline does not validate the investment and may increase the loss.
A well-known person recommends an investment in a video. Is that enough?
Why does this matter? The recording may be altered, the account copied or the promotion unrelated to authorisation.
Yes, a public figure guarantees the offer.
A face or voice may be misused without the person's knowledge.
Yes, if the video has many views.
View count is not a regulatory check.
No; I verify the legal entity, licence and official register.Correct answer
The register and contracting entity are the relevant checks.
You already paid and sent an identity-document photo. What takes priority?
Why does this matter? Further payments do not recover earlier ones, while payment and identity risks need separate action.
Stop paying, contact the bank immediately and preserve the conversation.Correct answer
The bank can assess possible payment protection and records support reporting.
Pay again to prove cooperation.
Another payment increases potential loss.
Delete every message and account.
Deletion may remove information needed for investigation and reporting.
Several accounts in a private group post nearly identical stories of fast profits. What does that prove?
Why does this matter? Accounts and testimonials can be coordinated, purchased or invented as part of the same promotion.
The investment is verified because many people commented.
Comment volume is not a regulatory check.
Only that the promotion looks popular; I verify the entity and licence independently.Correct answer
Independent verification does not rely on evidence controlled by the promoter.
There is no risk if I start with a small payment.
A small payment can still lead to pressure for larger amounts.
After a loss, an 'investigator' guarantees recovery for a fee. What do you do?
Why does this matter? People who have already lost money are often targeted by a follow-up recovery scam.
Pay because they know the platform's name.
Knowledge of the platform may come from information about earlier victims.
Do not pay; verify the claimed organisation through contact details I find myself.Correct answer
Independent verification interrupts the new manipulation channel.
Give them wallet access so they can check the balance.
Wallet access may cause further loss.
No registration. Your answers are not sent; the result is just for you.
Check the licence, not the displayed profit
Do not send more money merely to release funds shown on an unverified platform.
