Consumer complaint received 2025-01-18 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Virtual currency
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: ROBINHOOD MARKETS INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to express my deep frustration, anguish, and concern about the devastating experience I have endured due to fraudulent schemes perpetuated through social media platformsspecifically XXXX facilitated by financial tools such as cryptocurrency transactions and XXXX. This letter is not only to share my personal ordeal but also to shed light on the broader impact of these scams that are victimizing innocent individuals across the country. 

Social media platforms like XXXX are widely trusted by millions of users, including myself. These platforms allow fraudulent accounts to advertise so-called professors offering opportunities to learn how to profit from the stock market. In XX/XX/year>, I began noticing such videos on XXXX, promoting these professors and their ability to teach people like me to trade and create additional income streams. Out of curiosity and a desire to improve my financial standing, I clicked one of these links, which directed me to XXXX to follow trade signals. 

After months of observing, I decided to give it a try. The testimonials from other participants were overwhelmingly positive, with claims of significant financial gains. Soon after joining, I was contacted directly by the professors assistant, who offered personalized one-on-one teaching. They instructed me to create a profile on a website called XXXX and to load funds into the account using cryptocurrency. 

Over the course of a month, I reloaded {$1000.00} into the XXXX account and followed their trading signals. However, when I decided to withdraw my money after XXXX weeks, I was met with resistance. I was told I could only withdraw at the end of the month when the group would withdraw collectively. By XX/XX/year>, when the group withdrawal date arrived, I followed the prescribed steps, contacted customer support, and submitted withdrawal requests. 

This is when the true nature of the scam became clear. Customer support began requesting additional funds through my XXXX account, demanding payment in the form of ETH cryptocurrency. Despite assurances, I ultimately lost {$16000.00} in total. Throughout this ordeal, I was manipulated into believing I had a growing account balance of approximately {$90000.00} on the XXXX website. In reality, it was all fake. 

These scammers preyed on my trust and my desire to learn and create new financial opportunities. They communicated via phone calls, provided false assurances, and deceived me into believing their scheme was legitimate. The emotional distress caused by this experience can not be overstated. 

I reached out to XXXX, hoping for assistance in recovering my funds or at least tracking the accounts receiving these transactions. XXXX, however, informed me that there was nothing they could do. I also contacted the police, but they too were unable to provide any meaningful support. 

This experience is not unique to me. I firmly believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of people across the XXXX, are falling victim to these scams, facilitated through platforms like XXXX and financial services like XXXX. These platforms must be held accountable for allowing such fraudulent activities to flourish under their watch. 

I urge you to take immediate action to investigate and address these scams. Measures need to be implemented to protect users from predatory schemes and to ensure proper oversight of advertised services. The pain and suffering caused by these fraudulent activities are immeasurable, leaving victims not only financially devastated but also emotionally scarred. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope this letter serves as a call to action to prevent others from enduring the same hardship I have experienced. I am available to provide additional details or documentation if necessary.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation