Consumer complaint received 2025-01-18 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: Early Warning Services, LLC
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I fell victim to a cybercrime involving XXXX XXXX, a friend whom I trusted. He invited me to join an investment group he called a " XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, '' supposedly consisting of 7-8 figure earners. This group was initiated by XXXX and a woman named XXXX, whom he met through an XXXX from an unknown number associated with his device ( XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX on XX/XX/2023 ). XXXX communicated with XXXX through XXXX and XXXX, using the number XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX claimed to have invested money with XXXX in stocks, resulting in profits. Later, XXXX introduced XXXX to " XXXX '' through a link supposedly linked to XXXX XXXXXXXX and XXXX had a close relationship, with XXXX providing trade information to XXXX exclusively. Despite this, XXXX never introduced XXXX to anyone else in his inner circle. He assured us that XXXX was a successful trader, though we knew little about her. 

On XX/XX/2023, XXXX unexpectedly contacted me, stating that his inner circle had allowed him to form a group with trusted friends, and he invited me to join. There were no upfront fees, as XXXX described it as investing in cryptocurrency trading, promising returns ranging from 15-25 % per trade. He emphasized that higher capital investments would yield higher profits. To gain my trust, XXXX showed me images and screenshots of profits supposedly made within the group. He assured me that I could deposit and withdraw funds at any time, using Bitcoin or USDT. XXXX claimed to have already invested {$26000.00} of his own funds. He described the " XXXX '' as occurring every

1-3 times a month, promising profits from each instance. He eventually encouraged me to invest more for bigger trades. I made my initial payment of {$10000.00} to XXXX on XX/XX/2023, supposedly directed to a pool account via XXXX. XXXX meticulously recorded my deposits and earnings in an XXXX XXXX  which he has deleted now, but I have a copy of. The first trade, on XX/XX/XXXX, yielded a 40 % profit. I made payments totaling {$43000.00} through various channels, including XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Wire transfers, and Zelle, with the last payment on XX/XX/2023. Unbeknownst to me, XXXX took a {$25000.00} loan from XXXX in late XXXX, freezing our account due to accrued interest. I provided XXXX with {$12000.00} to facilitate loan repayment, enabling the release of my funds. XXXX sought advice from XXXX, who offered financial support. The outstanding balance was settled between XXXX and another individual, XXXX XXXX, both part of our inner circle. 

After my initial withdrawal of {$17000.00} on XX/XX/2023, leaving a {$100000.00} balance in the account, XXXX imposed a moratorium on withdrawals, leading to conflict with XXXX. XXXX executed withdrawals on XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX, angering XXXX. She demanded that he seek her approval for future withdrawals. XXXX notified XXXX of an upcoming XXXX  on XX/XX/XXXX, requiring a {$500000.00} balance, which we were unable to fulfill. XXXX offered assistance or advised us to obtain a loan, an option we declined. XXXX demanded XXXX settle his debt, asserting control over our account. XXXX encountered difficulty accessing the XXXX account on XX/XX/XXXX, prompting XXXX to demand repayment. XXXX sent {$2000.00} to XXXX supposedly, but the issue remained unresolved. Despite promises of reimbursement, XXXX blocked my access to XXXX and ceased communication via my phone number. As of now, XXXX has not responded to my attempts to contact him and he owes me {$1000.00}. 


I have also lost much more in scams through zelle and fraud. I am filing this complaint regarding fraudulent activity on my Zelle account. Unauthorized transactions were made on my account that I did not initiate or authorize. These charges were not made by me, nor did I provide consent for them.

No resolution has been provided, and I have not received any response addressing this issue. I am requesting a thorough investigation and assistance in recovering the funds lost due to these unauthorized transactions.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation