These scams typically begin on social media platforms where victims are enticed into starting their cryptocurrency journey through ads or common connections. This will lead them into joining investment group chats on messaging apps such as WhatsApp. These groups will offer to teach people how to trade cryptocurrency, provide investment advice and sometimes set you up with a “mentor” to learn from.
These groups will use incentives to get individuals to participate in investing cryptocurrency, such as credits for trading, gift cards etc. These conversations often start innocently and then lead victims into using specific platforms to trade where they have control over your funds. For example, scammers from platforms such as PTOUNX (https://www.ptounx.com/#/) and JUHBZ (https://www.juhbzz.com/#/) will use the above methods to get new signups and will provide referral codes for the victims to use the platforms.
Scammers may sometimes ask you to transfer funds directly to their bank account from your bank account or send them funds via cryptocurrency from an exchange you already use. Remember that scammers often initially provide genuine information to gain trust before instructing you to invest in the scam.