To Whom It May Concern,
On December 15, 2024, I received a notification on Twitter (X) from an account identified as Paula Thoreau (@PaulaThore63895). She invited me to join her Telegram channel and communicate with Ethem Miles (Telegram username: @MilesSignals), who was presented as the contact person for trading opportunities.
Upon following the provided link, I was introduced to the platforms https://bit-market.global and https://bitcrypto.global. As part of the registration process, I was required to provide my Know Your Client (KYC)details, including my driver's license and Social Security information. Subsequently, I made a small deposit of Ethereum (ETH). Initially, the platform appeared legitimate, as I was able to double my money. Encouraged by these results, I proceeded to deposit additional funds, ultimately totaling 14.81644 ETH (approximately $60,000 USD).
However, when I attempted to withdraw funds, I was informed that a VIP membership fee of 3.1 ETH was required to unlock the withdrawal of 1 BTC. This fee was supposedly necessary so I could withdraw the total amount gained on the platform, which was approximately $110,000 USD. Despite my growing suspicions, I paid the requested fee. Shortly after, I was locked out of my account and denied access to my funds. Additionally, Paula Thoreau (@PaulaThore63895) blocked me on Telegram, further confirming my belief that both bit-market.global and bitcrypto.global are coordinated scams designed to recruit unsuspecting individuals from social platforms into fraudulent trading schemes.
On December 19, 2024, I filed complaints with the following authorities:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Office of the Attorney General (Hartford, CT)
Wethersfield Police Department (CT)
I have gathered substantial evidence to support my claims, including:
Transaction records of all deposits made to the platform.
Screenshots of the trading websites bit-market.global and bitcrypto.global.
Conversations with customer service representatives who made false promises of withdrawals.
Screenshots linking Paula Thoreau's Twitter and Telegram accounts to the promotion of these fraudulent platforms.
This experience has been both financially and emotionally devastating. I am bringing this to your attention to seek justice and to prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require additional information or documentation.