• How the scheme worked (Europol): affiliate-marketing ads steered people to fake trading platforms; the personal data collected there was sold to call centres, whose 'brokers' showed fictitious profits to push larger transfers and stalled withdrawals until contact stopped.
• Background: the case began in 2022 with a German couple who couldn't withdraw their savings; earlier action days in 2022 and 2025 led investigators to the platform supplier.

Warning signs for anyone being pitched: an ad leading to a trading site, a 'broker' who calls you, a dashboard showing quick gains on a small deposit, and fees or delays when you try to withdraw.