Core Insights - The article highlights a sophisticated investment scam that exploits trust within social circles, promising high returns that ultimately lead to significant financial losses for investors [2][3][18]. Group 1: Nature of the Scam - The scam lured investors with promises of doubling their money in a short period, leveraging testimonials from friends to build credibility [3][5]. - A psychological phenomenon known as "trust transfer effect" was utilized, where individuals transferred their trust in friends to the investment platform, leading to substantial investments [5][7]. - The platform employed a complex operational process, requiring users to download multiple apps and follow daily trading signals, creating an illusion of legitimacy [8][11]. Group 2: Mechanism of Deception - A referral bonus system incentivized users to recruit others, further expanding the scam's reach and creating a "viral" effect [9][11]. - Investors were misled into believing they were earning profits, which only existed in their account balances and were never accessible for withdrawal [13][16]. - The scam culminated in a shocking 96.99% withdrawal fee, effectively rendering any potential profits worthless and isolating victims from each other [14][16]. Group 3: Aftermath and Lessons - Once the scam was exposed, victims found themselves unable to contact the platform or their initial recruiters, leading to a sense of betrayal and helplessness [16][18]. - The article emphasizes that such scams often follow a common pattern: high returns as bait, trust through personal recommendations, and complex operations to create a facade of professionalism [18][20]. - It concludes with a warning to remain vigilant against enticing investment opportunities, stressing the importance of verifying the legitimacy of platforms before investing [20][22].