My Newbie Rule: Any “Withdrawal Fee” is the Moment You Should Walk Away

I’ve only been trading for two months, but I’ve been actively learning about scam patterns, and this story feels like a textbook case of how fraud uses both technology and psychology, especially against seniors. The forced app installation is a giant red flag to me, because it creates dependence; the victim can’t “access their money” without following instructions, and that’s exactly how scammers keep control. The “we already withdrew before” claim also stands out, because I learned that scammers sometimes allow an early payout to build confidence, then they block later withdrawals and introduce new hurdles like fees, taxes, or “account upgrades.” Even the term “paper gold” sounds designed to feel safe and familiar, while the actual mechanics are crypto-like and opaque, which is another warning sign. I really respect what the shop assistant did, cutting off the scammer’s communication channel, because once the victim is isolated in a chat loop, logic rarely wins. My takeaway is simple: if the path to withdrawing funds involves new apps, new fees, or secret steps guided by strangers, it’s not an investment, it’s a controlled drain.