My balance kept growing. Withdraw? "Technical issue."

I wanted to learn forex and opened an account on a platform that looked like other brokers—charts, leverage settings, support chat.

Early deposits showed gains on screen that made the interface feel legitimate.

When I tried to withdraw, support cited technical issues, then verification, then fees to release profit.

I paid the fees; the balance still could not leave.

Eventually the site stopped loading.

Fake trading platforms simulate PnL while blocking withdrawals; excuses stack until victims stop paying or the operators fold the domain.

I lost everything I had deposited.

Between excuses I told myself delays happen at real brokers too; rising numbers on the dashboard made admitting fraud feel premature.

When support numbers disconnected and WHOIS showed the domain registered months earlier under privacy, I matched the story to forex scam reports online.

Savings I had treated as a learning budget were gone; reporting did not refund me but stopped me from sending a final “tax” payment they requested.

If a platform will not let me withdraw on a small test early, it is fraud.

I verify firms with national regulators before funding.

• Test withdrawals early; endless fees or “technical” blocks mean scam.
• Report to FCA / CFTC / local securities regulators and consumer fraud lines.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.