When a trading platform suddenly asks you to pay a fee before it will release your own money, that is almost never a real tax — it is the last stage of the scam. This is how one couple recognised it a little too late, and what we were able to do next.
Reported operator: SSIG FX · Location: Phoenix, Arizona · Reported loss: $48,000
Timeline to resolution: 5 weeks · Outcome: 71% of traced funds returned
How it started
The Mercers were introduced to SSIG FX through a polished advert and a friendly “account manager” who walked them through several small, profitable-looking trades. Encouraged by a dashboard that showed steady gains, they topped up to $48,000 over a few weeks.
The moment it unravelled
When they tried to withdraw, the platform demanded a 15% “withdrawal tax” to be paid first — in fresh crypto, to a new wallet. Real brokers deduct fees from your balance; they do not ask for new deposits to unlock old ones. That single request is what told us this was a textbook advance-fee scheme.
“They had an answer for everything, and the dashboard looked so real. The moment they asked me to send more money to get my money, my stomach dropped. AssetsCollector were the first people who actually explained what had happened to me.”
— R. and L. Mercer, Arizona
What we did
We mapped every deposit on-chain, identified the two intermediary wallets the funds were funnelled through, and matched one to a cluster we had already documented in our directory. With a clear trail and a timestamped report, the Mercers were able to file with their bank and the receiving exchange, which froze part of the balance.
The outcome
Roughly 71% of the traced funds were returned over five weeks. It was not everything — some had already been moved through a mixer — but it was a meaningful recovery driven by acting quickly and having evidence ready.
What you can take from this
- No legitimate broker ever asks for a new deposit to “release” a withdrawal.
- Screenshot everything before you are locked out — dashboards, chats, transaction IDs.
- The first 72 hours matter most; funds are easiest to freeze before they are mixed.
If you have been affected by SSIG FX or a platform that behaves the same way, you can request a free case review. We will look at the evidence and tell you honestly whether your case is worth pursuing — recovery is never guaranteed, but knowing where your funds went is the first real step.