HOUSTON — FBI Houston is looking for victims of ICHCoin, which they're calling a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform.
The FBI said ICHCoin and similar investing platforms claimed to use AI-assisted software for cryptocurrency trading. Victims may have lost more than $30 million in the scheme, the FBI reported.
If you believe you've been victimized by this platform or a similar one, the FBI said to look for these red flags:
- Unsolicited messages on apps like WhatsApp or Telegram
- A promise of a definitive return on investment
- Suspicious advertisements posted to social media telling victims to download an app or program
- Being asked to lie to your bank regarding transaction activity
- Being given free money as a "loan" to get started
The FBI has an online questionnaire for victims who believe they were targeted by the platform or similar ones. They said there are confirmed victims of ICHCoin in the Houston area.
In total, Texans reportedly lost upwards of $411 million from cryptocurrency frauds in 2023. Across the U.S., 70,000 Americans filed complaints regarding cryptocurrency platforms resulting in more than $5.6 billion lost just last year.
