Cryptomart asking for withdrawal fee in advance?

Broker FAQ 📈
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submitted a withdrawal and got a message that I had to pay a 5% fee in advance..I am assuming this is a scam but am wondering if there is anything I can do about it?..I have already given them more money than I want to tank about to buy so i doubt I can get that but should I just take my losses and run?..sorry if the answer is obvious but I need confirmation if possible..thanks..

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Dear AffordableBroil4964

I’m really sorry you’re going through this, unfortunately, what you’re describing (being asked to pay a fee before a withdrawal) is a very common tactic used by scam brokers. Legitimate brokers always deduct fees directly from your balance — they never ask for upfront payments.

It’s unlikely you’ll get your money back if the broker is fake, but there may still be steps you can take. Please let me know the name of the broker or website you used, that will help me check whether it’s known to be a scam.

In the meantime, here’s what I suggest:

  1. Do not send them any more money, no matter what they promise.
  2. Collect all records — screenshots, emails, chat logs, and payment confirmations.
  3. Report the scam to:
    • Your bank or payment provider
    • The relevant financial regulator in your country
    • Online platforms like reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) or actionfraud.police.uk (UK)
  4. Be careful of recovery scams — sometimes scammers come back pretending to help you get your money back for a fee.

You’re absolutely right to ask, this kind of scam is sadly very common, and you’re not alone. Let me know the broker’s name and I’ll help you look into it further.

Regards,
Chris

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..thank you so much for the response…we really need an expert opinion and some advice in this matter..
…the website my husband used is CryptoMart.com but in their terms of service they used the name CryptoWorld…they are based in the Philippines but orginated in Indonesia..
..my husband has already sent them 15k to purchase cryptocurrency..he started in March and they claim he made 225k in less than 4 months..he did it in two steps…first 5K was spent and they showed he made 48k..then he sent an additional 10k and they said he had made 225k…at that point he asked to withdraw the money and they said they do not deduct from the balance but require 5% cash upfront to withdraw…the fee is 11.5k…at this point I became aware of the situation and convinced my husband to withhold any more money although he had already borrowed to pay this fee…we have not paid the fee and he did ask them to reverse the request as we were going to attempt a much smaller withdrawal as a test..of course, they said it cannot be reversed…and that is when I posted for help..
…it may not be relevant or helpful to us but this came about when my husband was approached by a young (36 supposedly) lady on Instagram who claims to be South Korean and was “looking for friends”..he accepted the friend request and they began to have conversations during which she said she traded crypto and could help him to do it also…he has been interested in giving it a try and he said he would…so she directed him to this website and then guided him step by step through the entire process until now…she also said her uncle was a stock analyst who guided her..
..again it may not be relevant but if this turns out to be what I think it is, I do believe people need to be warned…yes, he was not wise to do this without researching but he wanted to surprise me and he knew I would be reticent without further investigation…perhaps that is not relevant either but I felt I should mention it..
..if you can please give us an honest opinion so we are sure of my suspicions or know it is an honest deal, we would be very very appreciative and we are sort of in limbo right now…and we do realize we may never see that money again but my husband especially needs to have an expert tell him whatever the truth is..
…sorry to write such a novel but I sort of needed to explain how we got here…
…again, thank you so very much for any light you can shed on this mess..

Carmelita MacLeod

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..a bit of additional information…the website my husband actually used is Cryptomart-official.com

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Dear AffordableBroil4964,

Thank you for sharing this in such detail — and I’m really sorry you’re going through this. Based on everything you’ve written, this is almost certainly a scam, and you were absolutely right to step in and stop further payments. Let me break it down clearly and offer advice on next steps:

:red_circle: Why This Is Very Likely a Scam:

  1. Unregistered or Suspicious Website
  • The use of two different names in the terms (“CryptoMart” vs. “CryptoWorld”) is a major red flag. Legitimate companies don’t operate under inconsistent branding like this.
  • A genuine crypto exchange would be well-known, properly registered, and transparent. CryptoMart.com does not appear to be a reputable or regulated platform.
  1. Unrealistic Returns
  • Turning $15,000 into $225,000 in under 4 months is not credible or realistic, especially in crypto. Real investing is risky and never guarantees such profits.
  1. “Upfront Withdrawal Fees”
  • This is a classic scam tactic. No real exchange asks for a cash payment to “release” profits — especially not before deducting fees from the balance.
  • Asking for 5% ($11.5k!) to access funds that supposedly belong to him is a clear sign of fraud.
  1. Romance & Social Media Connection
  • Scams involving a woman (often posing as Korean or Chinese) who befriends a man online and “guides” them into crypto are extremely common.
  • They often involve a “mentor” or “uncle” character to sound more convincing — another classic move.
  • This is called a “Pig Butchering” scam, where the scammer builds a fake relationship and slowly “fattens up” the victim for a large financial loss.
  1. Refusal to Reverse Withdrawal Requests
  • A real platform would allow full control over your account. Saying a withdrawal “can’t be reversed” is a false excuse to pressure the next payment.

:white_check_mark: What You Should Do Now:

  1. Do Not Send Any More Money
  • No matter what they say, do not pay the 5% or any other “fee.” It’s a lie designed to extract more funds.
  1. Cut Off All Communication
  • Block the woman on Instagram and any contact linked to the scam site. Don’t try to negotiate — they will use every message to manipulate or pressure you.
  1. Report the Incident
  • Report the scam to your local financial fraud authority or consumer protection agency.
  • If you’re in the U.S., contact the FTC and IC3 (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center).
  • If you’re outside the U.S., I can help you find the right authority in your country.
  1. Document Everything
  • Save emails, messages, transactions, names, website URLs, and screenshots. These could be helpful for authorities or future legal efforts.
  1. Check for Identity Theft
  • If your husband gave any personal or banking information, monitor credit and banking activity for unauthorized access.
  1. Warn Others
  • If you feel comfortable, consider sharing your story (anonymously if needed) in online forums or scam-reporting websites to help others avoid the same trap.

Regards,
Chris