Handles that sound like friendly mentors — one reported example used a name like Nik — often sell “copy trading”: you deposit, they trade (or claim to), your balance climbs on a screen. Then an “assistant” appears. Then arrives a message that looks like exchange mail: pay an insurance or guarantee fee, or your withdrawal stays frozen. The From address in the complaint we saw did not belong to Bitget.
Bitget’s own help material describes copy-trading costs as ordinary trading fees plus profit share to the elite trader, and network fees shown on the withdrawal page. There is no separate “insurance contribution” you must top up with a stranger so the exchange will release your coins. Bitget has also warned publicly about deposit and impersonation scams that start in unofficial Telegram chats — altered graphics, fake campaigns, staff who somehow need your deposit address. Real support does not collect unlock fees in private messages.
How to check: open only the exchange app or site you typed yourself; ignore screenshots of emails; never pay “tax”, “AML” or “insurance” to a wallet a chat partner dictates. If balances live only in a bot and you never held the keys or a login you created, assume the money already left when you sent USDT. A small first payout that “proves” the system works is a classic calm-down before the larger ask.
Document hashes and chats, then use Get help. Anyone promising to unlock the withdrawal for another fee: Fake recovery.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Details change. If you have lost money, contact your bank or card issuer and use the routes on the help pages.