After some trades supposedly went wrong, they told him he was in debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars.To pay down the fake debt, the scammers suggested that he apply for a range of loans against his home and business.As they ran through their well-worn playbook, Toby and Rodger's "brokers" hid their identities and tried to avoid accountability.They operated under fake names and communicated through encrypted messaging apps They sent their victims fake documents in the name of non-existent companies.But the money they stole was real, and it left a paper trail.Contact Julian Fell at tips@jtfell.com if you have any information about investment scams.In the early stages of the scam, Toby's broker had asked for a small payment to open an account on the fraudulent trading platform.This is a common tactic to onboard potential victims, ensuring they have money on the line early.These initial payments—usually about $350—are often disguised as payments for online courses or immigration services