By Michael Turner, as told to our editorial team
How It Happened
In late September 2025, I was looking for ways to invest some savings I had built up over the years. Living in British Columbia, I had recently taken an interest in cryptocurrency trading and began researching platforms online.
That’s when I came across a company calling itself “NorthStar Global Markets.”
The website looked legitimate, with professional design, what appeared to be regulatory credentials, and an active support team. They also had testimonials from supposed Canadian clients, which made it feel even more trustworthy.
I started with a deposit of $1,500 in Bitcoin. Within a few days, my account showed strong returns. To test the system, I withdrew $600, and it worked.
That gave me confidence.
Over the next few weeks, I invested more, eventually depositing a total of $79,000, including personal savings and funds I had set aside for retirement. My account dashboard showed I had grown it to nearly $170,000.
Then everything stopped.
When I tried to withdraw $30,000, I was told I needed to pay a “compliance clearance fee” before the transaction could be processed. I refused. Shortly after, my account was locked, and within days, the website disappeared.
I knew then I had been scammed.
Reporting the Fraud
I immediately filed a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), providing all the details I had, including transaction records, wallet addresses, and communications with the scammers.
At the time, I didn’t expect much to come from it. Like many victims, I assumed the funds were gone for good.
Weeks passed with no updates, and I tried to move on, though the financial and emotional impact was significant.
The Unexpected Call
In early January 2026, I received a call referencing my original report.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre had flagged my case as part of a broader investigation involving multiple victims linked to the same fraudulent network.
I was informed that blockchain analysis firms, including companies like Chainalysis, had been working alongside recovery specialists to trace the movement of stolen funds across multiple wallets and exchanges.
My transactions were part of that trail.
For the first time, there was a real possibility that some of the funds could be identified and potentially recovered.
How Coinpockit Got Involved
As part of the process, I was introduced to Coinpockit, which was working in coordination with blockchain tracing efforts to assist with the recovery phase.
They explained that while firms like Chainalysis focus on tracing and mapping the flow of funds, Coinpockit’s role was to act as an intermediary escrow facilitator, helping engage with exchanges and secure the return of identified assets.
I was asked to provide additional documentation, including:
• Verified identification
• Original transaction hashes
• Proof of ownership of the sending wallets
• My initial CAFC report details
They were transparent about the process. In my case, certain steps were required to activate the recovery procedure, including verification and a temporary deposit tied to the escrow framework.
Given everything I had already been through, I was cautious, but the involvement of my original fraud report and the structured approach gave me enough confidence to proceed.
The Recovery Process
Through combined efforts, my funds were traced across multiple blockchain transactions.
They had been split and moved through several wallets before reaching two centralized exchanges.
With documented evidence and coordination between tracing analysts and Coinpockit’s recovery framework, the following steps were taken:
- The accounts linked to the stolen funds were identified
- Exchanges were contacted with supporting documentation
- Portions of the funds were frozen before being fully withdrawn
- An escrow process was established to safely return recoverable assets
The process took several weeks, with regular updates along the way.
The Outcome
In March 2026, I received confirmation that a significant portion of my funds had been recovered.
Total returned: $71,300.
While not everything was recoverable, as some funds had already been moved into untraceable channels, the majority was successfully returned.
The funds were transferred back to my account within days, and the temporary deposit required during the process was also refunded in full, as previously outlined.
After months of believing it was all gone, I finally had closure.
What I Learned
| Lesson | What It Means |
| Report fraud immediately | Filing with CAFC created a record that later helped link my case |
| Blockchain leaves a trail | Even complex transactions can sometimes be traced |
| Not all recovery is fake | But extreme caution is needed, as many services are scams |
| Coordination matters | Tracing and recovery often involve multiple parties |
| Act fast | Time plays a critical role in whether funds can be intercepted |
Final Thoughts
I never expected to hear back after filing my report.
But being contacted months later, and learning that my case was part of a larger tracked operation, changed everything.
The collaboration between blockchain tracing efforts and Coinpockit’s recovery process made something possible that I had already written off completely.
If there’s one thing I would tell others, it’s this: report it, document everything, and don’t assume it’s over.
Sometimes, there is still a path forward. For more information please visit: coinpockit.com
Michael Turner is a semi-retired tradesman from British Columbia, Canada. His identity and case details have been verified by our editorial team.
