Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms Archieven

Recovering stolen crypto: the final steps

In our previous blogs, we outlined how stolen or fraudulently misappropriated cryptocurrency can be traced using blockchaintracing. We showed how we successfully obtained multiple "freezing orders" from Dutch courts in 2023 and 2024. A high-profile example was the case against Huobi in 2023, in which the court imposed a fine of as much as €2,000,000 to ensure that the account of the fraudulent customer was actually frozen. In summary proceedings, we ask not only for [...]

Hupkes advocaten2025-03-23T21:32:26+01:0023 March 2025|Asset Recovery, Cryptocurrencies, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Liability, Summary Proceedings, Unlawful Act|

CFD broker Trade Capital Markets must refund deposit to duped investor

A Cypriot CFD broker operating in the Dutch market must refund the deposit to an investor that will evaporate its assets. This is the outcome of proceedings at the North Holland District Court. The case concerns a dispute between a retail investor and Trade Capital Markets (TCM) Ltd, an online broker based in Cyprus. Our client entered into an agreement with TCM in January 2020 to invest in CFDs (Contracts for Differences). In the period [...]

Hupkes advocaten2025-03-13T19:14:17+01:0013 March 2025|Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), Duty of Care Banks, Financial law, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Judgments, Uncategorized, Unlawful Act|

Summoning defendant via email in crypto fraud cases

As an attorney in crypto fraud cases, I regularly see how crucial speed is in securing or not securing stolen digital assets. One of the biggest challenges here is the timely summoning of foreign cryptoexchanges for so-called "freezing orders" or pseudo-conservatory attachments. These legal tools are essential to freezing the accounts of suspected fraudsters, but traditional methods of summoning can be too slow in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency. Ordinary summoning is too slow Fraudsters [...]

Hupkes advocaten2025-03-05T22:38:06+01:005 March 2025|Asset Recovery, Cryptocurrencies, European Bank Account Preservation Order, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Preservatieve Attachment, Summary Proceedings, Unlawful Act|

Cryptoexchange Kraken must make full disclosure about fraud

As a specialized firm in crypto fraud cases, we regularly see how victims struggle to recover their stolen digital assets. Although we have explained in previous blogs how accounts at cryptoexchanges can be frozen via a Dutch court order, even at foreign exchanges, this measure sometimes comes too late. Fraudsters have sometimes been able to clear accounts before any action can be taken. Every case is a race against the clock. An additional problem is [...]

Hupkes advocaten2025-01-07T14:37:14+01:007 January 2025|Asset Recovery, Cryptocurrencies, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Unlawful Act|

The ‘ex parte’ order measure: a cross-border freezing order of cryptocurrency

As a specialized attorney in crypto-fraud cases, I increasingly see complex, cross-border cases where traditional legal means fail. A recent case illustrates how creative legal thinking and the flexibility of the Dutch legal system can lead to effective solutions for victims of international fraud. Traditional boiler room fraud using cryptocurrency as means of payment In this case, victims from he UK, my clients, were targeted by a sophisticated boiler room fraud. The scammers, believed to [...]

Hupkes advocaten2024-12-14T20:56:33+01:0014 December 2024|Asset Recovery, Cryptocurrencies, Duty of Care Banks, European Bank Account Preservation Order, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Summary Proceedings, Unlawful Act|

Applicable law in international investment fraud: preferably Dutch

International cases present specific challenges, particularly in the area of applicable law. A recent ruling shows how the legal system deals with these challenges. When victims of investment fraud live abroad, while the recipient of the funds is based in the Netherlands, the question arises as to which law applies. The law of the victim's country of residence (in this case, the United Kingdom) is then the main rule under private international law because the [...]

Hupkes advocaten2024-07-27T15:57:10+01:0027 July 2024|Asset Recovery, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Liability, Summary Proceedings, Uncategorized, Unlawful Act|

European bank attachment in practice

The European Account Preservation Order (EAPO), based on Regulation (EU) No. 655/2014, allows creditors to make cross-border attachments of bank assets in EU member states. The instrument simplifies securing claims by filing an application in the national court, without the need for a separate procedure abroad. An EAPO attachment is particularly valuable in cases where swift action is required to prevent a debtor from hiding assets to frustrate recovery. The CFD broker case: seizure of [...]

Hupkes advocaten2024-03-29T15:53:18+01:0029 March 2024|Asset Recovery, Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), European Bank Account Preservation Order, Financial law, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Preservatieve Attachment, Uncategorized|

Do investors and CFD brokers have a conflict of interest in contracts for difference?

A lot goes wrong when investing in CFDs. Our firm has handled more than 60 cases in recent years against foreign providers of CFD investments. The AFM and the Fraud Helpdesk warn about unreliable providers. What exactly is the problem with these investment products? What is a CFD? Many inexperienced investors who get into "contracts for differences" think that a CFD is a type of stock with a buyer and a seller. The seller [...]

Hupkes advocaten2024-03-12T08:28:16+01:0012 March 2024|Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), Financial law, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms|

Does a lawsuit against a CFD broker stand a chance of success?

What is the chance of success of a lawsuit against a CFD broker? We are often asked that question! In this article, we clarify what kind of behavior by a CFD broker can be grounds for the court to order the broker to refund the deposit. We also explain the difference between a licensed CFD broker and a boiler room selling CFDs. The three points for a succesfull lawsuit In the following three situations, a [...]

Hupkes advocaten2024-03-04T19:09:33+01:004 March 2024|Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), Cryptocurrencies, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms|

The investment fraudster’s roadmap: 5 tricks a boiler room uses to defraud customers

How do you know if you have fallen into the nets of an investment fraudster, an online scam or an untrustworthy CFD broker? All these scams work according to the same playbook; step by step, the investor, who is actually a prey, is lured into the trap. Phase 1: the positive phase In the first stage, the investment fraudster does not show his true face, but presents himself as friendly and helpful as possible. He [...]

Hupkes advocaten2023-02-01T12:30:09+01:0015 February 2024|Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms|

Margin calls and swaps in CFDs (contracts for differences)

Those who start investing through a CFD broker often face "margin calls," or obligations to add money, which increase the risks of this form of investing. Margin calls and swaps (charges over holding positions) can cause these investments to evaporate. What are CFDs? Contracts for Differences are not stocks but derivative, indirect investment products. The investor and the counterparty enter into a temporary contract speculating on a price decline or conversely a price increase in [...]

Hupkes advocaten2025-04-06T18:44:40+01:0030 January 2024|Asset Recovery, Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Terminology, Unlawful Act|

Freezing wallet cryptocurrency helps fraud victims

For the first time, a Dutch court has issued an order for a cryptoexchange to freeze a so-called "wallet" to prevent fraudsters from selling stolen crypto. This measure is an important step for victims of fraud involving cryptocurrency. Fraudsters' modus operandi There are many different types of fraud in which crypto-currencies play the role of a means of payment. For example, there are so-called "boiler rooms" that demand payment in cryptocurrency. Boiler rooms are websites [...]

Hupkes advocaten2023-11-27T15:16:28+01:0025 November 2023|Asset Recovery, Cryptocurrencies, Duty of Care Banks, European Bank Account Preservation Order, Financial law, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Liability, Preservatieve Attachment, Unlawful Act|

Increase in fraud via Anydesk and cryptocurrency wallets

Our firm is seeing a sharp increase in fraud using "screen sharing software" from Anydesk, Teamviewer and Screenleap and cryptowallets used to siphon off money. investment fraud This is a new form of investment fraud, which begins with arousing interest in complex investments (Forex, CFDs or cryptocurrencies). The criminal organization uses an investment website where the duped person creates an account. In reality, this is a boiler room; in fact, there are no real investments [...]

Hupkes advocaten2022-09-03T15:37:50+01:003 September 2023|Asset Recovery, Cryptocurrencies, Fraud & Deception, Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms, Unlawful Act|

New CFD broker from Cyprus focuses on Dutch people

The Cypriot CFD broker Capixal sells CFD investments on the Dutch market. A report has been received at our office of extensive damage. We're starting a lawsuit.

Hupkes advocaten2023-11-08T12:49:32+01:006 June 2022|Contracts for Difference (CFD Providers), Investment Fraud & Boiler Rooms|