Fake Crypto Academy Swindles Florida Investor Of Nearly $1 Million In Life Savings

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According to court papers filed last week, a Florida man lost $860,000 after signing up for a crypto trading school that turned out to be a scam. He thought he had found a path to quick profits. Instead, his funds vanished into thin air.

Fake Trading School Scheme

Based on reports, the operation was run by Alpha Stock Investment Training Center, or ASITC, in partnership with a so-called exchange called CoinBridge.

The school charged students for lessons on “signal trading,” and CoinBridge claimed it had raised $10 million from 600 investors. Both names gave off an air of trust. But no real exchange existed. All trades went through the scammers’ own platform.

Phony Denver crypto school robbed Florida man of $860K, he says https://t.co/ni0vwaOjj8

— The Denver Post (@denverpost) June 21, 2025

Signals And Small Wins

According to the lawsuit, instructor John Smith gave the victim, Brian Firestone, a $500 “gift” in December. That small amount jumped to $55,000 in a short time. He saw the number on his screen and felt hopeful.

Next, he put in another $50,000 in January. Suddenly, his balance read $2 million. He messaged Smith, “I’m blown away by these results.” Those early wins convinced him the system worked.

A docket of the filing of the case. Source: Justia.

Ballooning Investments And Loans

Then came the risky part. He wired $470,000 from his bank account and borrowed $330,000 from ASITC to keep the trades going. His balance climbed all the way to $24.5 million.

He said he felt on top of the world. He believed the training had unlocked a secret. But at that point, he had lost control over his own money.

Sudden Crash And Lawsuit

The turning point happened on March 9. A USDT trade failed, and the platform froze. “I can’t close it,” he texted Smith, blaming a glitch. Within minutes, his entire balance was gone. He discovered his funds had been drained.

Now, he’s suing CoinBridge and ASITC in a US court. He wishes to get his money back and expects the suit to bring to light the individuals behind the scam.

According to his lawyers, the school deceived him at every stage, keeping secret the information that they were in control of the exchange and the signals.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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