Chiswick Woman Victim of Global Share Scam
41-year-old single mother loses £30,000 in 'pump and dump' scheme
The FBI are investigating the Chinese based company behind the scam. Picture: AI generated
October 6, 2025
A single mother living in Chiswick has spoken out after losing more than £30,000 in a global investment fraud linked to the Chinese-based Ostin Technology Group (OST). The scam, now under investigation by the FBI, involved a coordinated “pump-and-dump” scheme that misled thousands of investors worldwide.
The 41-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, was targeted via social media and encouraged to invest in OST shares through a WhatsApp group run by fraudsters. She made the purchases through a legitimate UK brokerage, Hargreaves Lansdown, and said the scheme appeared credible due to OST’s listing on the US Nasdaq exchange.
Initially investing £2,000, she later increased her stake to £20,000 after seeing the share price rise and receiving reassurances from the group. “It all felt realistic,” she said. “They weren’t promising the world, just modest gains. I’d already made £8,000 and thought a bit more could help cover my rent.”
The woman, who is recovering from alcoholism and navigating a difficult divorce, said the financial loss had a profound emotional impact. She had hoped the investment would help cover the £3,000 monthly rent on her Chiswick flat, where her child had recently settled following a custody dispute.
“I was in a complete panic,” she said. “Even then it didn’t cross my mind it was a scam—I thought I’d just been unlucky.”
The share price peaked at $9.40 before collapsing, leaving her holdings nearly worthless. Only later did she discover online reports linking OST to a wider fraud operation. “I’d never heard of pump-and-dump schemes before,” she added. “I didn’t realise someone could manipulate the market like this.”
She is now seeking redress through National Fraud Helpline solicitors, a trading name of Richardson Hartley Law, which has recovered funds for other UK victims of the OST scam. The firm argues that banks have regulatory obligations to protect customers from fraud and is pursuing a claim against NatWest.
Skye Stockings, a lawyer at the firm, said, “Our client was vulnerable and taken advantage of. The Nasdaq listing gave the scheme a veneer of legitimacy, but it was one of the most sophisticated pump-and-dump operations we’ve seen.”
The case highlights the growing risks of financial scams targeting retail investors, particularly those facing personal or economic pressures. It also raises questions about the role of social media platforms and brokerage firms in detecting and preventing coordinated fraud.
For more information on fraud prevention and recovery, visit www.nationalfraudhelpline.co.uk.
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