ELITEPALACE ATHENA CRYPTO SCAMMERS

USING AI GENERATED FAKE NAMES FOR CRYPTO SCAMS

The Architecture of Deception: Exposing the Hawthorne and ElitePalace Global Fraud Network

The modern financial scam has evolved into a clinical, multi-layered psychological operation. Groups operating under names like ElitePalace, Superior Star Prosperity Group, and Kingsford Chase are not investment firms—they are sophisticated syndicates using "walled garden" technology and "pig butchering" tactics to liquidate the life savings of their targets.

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of how this syndicate operates, from the first WhatsApp message to the final wire transfer.

The "Hawthorne" Persona Network: Manufacturing Authority and Trust

The "Hawthorne" scam relies heavily on the fabrication of a prestigious family dynasty to manufacture trust. Utilizing generated personas such as Graham, Stephen, Russell, and Prescott Hawthorne—and associates like Marcus Hawthorne, Alec Merritt, and Tessa Marlowee—they headline fraudulent investment groups.

These characters are presented as elite financial gurus or philanthropists, often backed by fictitious biographies and stolen stock images to create a facade of generational wealth. Investigation reveals these names are merely front-end variables; when one "Hawthorne" persona becomes associated with fraud online, the syndicate simply rotates to another while keeping the underlying infrastructure identical. Victims are lured into WhatsApp and Signal groups under the pretense of joining a "VIP" inner circle. These sessions establish the figurehead as a benevolent mentor sharing "insider" trading signals, effectively grooming victims to bypass their natural skepticism.

The Fake Trading Platforms: Milase and the "VLE" Token Traps

A core technical component of this fraud is the deployment of proprietary, rigged trading platforms such as Milase.com or the "Prescott Hawthorne Exchange." These platforms are simulated environments that do not connect to real cryptocurrency markets. Instead, they display manipulated charts and fake account balances to simulate massive profits.

The backend of these websites gives the scammers total control to freeze accounts, adjust balances, and simulate "glitches" at will. Common tactics include:

The "House Money" Bait: Providing $700 in "test funds" that magically grow to $2,000+ in days to prove the system works.
Proprietary Assets: Promoting tokens like ELIX, CHX, or VLE that have no value outside the platform.
The Mirage of Wealth: Numbers on the screen go up inevitably, encouraging victims to liquidate 401(k)s. However, these profits are entirely fictional. When a withdrawal is attempted, the platform triggers a "security freeze" or "audit," demanding further payments to unlock the account.

The Social Engineering Funnel: WhatsApp, Signal, and "Assistant" Grooming

The primary recruitment tool is high-pressure social engineering within closed messaging groups managed by "assistants" (often using handles like Chloe). These assistants act as the primary groomers, bridging the gap between the distant "Professor" and the victim.

In these groups, planted accomplices known as "shills" post fake screenshots of massive successful withdrawals and thank-you messages to create a "fear of missing out" (FOMO). If a victim raises a question about legitimacy, they are swarmed by these shills or removed from the group. The assistants relentlessly push victims to migrate to Signal for "security," moving communication into a channel where disappearing messages can be used to erase evidence. They coach victims on how to lie to their banks about the purpose of wire transfers, providing "cover stories" regarding property or family to bypass anti-money laundering (AML) triggers.

The Money Mule Web: Wire Transfer Laundering

Unlike typical crypto scams that rely on direct wallet-to-wallet transfers, this network utilizes a complex web of money mules and wire transfers to legitimize the theft and obfuscate the trail. Victims are instructed to send large sums of fiat currency (USD, GBP, EUR) via wire transfer to "off-site funds" or "customer service agents."

These recipients are actually money mules—individuals whose bank accounts are used to funnel stolen cash. The syndicate frequently changes these account details, claiming the switches are for "tax efficiency" or "corporate restructuring." Once the wire hits the mule's account, the funds are immediately converted into cryptocurrency and tumbled through mixers to break the chain of custody. This reliance on wire transfers allows the scammers to target demographics less comfortable with crypto on-ramping and adds a layer of false legitimacy. The "taxes" and "fees" demanded at the end (often 20-30% of the fake portfolio) are the final extraction attempt using these same mule channels before the scammers cut all contact.

Protect Yourself: If you are currently communicating with these individuals, do not confront them. Immediately screen-capture all messages, bank details provided for wires, and platform balances. File a report with the FBI’s IC3.gov or your national cybercrime authority.