The Marcus Hawthorne, Alec Merritt and Tessa Marlowee, WhatsApp, Signal Scam

This message sets the stage. The "Guru" (Marcus Hawthorne) creates fear by claiming the stock market is crashing ("downward cycle," "exit U.S. equities immediately"). He instantly pivots to the solution: "Crypto contract market." This isolates the victims from legitimate investments.

Phase 2: The Indoctrination (The "Secret Sauce")

The scammer must convince victims that their specific method is "risk-free" using pseudo-intellectual jargon.

This text explains why their ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) are supposedly safe. It uses impressive-sounding but vague terms like "return elasticity," "consensus expands," and "positioned ahead of market pricing" to make the scam sound like sophisticated institutional investing.

(The "Opportunity")

Now that they've explained the logic, they hype the specific event. Phrases like "path toward financial freedom" and "rare and absolutely must not be missed" are designed to trigger greed and urgency.

Phase 3: The Trap (The Fake Platform)

Funneling the victims to the proprietary app/website where the theft actually occurs.

(The Announcement)

This introduces "Milase Exchange." This is the fraudulent platform the scammers control. They frame it as a "Christmas-themed" event to make it seem festive and time-sensitive.

(The Bridge)

This text connects the "Guru's" advice directly to the fake exchange. It reinforces that the "heavyweight opportunity" is only available if you use the Milase platform.

Social Proof ( The "Shills")

Fake members post massive winnings to trigger FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and prove the system "works."

This shows a staggering profit ($2 Million+). It is meant to dazzle the victim with the "potential" upside. Note the 100X leverage—this is gambling, but presented as a sure win.

This screenshot includes the text "Athena has never let me down!" This is crucial for building emotional trust in the "brand" (Athena).

(The Tier List)

Once the victim is terrified of the stock market, hyped on ICOs, and jealous of the "profits" others are making, the scammers present the bill. The "Tier List" segments victims by wealth. They normalize depositing $50k to $1.5M by promising absurd, guaranteed returns (300% - 800%). This is the smoking gun of financial fraud.

The Mechanics of the Milase & Elite Prosperity Crypto Scam

The "Elite Prosperity" group and the "Milase P2P" platform operate as a sophisticated Pig Butchering (Sha Zhu Pan) scam. This guide breaks down why they force you to use wire transfers instead of direct crypto payments and how the scheme targets victims.

1. The "P2P Wire" Strategy: Why They Don't Want Crypto Directly

You might wonder why a "crypto exchange" would ask you to wire fiat currency (USD) to a random bank account instead of sending Bitcoin or USDT directly to a wallet. This is a deliberate tactical choice by the scammers for three key reasons:

Bypassing Fraud Filters: Major US banks and legitimate exchanges (like Coinbase) have strict algorithms to flag transfers going to known scam crypto wallets. If you try to send $50,000 to a blacklisted crypto address, your account might be frozen. However, if you wire money to "John Doe" or a generic shell company (a "Money Mule") for "consulting" or "services," the bank often lets it through because it looks like a normal business transaction.
Severing the Digital Link: Blockchains are public ledgers. If you send crypto, investigators can trace the funds from your wallet to theirs. By using a wire transfer, the money moves through the banking system to a mule, who withdraws it as cash or sends it elsewhere. This breaks the digital chain, making it incredibly difficult for you to prove the money went to the "Milase" platform.
Plausible Deniability: The platform claims to be a "Peer-to-Peer" (P2P) marketplace. When the money is stolen, Milase can claim, "We didn't take your money; you sent it to another user. We are just the matchmaker." This legal gray area helps them keep the website online longer before authorities shut it down.

2. Profile of the Scam: Milase & Elite Prosperity

If you are currently in a WhatsApp or Telegram group called "Elite Prosperity," or using web.milase.com, you are observing the following red flags:

The "Professor" Dynamic: The group likely features a "Professor," "Mentor," or "Teacher" who shares daily trading signals. This figure is used to build authority and trust.
The "Shills": The group is populated by bots or paid accomplices posting screenshots of massive profits. These are designed to trigger your "Fear Of Missing Out" (FOMO).
The Fake Platform (Milase): The trading platform is a simulation. When you wire money to the "merchant," the scammers manually update your account balance on the screen to show "funds received." No actual trading occurs. The numbers you see going up are simply pixels on a screen, not real assets.

3. The Trap: The "Pig Butchering" Cycle

This scam follows a brutal psychological cycle:

The Bait: You are allowed to withdraw a small amount of profit initially (e.g., $100 or $500). This builds absolute trust that the system is real.
The Fattening: You are pressured to invest a large sum (life savings, loans) for a "VIP event" or "contract."
The Slaughter: When you try to withdraw the large sum, the platform freezes. They will demand a "tax," "verification fee," or "security deposit" to release the funds. This is a lie. Any money sent for this "fee" will also be stolen.

Immediate Action Required

Stop Payments: Do not send any more money, regardless of the threats or promises made by the "Professor."
Archive Evidence: Take screenshots of the group chat, the "merchant" bank details you wired money to, and your Milase account balance.
Report: Contact your bank immediately to request a Wire Recall due to fraud. File a report with the FBI IC3 (if in the US) or your local cybercrime authority.

The Anatomy of a Digital Mirage: Inside the "ElitePalace" Crypto Trap

Stop looking for the "opportunity" and start looking at the wreckage. What you are witnessing is not a financial breakthrough; it is a clinical, cold-blooded psychological operation. The "ElitePalace" group and its supposed leadership—Marcus Hawthorne, Alec Merritt, and Tessa Marlowee—are not mentors. They are architects of a digital gallows designed to systematicallly drain investor capital.

The Grooming Phase: Manufactured Credibility

The process begins with a calculated lure. By providing legitimate stock analysis and "free" capital, these operators are buying your trust through a multi-stage grooming process:

The Bait: For months, they issue stock and crypto recommendations that actually yield 20% to 50% gains on legitimate markets.
The "Proof of Concept": They distribute free Bitcoin, USDT, and their proprietary token, ELIX, to build a facade of immense credibility.
The Reciprocity Trap: By handing you small, verifiable wins in the early stages, they effectively silence your natural survival instincts.

The 21st Century "Nigerian Prince" in Crypto Clothing

Strip away the AI buzzwords and the sleek interface, and you will find the rotting bones of a classic: The Nigerian Prince (419) scam. The methodology is identical. It relies on a "hook" of massive wealth that is "just out of reach" due to fabricated administrative hurdles. Where the "Prince" promised a locked inheritance, the "Professor" promises a locked crypto windfall. Both require you to send your own money first to "unlock" a fortune that does not exist. It is an old-world con dressed in new-world code.

The Milase-ElitePalace Nexus: A Closed-Loop Trap

Investigation into this syndicate reveals that Milase.com is the primary execution chamber for the ElitePalace grooming process. They are inextricably linked through a "walled garden" architecture:

The Mandatory Exchange: ElitePalace leadership directs all "advanced" trading specifically to Milase. This is not a choice; it is a requirement to access their "signals."
The "House Money" Bait: As documented in BBB Scam Tracker reports, ElitePalace provides $700 in "house funds" specifically for use on the Milase platform. This "test" is programmed to show impossible gains—such as growing to $1,900 in five days—to convince you to deposit your own life savings.
Artificial Ecosystem: The tokens traded—and the astronomical valuations shown—exist only within the Milase/ElitePalace loop. Outside this environment, these assets are often worthless or entirely non-existent on regulated exchanges.

Echoes of the Scam: Real-World Reports

The same patterns—and names—are appearing across major fraud tracking platforms, signaling a wide-reaching predatory campaign:

Reddit (r/CryptoScams): Users are witnessing a "cult-like fervor" in real-time, documenting participants liquidating retirement accounts for a projected 300% weekly return on Milase.
BBB Scam Tracker: Victims have officially flagged ElitePalace and Milase.com, noting that their operational strategy mirrors other known entities like "Ellsworth & Vane," utilizing identical UI/UX templates.

The Signal Strategy: Erasing the Evidence

The predators behind ElitePalace are professionally evasive. Their insistence on using Signal for all high-level communication is a deliberate tactical choice:

The Trail Goes Cold: Signal’s disappearing message features allow them to delete entire conversation histories from both ends, leaving the victim with zero evidence for law enforcement.
Controlled Narratives: Once they have "butchered the pig" (stolen the principal), they vanish instantly. You must act before they do. If you are communicating on Signal, immediately screen capture every text, link, and instruction.

The Moment of Truth: The Withdrawal Litmus Test

Do not be deceived by flashing green numbers or soaring dashboard balances. There is only one metric that matters: liquidity.

The 50% Protocol

Attempt to transfer 50% of your total holdings from Milase to a private, non-linked wallet (like Coinbase, Kraken, or a hardware wallet).

If it clears: Move the remaining balance immediately and sever ties.
If it is "pending," "under review," or blocked: The trap has sprung. Many users report being unable to withdraw once the "test" phase ends and their own capital is committed.

Failure is a Crime, Not a Technical Issue

If your withdrawal fails, do not listen to excuses about "tax requirements," "IRS holds," or "security fees." These are secondary scams designed to steal even more money. If your funds are frozen:

Cease All Communication: Do not confront the moderators; they will delete the Signal chat and block you instantly.
Document Everything: Save screenshots of your Milase balance, transaction hashes, and all messages from Hawthorne, Merritt, or Marlowee.
Involve the Authorities: Immediately file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) and your local financial regulator.

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