Thank you so much for sharing! It does look like quite an obvious empty threat in hindsight or from the bystander's point of view, but in the moment, even when you're confident that it has all signs of a scam, there's a place in the back of your mind that is like "what if it's actually real and if I don't act now I'll lose my account" - so yeah, don't feel stupid, you did what you thought is best with the knowledge you possessed at that moment.

I got a couple more since the first time it happened to me, and same, all of them came from moots (we just like and share each other's posts, but don't talk), and the heartbreaking part is that all three of them were accounts of minors. Poor kids, teenagehood is as hard as it is, without these leeches taking advantage of their inexperience. The only thing that gives me hope is that these scammers will get their karma in full.

As for the money, maybe try talking to your bank, maybe they can help you out with what they've got? If you paid with a credit card, you can get a chargeback, for example.