What we're seeing
In the cases our investigators work, crypto lost to fake investment platforms often pass through a mixer and then a bridge within a short time. The bridge moves value to a different chain, frequently one with lower fees, before it reaches an exchange.
Why bridges interrupt a trace
On the source chain, funds go into the bridge and the trail seems to stop. On the destination chain, a matching amount comes out to a new address. Nothing on either chain points directly to the other side.
How the path is reconnected
Investigators match the deposit and the withdrawal using timing, amounts after fees and the bridge's own records where available. The result is shown as a single hop on the trace, labelled with both chains.
What this means for people who've lost funds
A bridge on the path is not the end of the road. Tell your investigator about every chain you know was involved, and keep the transaction hashes for each step.