Investment Scams
Investment scams lure victims with promises of guaranteed high returns, insider knowledge, or revolutionary trading strategies. They often use sophisticated websites, fake testimonials, and social proof to appear legitimate.
일반적인 수법
- • Promises of guaranteed high returns with little or no risk
- • Celebrity endorsements and fake success stories
- • Pressure to invest quickly before the "opportunity" disappears
- • Initial small payouts to build trust before requesting larger investments
- • Fake trading dashboards that show fabricated profits growing in real time, encouraging victims to deposit more money
- • "Pig butchering" scams (sha zhu pan) where scammers build personal relationships over weeks via messaging apps before introducing a "can't miss" investment platform
- • Using deepfake videos of well-known financial figures like Warren Buffett or Elon Musk to promote fraudulent investment platforms on social media ads
식별 방법
- Returns are guaranteed — no legitimate investment can guarantee profits
- Pressure to recruit others (Ponzi/pyramid structure)
- Unregistered with financial regulators
- Complex or secretive strategies that can't be clearly explained
- The platform is not listed on the SEC's EDGAR database or your country's financial regulator website — always verify registration before investing
- Withdrawal requests are met with delays, excuses, or demands for additional "tax" or "fee" payments before funds can be released
- The company has no verifiable physical office address, and its team members' LinkedIn profiles were recently created or use stock photos
자신을 보호하는 방법
- Research any investment platform on official financial regulator websites
- Be skeptical of unsolicited investment offers, especially via social media
- Never invest more than you can afford to lose
- Verify the company's registration and licensing before sending any money
- Check the SEC's investor.gov website and FINRA BrokerCheck to verify that any investment advisor or firm is properly registered
- Never invest based on a tip from someone you met online — especially if the relationship started on a dating app or social media platform
- Consult a licensed, independent financial advisor before making any significant investment, particularly if you've been approached with an unsolicited opportunity
실제 사례
In the United States, a pig butchering scam on WhatsApp led a victim to deposit over $200,000 into a fake crypto exchange app — the platform showed fabricated gains for months before vanishing, a pattern the SEC and FBI have flagged as a top threat.
In the UK, victims were lured by Instagram ads promoting a fake FCA-regulated forex trading platform — the site used cloned branding from legitimate London brokerages and collected deposits in British pounds before disabling withdrawals.
In South Korea, a fraudulent stock trading app called victims through KakaoTalk group chats promising guaranteed returns on KOSPI-listed shares — the app displayed fabricated profits in Korean won while blocking every withdrawal attempt.
In Kenya, a Ponzi scheme disguised as an agricultural investment cooperative promised 30% monthly returns to small-scale investors paying via M-Pesa — early participants received payouts, but the scheme collapsed when new deposits slowed, devastating thousands of families.
In Australia, scammers ran Facebook ads featuring deepfake videos of a well-known Australian TV personality endorsing a fake ASIC-registered trading platform — victims deposited AUD and were pressured by offshore call centers to invest more.
In Mexico, a fake fintech app promoted through TikTok influencers promised high-yield savings accounts with returns far above Banxico's benchmark rate — the app collected deposits in Mexican pesos and disappeared after accumulating millions.