Investment Scams

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HOW TO STAY SAFE

Investment Scams

Scammers create the illusion of amazing investment opportunities that will help you improve your financial status.

These could include new business ventures, purchasing crypto or conducting DeFi transactions (blockchain-based financial operations), purchasing foreign currency, or even buying stock market shares.

You are encouraged to take up this fake investment opportunity within a limited period to benefit from the investment. In addition, the scammers impersonate financial specialists using technical and financial terminology, quoting events and numbers to impress you and gain your trust.

However, once you make the 'investment' payment, the scammer either demands additional payments to proceed or they disappear entirely.

In some elaborate scams, the scammers even payout a “dividend” to make the investment appear legitimate and entice you to invest further before disappearing.

How To Spot It

These are the red flags you should look out for:

The offer is unsolicited, or you find it through adverts on social media or websites.
The offer promises substantial returns on minimal investments in a short period of time.
The scammer creates a sense of urgency and pressures you to invest quickly or you will miss out.
The scammer instructs you to pay a fee upfront using unconventional payment methods. Scammers often prefer crypto payments to facilitate swifter payments that cannot be recovered/ reversed easily, or they ask for payment via a credit card or gift card.
The scammer asks for confidential and personal information stating it’s required for legal purposes. They also gather, use, and share your information in other malicious scams.
Scammers may use endorsements from well-known people like professional athletes, celebrities, actors or even government officials to entice you or gain your trust.
If you are asked to make direct payments into a crypto wallet on an unregistered crypto exchange or into a Monero crypto currency wallet, STOP immediately.

What To Do

There are steps you can take to empower yourself to fight back against scams:

Avoid unsolicited offers: Be very cautious of unsolicited messages or invitations to join investment groups on messaging platforms. Always question why the specific platform is being used and how your details were secured.
Do not make hasty decisions: Be very suspicious if you are being pressured into making the investment in a short period of time.
Verify and do your own research: Always verify the organisation's authenticity at the financial regulators before investing. Confirm that the entity and the individual offering it is a registered financial adviser authorised by the FSCA. You can verify this on the FSCA’s official website or by contacting the FSCA directly.
Do not share information: Do not share any confidential or personal information before conducting your research and verifying the investment opportunity, organisation, and financial adviser.
Do not pay upfront fees: Do not pay any fees upfront before verifying and doing your research.
Be sceptical: Especially if the returns are higher/ better than others - if it seems ‘too good to be true’, it probably is.
Report it: If you have been scammed, please report it immediately to the relevant organisation and/ or authorities, as well as the Yima reporting function below, or the Yima scams hotline.

Stop. Think. Verify. Don't get scammed!

Report a Scam

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Advanced Fee Scams
This is when scammers trick victims into paying upfront fees, usually for discounted goods or services, with the promise of a prize, large payoff, or a gift that needs to be delivered, or even an inheritance that needs to be distributed.
FIND OUT MORE
Phishing (Emails/Websites)
Phishing emails ask users to click on a link in the email. This link will direct them to a 'spoofed' website (a fake website that very closely resembles the original site) to obtain, verify or update contact details or other confidential information, including financial information.
FIND OUT MORE
Money Mules
Fraudsters often trick people into letting them use their bank accounts to receive money from illegal activities - such as fraud, corruption, drug sales, smuggling, or even human trafficking. This tactic, known as money laundering, hides their identity by making transactions look legitimate.
FIND OUT MORE
Online Shopping Scam
Online shopping and e-commerce channels have grown tremendously in the last few years as more and more people are turning to it for the convenience it offers in a fast-paced world, as well as the amazing deals you can find online. However, this has also created various opportunities for scammers to gain access to your information or to steal your hard-earned cash.
FIND OUT MORE
Push Payment Fraud
Push payment fraud is when a person is tricked into authorising a real-time transfer of funds to a scammer impersonating a trusted organisation, like a bank representative for example.
FIND OUT MORE
Remote Access Scams
You are contacted by a scammer posing as a service provider that is known to you. They request 'remote access' to your device to do a security check, update or transaction.
FIND OUT MORE
Romance Scams
As more and more of our lives exist online, it is no surprise that dating is as well. Many people turn to online platforms to find love and connection. There are many wonderful success stories, however, scammers have entered the chat, and they use sophisticated methods to deceive and trick unsuspecting victims who are simply looking for love.
FIND OUT MORE
Vishing (Phone Calls)
Scammers phone individuals posing as a representative from an established organisation like a bank, mobile service provider, insurer, retailer, government body or even the police. This is also known as voice phishing or vishing.
FIND OUT MORE
Ancestry Scams
These scams involve using a person's desire to connect with their heritage or cultural beliefs. Scammers create fake inheritance scenarios or fictitious ancestral demands from a sangoma (traditional healer).
FIND OUT MORE
Commodity Scams
A commodity scam is a sophisticated scheme involving raw materials like agricultural products, precious metals, or energy.
FIND OUT MORE
Employment Scams
Employment scams target people who are looking for jobs or employment opportunities. Scammers create fake job posts to lure people in, only to steal their money or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Smishing (SMSs)
Smishing is short for 'SMS phishing'. This is when fraudsters send an SMS pretending to be an organisation asking for financial or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Impersonation Scams
Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted individuals or representatives from reputable organisations with the aim of stealing your money or personal and confidential information.
FIND OUT MORE
Quishing (Malicious QR Codes)
Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a scam where criminals use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting their fake websites, downloading malware onto their devices, sharing personal information or stealing your money.
FIND OUT MORE
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a tactic used by scammers to influence or deceive a victim in order to steal their personal/ financial information or money, or to gain control over a system. It is about about using your behaviour and what you share with the world against you, and exploits your trust. A common tactic by scammers is to create a fake profile and then befriend potential victims, taking great interest in their social lives. They use this connection to gain access to your life and information.
FIND OUT MORE
Crypto Scams
Scammers create fake online investment trading platforms and investment houses, or crypto exchanges with the intention of stealing your money. They create professional looking marketing material and share posts on social media platforms to entice interest - promising fantastic returns for little investment. Their fake websites or mobile applications are designed to impress with technical layouts that imitate legitimate trading platforms.
FIND OUT MORE
Business Email Compromise
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated tactic where scammers impersonate high-ranking company officials or trusted partners through email or other messaging platforms to trick employees into making payments or sharing private and confidential business information.
FIND OUT MORE
Loan/ Debt Collector Scams
A loan scam is when a criminal deceives an individual into applying for fake loans. The scammers request personal and confidential information which is later used for other criminal activities.
FIND OUT MORE
Advanced Fee Scams
This is when scammers trick victims into paying upfront fees, usually for discounted goods or services, with the promise of a prize, large payoff, or a gift that needs to be delivered, or even an inheritance that needs to be distributed.
FIND OUT MORE
Phishing (Emails/Websites)
Phishing emails ask users to click on a link in the email. This link will direct them to a 'spoofed' website (a fake website that very closely resembles the original site) to obtain, verify or update contact details or other confidential information, including financial information.
FIND OUT MORE
Money Mules
Fraudsters often trick people into letting them use their bank accounts to receive money from illegal activities - such as fraud, corruption, drug sales, smuggling, or even human trafficking. This tactic, known as money laundering, hides their identity by making transactions look legitimate.
FIND OUT MORE
Online Shopping Scam
Online shopping and e-commerce channels have grown tremendously in the last few years as more and more people are turning to it for the convenience it offers in a fast-paced world, as well as the amazing deals you can find online. However, this has also created various opportunities for scammers to gain access to your information or to steal your hard-earned cash.
FIND OUT MORE
Push Payment Fraud
Push payment fraud is when a person is tricked into authorising a real-time transfer of funds to a scammer impersonating a trusted organisation, like a bank representative for example.
FIND OUT MORE
Remote Access Scams
You are contacted by a scammer posing as a service provider that is known to you. They request 'remote access' to your device to do a security check, update or transaction.
FIND OUT MORE
Romance Scams
As more and more of our lives exist online, it is no surprise that dating is as well. Many people turn to online platforms to find love and connection. There are many wonderful success stories, however, scammers have entered the chat, and they use sophisticated methods to deceive and trick unsuspecting victims who are simply looking for love.
FIND OUT MORE
Vishing (Phone Calls)
Scammers phone individuals posing as a representative from an established organisation like a bank, mobile service provider, insurer, retailer, government body or even the police. This is also known as voice phishing or vishing.
FIND OUT MORE
Ancestry Scams
These scams involve using a person's desire to connect with their heritage or cultural beliefs. Scammers create fake inheritance scenarios or fictitious ancestral demands from a sangoma (traditional healer).
FIND OUT MORE
Commodity Scams
A commodity scam is a sophisticated scheme involving raw materials like agricultural products, precious metals, or energy.
FIND OUT MORE
Employment Scams
Employment scams target people who are looking for jobs or employment opportunities. Scammers create fake job posts to lure people in, only to steal their money or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Smishing (SMSs)
Smishing is short for 'SMS phishing'. This is when fraudsters send an SMS pretending to be an organisation asking for financial or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Impersonation Scams
Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted individuals or representatives from reputable organisations with the aim of stealing your money or personal and confidential information.
FIND OUT MORE
Quishing (Malicious QR Codes)
Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a scam where criminals use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting their fake websites, downloading malware onto their devices, sharing personal information or stealing your money.
FIND OUT MORE
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a tactic used by scammers to influence or deceive a victim in order to steal their personal/ financial information or money, or to gain control over a system. It is about about using your behaviour and what you share with the world against you, and exploits your trust. A common tactic by scammers is to create a fake profile and then befriend potential victims, taking great interest in their social lives. They use this connection to gain access to your life and information.
FIND OUT MORE
Crypto Scams
Scammers create fake online investment trading platforms and investment houses, or crypto exchanges with the intention of stealing your money. They create professional looking marketing material and share posts on social media platforms to entice interest - promising fantastic returns for little investment. Their fake websites or mobile applications are designed to impress with technical layouts that imitate legitimate trading platforms.
FIND OUT MORE
Business Email Compromise
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated tactic where scammers impersonate high-ranking company officials or trusted partners through email or other messaging platforms to trick employees into making payments or sharing private and confidential business information.
FIND OUT MORE
Loan/ Debt Collector Scams
A loan scam is when a criminal deceives an individual into applying for fake loans. The scammers request personal and confidential information which is later used for other criminal activities.
FIND OUT MORE
Advanced Fee Scams
This is when scammers trick victims into paying upfront fees, usually for discounted goods or services, with the promise of a prize, large payoff, or a gift that needs to be delivered, or even an inheritance that needs to be distributed.
FIND OUT MORE
Phishing (Emails/Websites)
Phishing emails ask users to click on a link in the email. This link will direct them to a 'spoofed' website (a fake website that very closely resembles the original site) to obtain, verify or update contact details or other confidential information, including financial information.
FIND OUT MORE
Money Mules
Fraudsters often trick people into letting them use their bank accounts to receive money from illegal activities - such as fraud, corruption, drug sales, smuggling, or even human trafficking. This tactic, known as money laundering, hides their identity by making transactions look legitimate.
FIND OUT MORE
Online Shopping Scam
Online shopping and e-commerce channels have grown tremendously in the last few years as more and more people are turning to it for the convenience it offers in a fast-paced world, as well as the amazing deals you can find online. However, this has also created various opportunities for scammers to gain access to your information or to steal your hard-earned cash.
FIND OUT MORE
Push Payment Fraud
Push payment fraud is when a person is tricked into authorising a real-time transfer of funds to a scammer impersonating a trusted organisation, like a bank representative for example.
FIND OUT MORE
Remote Access Scams
You are contacted by a scammer posing as a service provider that is known to you. They request 'remote access' to your device to do a security check, update or transaction.
FIND OUT MORE
Romance Scams
As more and more of our lives exist online, it is no surprise that dating is as well. Many people turn to online platforms to find love and connection. There are many wonderful success stories, however, scammers have entered the chat, and they use sophisticated methods to deceive and trick unsuspecting victims who are simply looking for love.
FIND OUT MORE
Vishing (Phone Calls)
Scammers phone individuals posing as a representative from an established organisation like a bank, mobile service provider, insurer, retailer, government body or even the police. This is also known as voice phishing or vishing.
FIND OUT MORE
Ancestry Scams
These scams involve using a person's desire to connect with their heritage or cultural beliefs. Scammers create fake inheritance scenarios or fictitious ancestral demands from a sangoma (traditional healer).
FIND OUT MORE
Commodity Scams
A commodity scam is a sophisticated scheme involving raw materials like agricultural products, precious metals, or energy.
FIND OUT MORE
Employment Scams
Employment scams target people who are looking for jobs or employment opportunities. Scammers create fake job posts to lure people in, only to steal their money or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Smishing (SMSs)
Smishing is short for 'SMS phishing'. This is when fraudsters send an SMS pretending to be an organisation asking for financial or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Impersonation Scams
Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted individuals or representatives from reputable organisations with the aim of stealing your money or personal and confidential information.
FIND OUT MORE
Quishing (Malicious QR Codes)
Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a scam where criminals use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting their fake websites, downloading malware onto their devices, sharing personal information or stealing your money.
FIND OUT MORE
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a tactic used by scammers to influence or deceive a victim in order to steal their personal/ financial information or money, or to gain control over a system. It is about about using your behaviour and what you share with the world against you, and exploits your trust. A common tactic by scammers is to create a fake profile and then befriend potential victims, taking great interest in their social lives. They use this connection to gain access to your life and information.
FIND OUT MORE
Crypto Scams
Scammers create fake online investment trading platforms and investment houses, or crypto exchanges with the intention of stealing your money. They create professional looking marketing material and share posts on social media platforms to entice interest - promising fantastic returns for little investment. Their fake websites or mobile applications are designed to impress with technical layouts that imitate legitimate trading platforms.
FIND OUT MORE
Business Email Compromise
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated tactic where scammers impersonate high-ranking company officials or trusted partners through email or other messaging platforms to trick employees into making payments or sharing private and confidential business information.
FIND OUT MORE
Loan/ Debt Collector Scams
A loan scam is when a criminal deceives an individual into applying for fake loans. The scammers request personal and confidential information which is later used for other criminal activities.
FIND OUT MORE

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HOW TO STAY SAFE

Investment Scams

How To Spot It

What To Do

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Loan/ Debt Collector Scams

Advanced Fee Scams

Phishing (Emails/Websites)