Investment scam
Also called investment fraud, crypto scam, crypto investment scam
A fake opportunity to grow your money, often crypto, sold through ads, celebrity endorsements or a trusted contact, where the money simply disappears.
Investment scams are the most expensive scams around. The FBI's figures for 2025 put crypto investment fraud alone at over 7 billion dollars in the US, and UK banks reported investment fraud losses up 40%.
The pitch has changed with the times. "AI-powered trading" is now a selling point in itself, and the advertising often comes with a deepfake: a well-known presenter, business person or politician who appears to recommend the scheme. Others arrive through a new friend online or a group chat full of people celebrating their returns, all of them in on it.
The checks are old and still work. Is the firm on the regulator's register? Can you withdraw a small amount today? Is anyone rushing you? Guaranteed returns and pressure to act fast are the scam.
For example
A video of a famous finance presenter backs a new "AI trading" platform. The presenter never said it; the video is a deepfake.
Put it to use
Where you'll meet investment scam in ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, how to use it there, and the mix-up most people make.
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