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Investment scams

There's no such investment with 50% or higher returns and zero risk. Here’s how investment scams work.

The target receives an investment offer, backed by “legitimate” documents and even an initial payout. After making one or a few transactions, the scammers stop responding.

Investment scams cost businesses serious financial harm, loss of personal information, or unauthorised online banking access.

Emergency fraud support

Reach our dedicated team 24/7

Call 159

If you're in the UK

Message in-app

Tap the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud

Different types of investment scams

Crypto and bitcoin investment

Victims send transactions to fraud wallets or invest in fake coins

Property investment

Targets receive information about a non-existent or overvalued property

Social media investments

Individuals are contacted by a fake celebrity account for exclusive giveaways, deals, or insights

Asset investments

Targets receive "exclusive" information about fake assets like crop stocks, whiskey casks, fine wine, etc.

Pension investments

Individuals invest their life-savings into a fake scheme

Foreign exchange (forex)  investments

Victims trade in a foreign currency via a false company

"Ethical" cause

Fraudsters impersonate social housing, renewable energies, or other charities

How investment scams often work

  1. Scam setup Fraudsters create a contact list, a professional-looking website, or a social media account

  2. "Tempting" offer Scammers lure with a high-returns, low-risk offer that seems legitimate, exclusive, or ethical 

  3. Building trust Victims may receive the promised payout from a small investment

  4. The money – gone After a subsequent investment, fraudsters vanish

Key signs of an investment scam

Where the offer came from

Appear out of the blue

From an unknown source

Deepfake

Scammers use artificial intelligence (AI) to produce content or appear as celebrities

Non-FCA registered company

The company is not listed in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

How the offer is presented

Sounds too good

High-profit and risk-free never go hand-in-hand

Urgent

Pressuring victims to act "ASAP!!!"

Too complicated

The offer is way too hard to understand

What you are asked to do

Personal details

Requests bank account details and other sensitive financial information

Third-party transfer

Pushes victims to make a transfer to an unknown third-party account

Protect yourself from investment scams

While receiving the offer

Don't buy into unsolicited offers

Can you trust that unexpected call or message about "the deal of your lifetime"

Never share your personal information

Ensure you've verified who you're speaking with and don't allow them to set up an account on your behalf

Be careful of high returns and zero risk

No one will ask you to make an investment without any form of risk

After you’ve received the offer

Check the FCA register

Ensure the firm that is reaching out to you is properly regulated - check the FCA register

Investigate

Read online reviews from credible sources and consider booking a consultation with an independent financial advisor

Verify credentials

Do detailed background checks on the advisor, investment platform, products, or services

What to do if you've been (or suspect you've been) targeted

  1. Report it to Tide immediately

    By calling 159 from the UK, or tapping the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud in your Tide app. Both options are available 24/7.

  2. Raise a chargeback request if you've paid by card

    By tapping the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud in your Tide app and selecting Card. Our team will then support your request 24/7.

  3. Find victim support groups

    There are many services set up to help people through the difficulties of being targeted by fraudsters. We've listed resources you can access below.