1. Guaranteed profits, no risk of loss
All legitimate investments carry risk. Any claim of "principal and interest guaranteed, steady income, zero risk high returns" violates basic financial common sense.
2. Unreasonably high monthly returns
Monthly returns of 10%, 20% mean annualized returns several times the market average. No legitimate asset can sustain this long-term. High-return promises are a common feature of fraudulent schemes.
3. Asking you to join LINE / Telegram groups for "guru-led trading"
Legitimate brokers and investment trusts do not use private messages or groups to guide your trades. The "assistants, analysts, classmates" in the group are often the same group acting out a script to create a herd mentality.
4. Not using regulated brokers, wiring money to personal or nominee accounts
Funds for legitimate investments go through regulated broker/bank channels, not to personal accounts or unknown company accounts. If the payee is an individual's name, alarm bells should ring.
5. The operator or platform is not approved by Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission
In Taiwan, operating securities, futures, investment consulting, or banking businesses requires approval from the Financial Supervisory Commission. If the party solicits investments without a license, it is illegal.
6. Being asked to pay a "deposit / tax / handling fee / unfreeze fee" before withdrawal
This is the most typical withdrawal-blocking tactic—you can see the balance but can't withdraw, and they keep asking you to pay more "to unlock." Once this happens, your principal is almost certainly lost. Do not pay any more fees.
7. Fake celebrity endorsements, fake news, fake endorsements
Using photos of financial celebrities or business leaders, or creating fake news articles claiming someone recommends an "AI automated earning system." The celebrities themselves are usually unaware.
8. Pressuring you with "limited time, limited spots" to decide quickly
Creating urgency to prevent you from verifying and staying calm. A truly good opportunity won't force you to wire money within five minutes.
9. Letting you make small profits and successfully withdraw early on
The "nurture, trap, kill" phase: First, they let you taste small gains and successfully withdraw small amounts to build trust, then lure you into investing larger sums, and finally take it all.
10. Refusing video calls, refusing to provide company registration info
Those afraid of verification usually can't withstand scrutiny. If the party avoids providing the company's uniform number, registered address, responsible person, etc., treat it as high risk.
❓ FAQ
Is it necessarily a scam if only one warning sign is met?
Not necessarily, but if any of "guaranteed profits," "pay fees before withdrawal," or "wire to personal account" appears, it's almost certainly problematic. Stop and verify immediately. Multiple signs present higher risk.
If I actually made money early on, could it still be a scam?
Yes. Letting you make small profits and successfully withdraw early is the standard "nurture, trap, kill" tactic, aimed at building trust before luring you into larger investments and then taking everything.