So it’s 2026, a new year; a good time to choose gratitude over grouching, action over procrastination, and kindness over judgement. I am all for it, but when it comes to planning how we must wisely treat our hard-earned money, the last phrase – “kindness over judgement” – spells the difference between peace of mind and regret. 

I’m going to reinterpret in this way: Be kind to yourself by judging that an investment is a scam when red flags appear. They are not always obvious if you are not familiar with the shenanigans, but my job is to make you aware of them.

Here’s the frontrunner: If someone comes to you and says that everyone but you has entered into an investment portfolio that he is offering, that’s the first deception – he alludes to you being left behind. And if he recommends an investment with a 25% capital gain after a month, RUN. Yes, RUN AWAY. Avoid that ploy as if it’s a disease.

Most credible investments offer only 6% to 8% per annum (yes, not even per month), and even then, nothing is guaranteed. So, if he presents interest income as high as the buildings in Hong Kong, you are in for a ride. Tell him to leave you alone, and be sure to warn your friends about him.

Here are some other tocsins and indicators of an investment scam. 

1. If it seems too good to be true, then IT’S NOT TRUE

If your inner voice is telling you, “Parang hindi yata ako naniniwala na sobrang laki kikitain ko dyan”, then HUWAG KANG MANIWALA. [“I can’t believe I will earn that much,”  then DON’T BELIEVE]. Use your common sense. 

It is your money that is at stake. Do not put your earnings into an investment when your gut (and your brain, too) tells you that the promise of high income is like a promise of you winning the Miss Galaxy pageant with a million-dollar prize: too good to be true. And besides, there is no such thing as the Miss Galaxy pageant.

The true knowledge about scams shall set you free.

2. Offers a “guarantee”

There are only two (2) guarantees on this planet: first, we will all leave this world one day (yes, we will all reach that point), and second, a new calendar year starts on January 1st. Other than those, there are no other guarantees – especially when it comes to investments 

So, if she invites you to invest in something (business, paluwagan, online buy & sell bandwagon, health products, pyramiding, etc), and tells you it’s guaranteed to earn without fail, then the only guarantee is that she doesn’t know much about investment, or she is in the process of making you a scam victim.

Don’t fall for the word ‘GUA-RAN-TEE’; just buy yourself a cup of HOT-MILK-TEA (sounds similar but safer).

The true knowledge about scams shall set you free

3. You have to hurry!

“Hey, you have to invest now so you can get the benefits soon, or you will lose your chance to earn big bucks! So, hurry up!” If you hear these words, he is playing with your emotions. He is attacking the core of who you are as a person who must act swiftly. In reality, he needs you to decide quickly – before you wake up and realise it’s a scam.  

Committing to an investment takes time; you need to thoroughly study the details and intricacies of where your money will go. A scammer wants you to hurry. Usually, after you give him your money, he’ll be in a hurry to leave you forever. If he comes and asks you to invest in a HURRY, don’t trust him; he could be 

Dirty HARRY.

4. Someone gave your name

Again, this is a play to your ego. She would say something like this: “Someone gave your NAME to me and mentioned that you’re looking for an investment; they told me you’re smart and you know how to use your money wisely.”  Hearing this flattery, your ego will sit atop the clouds, leading you to easily fall into the investment scam trap, despite not knowing a heck of a thing about investing.

Your name is precious to you, and if she attaches it to positive adjectives, like wise, clever, intelligent, knowledgeable, competent, etc., then your eyes will blink rapidly, unaware that you are riding a scam elevator. Close your eyes and ears; she is about to ask you to sign a fake investment contract that you will later regret.

A scammer always mentions your NAME (it’s music to your ears) when she talks. Tell her you just changed your name to YOKO-NYAN (which means ‘I don’t like it’) and that you named yourself after Yoko Ono. She will get the message and will walk away. 

SCAM = SORRY, CARELESS AKO sa MONEY

5. Shows pictures of celebrities

If you are a fan of Marian Rivera, Piolo Pascual, Vic Sotto, George Clooney, Jackie Chan, Taylor Swift, and many other well-known celebrities (like Aileen Alonzo-Hayward and Martin Turner), the scammer will show you photos of them shaking hands with his colleagues or standing in front of their company logos. To gain your trust, he suggests and projects that these celebrities endorse his company’s investments or products.

The truth is that these celebrities do not know him from Adam and have nothing to do with him. Most photos are electronically modified (photoshopped) or, these days, generated by AI. In short, they’re fake. And even if it’s true that celebrities vouch for them, you don’t know whether these celebrities understand what they’re endorsing; they are getting paid, and they don’t care about your money. Don’t rely on their smiles.

The only CELEBRITY you must trust is yourself, so don’t waste your time listening to them. Instead, practice saying NO in front of the mirror, and CELEBRATE your independence from scammers.

Mag-ingat po tayo. Kung may duda, huminto at magtanong. Kung may pangamba, mag-isip at mag-aral. Ang perang inimpok natin at pinaghirapan ay ating gamitin at i-invest lamang sa tama at lehitimong paraan. Iwasan ang mga scammers. [Let’s be careful. If in doubt, stop and ask. If it scares you, think and study. Let’s use and invest the money we have saved and worked hard for only in a proper and legitimate way. Avoid scammers.]

Remember, no investment scam is good; it only seems to be.