10 Fake Investments to Avoid in 2026

 1️⃣ Ponzi Schemes Disguised as “High-Profit” Platforms:

See, my dear, any platform that promises you 200%, 100%, 50%, 20%, or even 10% returns in a few days or weeks will eventually collapse. They always do. And people are always left in tears. No genuine financial investment should even promise you 10% profit in a month, that’s 120% per annum, which is completely unrealistic. Beware. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

2️⃣ Pyramid Referral Systems:

If they tell you that the only way to make money is by recruiting others, run. Such systems are unsustainable and are mostly operated by scammers. Don’t allow charlatans to waste your time and money.

3️⃣ WhatsApp and Telegram “Double Your Money” Groups:

They invite you, you join, they collect your money, and promise to double it in weeks. Before you even finish dinner, they disappear. Zero accountability. Zero refunds. Pure tears.

4️⃣ Unverified Agricultural Investment Programs:

Those “Invest ₦100k and get ₦200k in 90 days” farm schemes usually have no real operations. Some may have small farms but collect money far beyond their capacity. They collapse quickly. Always verify before investing.

5️⃣ Fake Real Estate ‘Land Banking’ Schemes:

Many fake realtors promise massive land appreciation within months, yet you never get to see any land. They keep shifting stories until they disappear completely. Be very careful.

6️⃣ Unregistered Forex and Crypto Trading Platforms:

If a forex or crypto platform is not licensed by the SEC to operate in Nigeria, do not put your money there. Otherwise, you’re simply gambling. Many of these platforms vanish without warning.

7️⃣ Celebrity-Backed “Too-Good-to-Be-True” Schemes:

Scammers pay influencers to promote fake platforms. Once they gather enough victims, they disappear. Celebrities are often just advertisers, not investors. Never trust a scheme simply because a popular face is promoting it.

8️⃣ Scam ETFs and Fake “AI Trading Bots” :

They claim artificial intelligence trades on your behalf, but in reality, nothing is being traded. No transparency. No records. No verifiable activity. Avoid them completely.

9️⃣ Fake Government Grant Multipliers:

They ask you to pay money to “unlock” or “multiply” government grants. There is no such thing. They only want to steal your money. Run!

🔟 Work-From-Home Investment “Packages”:

They ask you to buy a package or product to start earning. That’s a major red flag. Once you pay, your money is gone. No real investment exists.

❇️ Protect your hard-earned money, even if it’s ₦20k or ₦5k.

There are many legitimate financial investment platforms in Nigeria, and I talk about them here almost every day. Stop chasing what does not exist. Stop being greedy. Be wise. Investment miracles are rare, anywhere in the world.

Source: Abiodun Olusola