Investing online: The pitfalls that threaten young people – How to protect yourself from scams and scams?

Nowadays, more and more young people are turning to online investing as an opportunity to make money on the Internet. However, this approach carries high risks of scams and scams which can lead to significant financial losses. How can we stop this trend? This is a complex question, as scammers are getting smarter and smarter.

This problem is not only local, it is a global concern, but it particularly affects Africa, where it is becoming a factor of impoverishment for many populations. This has had a significant impact in Guinea, where young investors recently suffered significant losses of money on an investment platform calledRich-VIP.

These young people, facing unemployment and a lack of job opportunities, sought to increase their income through these investments. However, after a promising start, their hope evaporated when the company abruptly shut down the platform, resulting in the complete loss of their investments. Some of these young people have tried to get their money back, but their efforts have so far been in vain. One of the most touching testimonies is that of Salou Diaby, an economist by training, who said:“I discovered this platform through a friend, and we started investing. At first, I invested 800,000 GNF and managed to withdraw 1,800,000 GNF. However, after generating income reaching 3,000,000 GNF, I was unable to withdraw it. »Other victims, although having lost more, prefer to remain silent, testifying to the frustration this situation generates.

To better understand how these online scams work, we called on Dr Thierno Barry, a cybersecurity expert. He explains that these platforms try to appear professional by careful appearance, using visually appealing documents, bright colors, sophisticated graphics and impressive technical jargon. Additionally, they exploit people's desperation by promising high and fast returns, sometimes publishing false testimonials of people claiming success, to attract more victims.

It is often difficult to distinguish these scam platforms from legitimate financial institutions because they adopt similar techniques. Thierno Barry emphasizes that“the only way to protect yourself against these scams is to use critical thinking and be wary of offers that are too good to be true.”

Regarding the possibility of earning free money on the Internet, Dr Thierno Barry says that “There is no such thing as easy money, there is no such thing as magic money. Online investing always involves risks, and the higher the gains, the greater the risks of losses. Promises of high returns in a short time with minimal risk are likely scams. »

To help Internet users navigate the Internet safely, the expert recommends awareness and education. The association to which he belongs is organizing a cybersecurity forum in December to inform people about online threats, scams and scams.

Despite the efforts made to combat these scams, the phenomenon continues to grow, leading to significant financial losses over the years.

Moussa Mansa Mara