BCSC Logo InvestRight
humburger icon
close icon
News & Insights

Younger, FOMO-inclined Adults View Social Media as Source for Investment Tips

Don't let FOMO lead to investment fraud.
Younger adults and those who experience the fear of missing out (FOMO) are more likely to think social media is a good place to find investment opportunities, according to new research from the BCSC.

Younger adults and those who experience the fear of missing out (FOMO) are more likely to think social media is a good place to find investment opportunities, according to new research from the BC Securities Commission (BCSC).

In addition, many younger adults and people who have FOMO say that failing to act immediately on a new investment might lead them to miss a good opportunity.

To mark Fraud Prevention Month, the BCSC surveyed more than 2,000 Canadians, including 1,000 British Columbians, to measure how age and FOMO influence investment attitudes.

“Results of this new research are particularly concerning because we’ve seen a surge in potentially fraudulent schemes peddled on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Doug Muir, the BCSC’s Director of Enforcement. “We also know that fraudsters put pressure on people to act quickly. It’s important to gather as much reliable information about an investment as you can before putting your money into it, and to not rush into it.”

“Results of this new research are particularly concerning because we’ve seen a surge in potentially fraudulent schemes peddled on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic,”

One warning sign of investment fraud is claiming that an opportunity is exclusive or available only to select people; in reality, most legitimate investments for ordinary British Columbians are available to anyone with the money to invest. Another warning sign is rushing would-be investors, telling them they must sign now to get in on the deal.

To educate people about the risk of letting FOMO drive their investment decisions, the BCSC is running a multi-media campaign called Hi, My Name is FOMO. The campaign will help British Columbians understand the importance of doing research before investing and encourage them to report suspected fraud to the BCSC.

The younger you are, the more FOMO you have. Half of B.C. residents between 18 and 34 said they experience it, compared to just 19 per cent of adults 55 or older. B.C.’s young adults also seem to have more FOMO than their peers across Canada – 50 per cent in B.C. compared to 40 per cent nationally. 

Thirty-eight per cent of B.C. adults under 35 who say they experience FOMO agreed that social media is a good source of investment opportunities. That compares with just 8 per cent of adults over 35 who don’t experience FOMO.

Similarly, 41 per cent of B.C. adults under 35 who experience FOMO agree that if you don’t act immediately, you might miss a good investment opportunity. That compares with 17 per cent of older adults without FOMO.

In 2018, research by the BCSC found that fraud vulnerability is highest among younger British Columbians, particularly young women. Nearly half of women and more than a third of men aged 18 to 34 said they would look into an offer claiming “guaranteed” returns of 14 to 25 per cent and “no risk” – telltale signs of a fraudulent scheme. Vulnerability was lowest among older respondents: Only 13 per cent aged 55 and over said they would explore such an offer.

As the guardian of B.C.’s investment market, the BCSC provides trustworthy and unbiased information through its investor education website, InvestRight.org. Investors can take a scenario-based quiz to test their ability to spot suspicious investment opportunities, can learn how to research investment offers, and are provided with information about contact the BCSC if they have a concern about investment fraud.

About the survey:

This online survey was conducted for the BCSC by Innovative Research Group among a representative sample of British Columbians from February 11 to 23, 2021 as part of an omnibus survey. A total of 1,015 British Columbians aged 18 and over completed the survey. The results are weighted to a representative sample of 1,000 by age and gender within each region of the province using the latest available Census data to reflect the actual demographic composition of the population.

Report a Concern

If you have any concerns about a person or company offering an investment opportunity, please contact BCSC Contact Centre at 604-899-6854 or 1-800-373-6393 or through e-mail at [email protected]. You can also file a complaint or submit a tip anonymously using the BCSC’s online complaint form.

InvestRight.org is the BC Securities Commission’s investor education website.

More Resources

5 Key Fraud Warning Signs

5 Key Fraud Warning Signs

What have you got to lose? Maybe everything.

Read More

Crypto Quiz

Test Your Crypto Asset Knowledge.

i
This quiz is designed to introduce you to the basics of crypto assets. It is not intended to provide investment or financial advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for such advice.
1
QUESTION 1/10

Cryptocurrencies and blockchain are the same thing.