How to Tell If an Investment Is Safe in 2026: NASAAs Top Scams and Red Flags for Investors

Investment scams are becoming more sophisticated, but a few simple verification steps can help protect your money. NONGASIMO/ShutterstockIt may start with a video that looks completely legitimate. Or a supposed friend you met online came across a great way to make money. The platform looks real, the numbers look great, and there are people who say they’ve already gotten paid. You might easily believe it’s a safe investment. The problem is, these are often the first steps to the latest investment scams of 2026.According to the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), these and other types of fraud are spreading rapidly across social media and messaging apps. In 2024, state securities regulators opened more than 8,800 active investigations and secured more than $259 million in fines and restitution. However, that figure reflects only what was reported and investigated. The actual damage runs far deeper.