INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ABILITY IN DETECTING INVESTMENT SCAMS

Abstract

This study aims to explore important indicators applicable for the early detection of investment
scams and to investigate the effect of age, education and financial literacy on the ability to detect
investment scams. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey with respondents in
Semarang, Indonesia. A total of 311 respondents completed the questionnaires, for a 62.2%
response rate, but only 304 questionnaires were usable. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to
verify the indicators of investment scams, and a regression model was then employed to analyze
the data. The findings show five main indicators applicable for early detection of investment
scams: a) investments with unreasonably-high returns, b) investment involving salespeople that
tend to force potential investors to make an immediate decision about the investment, c)
investments without reasonable underlying cores of business, in accordance with principles of
fairness and prudence in financial investment sectors, d) investments with no clear explanation
on how the investment funds are managed, and e) investments without any information on the
structure of management, ownership, and business, and the address of the companies. Finally,
the finding shows that the level of individual financial literacy positively affects the ability to
detect investment scams. However, age and education do not affect the ability to detect
investment scams.