Linguistic cues of deception in illegal investment scams’ promotional materials

Scams are prevalent in today’s digital environment, and they take advantage of those who need to pay attention through intriguing claims about the financial rewards and luxurious lifestyles they would get in return. One way this catastrophe activity has spread so rapidly across the globe is through a strategy implemented by the platforms in promotional materials intended to allure potential investors. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the linguistic cues of deception used and identify the recurring patterns presented in promotional materials of illegal investment scams. The multi-method research design utilised this study by using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC-22) and Atlas.ti23 software through Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) and Reality Monitoring (RM) theory for a comprehensive analysis. The data collection was provided by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), Royal Police Malaysia (RPM), and Central Bank of Malaysia (CBM). The present research reveals unique linguistic patterns that promotional materials employ to attract potential investors. The unique linguistic patterns include exaggerated claims, misleading information, and psychological manipulation strategies. These patterns are discovered through in-depth research. The results of this study make a valuable contribution to the field of deception detection methodologies and possess theoretical and practical implications for policymakers, regulatory approaches, and public education campaigns that seek to protect potential investors and promote financial awareness. By clarifying the illusory rhetoric intertwined within these deceptive promotional materials, this study provides individuals with a wealth of knowledge necessary to make intelligent choices and secure themselves against becoming prey to illegal investment scams.