Most traders on social media are liarsInvesting can be one of the most powerful ways to build wealth.
But let’s face it—most investments come with a ton of headaches.
Running a business? Long hours, high risks, and endless stress.
Real estate? It’s capital-intensive, requires constant management, and tenants can be a nightmare.
That’s why, for many people, simply investing in the S&P 500 ( SP:SPX ) or CRYPTOCAP:BTC can be a better choice.
Over the long term, the SP:SPX has delivered average annual returns of about 8–10%, with minimal effort (even more than that in 2024).
No tenants.
No employees.
No need to monitor charts or markets daily.
Just consistent, compounding growth over time.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting.
Trading —when done right—has the potential to outperform SPX investing.
While the SPX provides solid, steady returns, traders who master their craft can potentially achieve far higher percentages.
But—and this is a huge “but”—most people who try trading fail miserably.
And part of the reason is simple: the trading world is full of lies, scams, and fake promises.
In this article, I’ll break down exactly why most traders are liars and why the only person you should trust in this game is yourself.
If you’re considering trading or looking to spot the frauds, this is for you.
Social media is flooded with “gurus” flaunting perfect results and luxury lifestyles.
But here’s the hard truth: most of them are lying to you.
If you’re not careful, you’ll fall for their tricks, waste your money, and damage your confidence.
Let’s break it down so you understand exactly how these so-called traders operate.
Only Winning Trades? Think Again
Scroll through Instagram or YouTube.
All you see are screenshots of winning trades.
Huge profits like “+200% in a day” or “$5,000 profit this morning while drinking coffee.”
But ask yourself: why do you never see their losing trades?
The reality is, every trader loses—yes, even the best in the world.
There’s no such thing as a 100% win rate in trading.
What these people do is simple:
They take a ton of trades, show you only the winning ones, and bury the losses.
It’s called cherry-picking, and it’s incredibly deceptive.
This tactic lets them sell an illusion of success.
And that illusion helps them build their brand and sell you courses, signals, or mentorship.
Don’t fall for the fake perfection.
If they only show wins, they’re hiding something.
Are These Even Real Trades?
Here’s another problem: how do you know they actually took those trades?
Spoiler: you don’t.
Many of these traders don’t actually trade the markets.
Instead, they analyze the chart after the move has already happened.
Then, they post a screenshot and act like they predicted it all along.
Others use demo accounts.
These are practice accounts where you trade fake money.
They can show massive profits on a demo account without risking a single dollar.
The kicker? Most people can’t tell the difference between a real account and a demo.
And then there’s the outright faking.
They use tools like Photoshop to edit screenshots of their trades.
Or they manipulate their accounts to show inflated results.
Trust me, it’s easier to fake than you think.
If someone shows you a perfect trade, ask for proof.
Ask to see the full trading history, not just one cherry-picked example.
Paid to Lie
A lot of these so-called traders aren’t making money from trading at all.
They’re making money from you.
Here’s how:
1. Broker commissions:
Many traders work as affiliates for brokers.
For every new trader they bring in, they earn a percentage of your trading fees.
Their job isn’t to teach you or help you make money.
Their job is to get you trading as much as possible.
2. Crypto shilling:
Crypto projects pay influencers to promote their coins.
These traders post “bullish” analysis to get you to buy.
Once the hype drives the price up, the project dumps their tokens, and you lose money.
Their motivation isn’t your success.
It’s their profit.
If someone’s making money off your trades, question everything they say.
Don’t Believe Their Track Records
“But what about their track record? It looks legit!”
Listen carefully: track records can’t be trusted.
Here’s why:
1. Demo accounts:
Many traders show results from demo accounts, not real money.
There’s zero risk involved, so they can take wild trades and show massive gains.
It’s not real.
2. Photoshop and manipulation:
Even real accounts can be faked with editing tools.
Some traders manipulate their account history to hide losses and exaggerate wins.
3. Past performance means nothing:
Even if the track record is real, it doesn’t guarantee future success.
Markets change, and strategies that worked yesterday might fail tomorrow.
Don’t trust numbers on a screen.
If they can’t show you live, verifiable results, don’t take them seriously.
Trust No One—Not Even Me
Here’s the most important lesson: don’t trust anyone in trading.
Not the “gurus.”
Not their flashy results.
Not their promises of easy success.
And yes, that includes me.
Don’t even trust what I’m saying right now.
Why?
Because the only person who truly cares about your success is you.
I don’t want you to blindly trust me.
I want you to think for yourself.
Learn how to trade on your own.
Build your own strategies, develop your own edge, and question everything.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
The only person you can fully trust in trading is yourself.
Because only you truly want yourself to get richer.
Final Thoughts
Trading isn’t a shortcut to wealth.
It’s a skill that takes time, effort, and constant learning.
The internet is full of liars, scammers, and people trying to profit off your dreams.
Protect yourself.
Don’t believe the hype.
And most importantly, trust only yourself to guide your trading journey.
Because in the end, your success depends on you—and no one else.
Thank you for reading (I needed to let off some steam ^^)
Daveatt
