Chasing $10 left me in debt as I enter my 30s

During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2021, I lived in a small rented room in HCMC, spending most of my time glued to my phone and social media. One day, I stumbled upon an investment group promising impossibly high returns.

Although I knew such offers were likely scams, I could not resist. The first time I transferred money to the fund, I instantly received a profit of VND260,000. It was not much, but it got me excited. Convinced I could earn money effortlessly, I ignored warnings from family and friends and poured all my savings into the fund.

Two weeks later, I was told my account had issues and required additional funds to recover. Instead of withdrawing right then, I doubled down. I borrowed money and scraped together VND250 million, hoping to recoup my initial investment. Then the fund collapsed, and I lost everything.

I was devastated. My dreams of buying a small plot of land in my hometown and saving for the future disappeared. As I approached 30, I found myself not only penniless but also saddled with debt. I now struggle to pay back VND10 million each month, juggling two jobs just to stay afloat in the city.

People scolded me: “How could you believe in such absurdly high returns? If it sounds too good to be true, it is a trap.” I knew they were right. Everyone knows these scams exist, but greed clouded my judgment and dulled my caution.

I no longer blame anyone, nor do I wallow in regret. My focus is on repaying my debts, living frugally, and starting over. This failure was a painful lesson, but it taught me to slow down and stay vigilant against scams.

Have you ever lost money to scams?

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match Read’ viewpoints.