Tri Wahyuni is a Financial Management student at Universitas Pamulang (NIM 231010501757). She has a keen interest in financial literacy, investment, and youth financial management. Through her writing, she aims to encourage the public, especially students, to be more critical and wise in making financial decisions.
JurnalPost.com — Opening social media today feels like being constantly bombarded with stories of financial success. Some flaunt tens of millions of rupiah in investment gains, others upload screenshots of portfolios with all-green charts, and some share stories of how they generate income solely through their phones.
At a glance, it all looks so easy. You just need an app, follow the directions of someone deemed an expert, and wait for the profits to roll in. It is no wonder that many young people, including students, start feeling left behind when they see others seemingly enjoying the fruits of their investments.
The desire to have additional income is certainly not wrong. In fact, in my opinion, learning to invest while still in college is a positive step. However, there is one thing that is often forgotten: before thinking about how much profit can be made, we should first understand the risks of the decisions we are about to make.
Do not let the excitement of chasing profits cause us to lose our ability to think critically.
When Financial Access Outpaces Understanding
Technological advancements have made investing more accessible than ever. While people previously had to visit a financial institution to open an investment account, various financial products can now be accessed via apps in a matter of minutes.
Unfortunately, this convenience has not been fully matched by adequate financial understanding.
Based on the 2024 National Financial Literacy and Inclusion Survey (SNLIK) conducted by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) together with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's financial literacy index was recorded at 65.43 percent, while the financial inclusion index reached 75.02 percent.
These figures reveal a gap between public access to financial services and their level of understanding regarding financial products.
This means that while more people are using financial services, not all of them possess sufficient knowledge to understand the benefits or the risks involved.
This condition becomes problematic when someone makes an investment decision based solely on invitations, recommendations from popular figures, or promises of profit that cannot necessarily be verified.
Learning from the Alleged Crypto Investment Case
One event that serves as a lesson is the alleged crypto asset investment fraud case linked to the Akademi Crypto community.
A number of community members have reported alleged losses to the Jakarta Metro Police since January 2026. Based on developing reports, several parties claimed to have lost large sums of money after following educational programs and crypto asset investment recommendations.
One complainant even claimed to have suffered losses of up to approximately Rp3 billion. By May 2026, the police had requested statements from two reported parties.
However, in September 2026, the group of complainants again expressed grievances regarding the progress of the case handling and requested that the legal process be clarified immediately.
It must be emphasized that this matter is an allegation that must be proven through the legal process. Losses due to a decline in asset prices do not automatically prove the existence of a criminal act of fraud.
Nevertheless, this issue provides an important lesson regarding the dangers of making financial decisions without conducting a thorough examination.
In the world of investment, a person's popularity cannot be used as a guarantee that every recommendation they make will generate profit.
Someone might have millions of followers, appear successful, or be able to explain investment strategies convincingly. However, that does not mean all the information provided is necessarily correct or suitable for everyone's financial situation.
Don't Make Influencers Your Only Guide
Social media can actually be a useful tool for financial education. Many content creators are able to explain complex investment terms in a way that is simpler and more engaging for the public.
However, the ease of understanding an explanation does not always mean the information is complete.
Friderica Widyasari Dewi, who previously served as the Chief Executive of Market Conduct Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection at the OJK, has also highlighted the importance of the competence of influencers who share financial information.
This issue becomes even more relevant when investment promotions are delivered through content that emphasizes profits over risks.
In June 2026, the Task Force for Combating Illegal Financial Activities (Satgas PASTI) summoned several influencers to request clarification regarding the alleged promotion of digital financial asset traders who did not have licenses.
The Secretariat of Satgas PASTI, Hudiyanto, explained that several parties subsequently deleted or adjusted promotional content related to those offers.
Supervisory measures are indeed necessary. However, in my opinion, the best protection must also start with the public's habit of not immediately trusting every piece of information that circulates.
This is especially true for students, whose funds are often limited and must be used to meet daily needs, education costs, and other necessities.
Investing is Fine, Provided It Is Legal and Logical
To avoid hasty investment decisions, the OJK reminds the public to apply the 2L principle, which stands for Legal and Logical.
Legal means ensuring that the company, organizer, or party offering the financial product has the appropriate licenses and is under the supervision of the authorized body.
Meanwhile, logical means considering whether the offered profit is reasonable and commensurate with the potential risks.
If an investment promises very large profits in a short time without the possibility of loss, we should immediately question it.
No investment is completely risk-free. Even products offered through official institutions still carry risks according to their characteristics.
For students who want to start investing, the first step should not be to look for products that are currently viral, but rather to determine their financial goals first.
Will the money be used for education costs, needs after graduation, or long-term savings?
Once the goals are clear, basic needs and emergency funds must be prioritized. Only then can funds not needed in the near future be considered for investment, according to one's risk tolerance.
Options such as mutual funds, gold, or bonds can be studied gradually. Each product has different characteristics, potential returns, costs, and risks.
Starting with a small amount while continuing to learn is far wiser than immediately investing all your savings just because you are afraid of missing out.
Don't Fear Missing Out, Fear Making Decisions Without Understanding the Risks
The phenomenon of fear of missing out or FOMO in investment shows how social pressure can influence a person's financial decisions.
When we see others making profits, we tend to want the same results. Yet, everyone's financial situation, knowledge, and ability to handle losses are not the same.
In my opinion, students do not need to feel late just because they do not yet have an investment portfolio or have not gained profits like those displayed by others on social media.
The college years are actually a great opportunity to build habits of managing money, understanding risks, and learning to distinguish between investment opportunities and mere promises of profit.
Ultimately, financial success is not about who follows trends the fastest. It is far more important how someone is able to make decisions based on knowledge and careful consideration.
There is nothing wrong with chasing profits while young. However, do not let the desire to get rich quick cause your logic to be left behind.
Bibliography
Hakim, T. A. (2026, May 12). Stalled for 4 months, the alleged Akademi Crypto fraud case finally moves forward. Investortrust.id.
Investortrust. (2025, March 10). OJK to implement oversight regulations for stock market influencers. Investortrust.id.
Kabar6. (2026, September 2). Stalled for 8 months, Akademi Crypto victims urge Jakarta Metro Police to escalate case to investigation. Kabar6.com.
Kusuma, A. I. (2026, January 14). Victim of alleged crypto fraud by Timothy Ronald: Rp3 billion capital gone, never made a profit. Kompas.tv.
Otoritas Jasa Keuangan & Badan Pusat Statistik. (2024, August 2). Joint press release: OJK and BPS announce results of the 2024 National Financial Literacy and Inclusion Survey. OJK.
Subekti, R. (2026, June 19). OJK summons several finfluencers, illegal investment promotions on social media to be acted upon. Katadata.co.id.
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