If you’ve seen Facebook ads claiming that Cathie Wood, the real-life CEO of ARK Investment Management, is offering free stock tips through WhatsApp, stop right there. It’s a scam.
This isn’t just a misleading promotion—it’s a calculated fraud using Cathie Wood’s name and image to lure unsuspecting investors into a web of deceit. In this article, we’ll expose the entire scam: how it works, why it’s dangerous, and what you should do if you’ve been caught in its trap.
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Scam Overview: The Fake Cathie Wood Investment Group
In this elaborate scam, cybercriminals create fake Facebook profiles using the name and photo of Cathie Wood, a highly respected figure in the world of finance and innovation investing. These profiles often claim to be “verified” or appear to be sponsored, giving them a false sense of authenticity.
One of the most viral ads from this scam reads:
“Mark my words, anyone who owns these three stocks will be a millionaire by the end of 2025. I’m Cathie, CEO of ARK Investment Management. I’m known for my commitment to individual stock investors, providing insights on market trends, economic analysis, and investor education…”
The ad goes on to offer entry into an exclusive WhatsApp investment group, supposedly led by Wood herself. It emphasizes buzzwords like “AI,” “electric vehicles,” and “breakthrough technologies” to entice readers with tech-forward investment appeal. The real Cathie Wood, however, has never endorsed or led any such group. This entire setup is fabricated.
How the Scammers Build Trust
The profile pushing this scam may display Cathie Wood’s official photos, quotes, or even links to legitimate media coverage about her. Some posts even mimic the style of ARK Invest press releases. To make matters worse, these ads often originate from countries far removed from the U.S.—the profile analyzed in this case listed its location as Mexico.
As soon as the user clicks the link in the ad, they are directed to join a WhatsApp group. Inside, a person posing as a financial advisor offers what they claim are carefully curated stock picks. The messages are persuasive, often filled with charts, graphs, and mock analytics.
All of it is fake.
The scammers pretend they are working on behalf of Wood and claim she will join the group “soon.” They may even show AI-generated videos or altered voice notes to further sell the illusion. In reality, the group is a highly coordinated fraud ring designed to drain funds from its victims.
Misusing the ARK Brand
The scammers not only impersonate Wood, but they also abuse the ARK Invest brand. They refer to her role as CEO and claim the WhatsApp group is an “extension of ARK’s mission to democratize investing.” They promise members:
- Exclusive earnings reports
- Stock analysis
- Trading insights
- Research whitepapers
- Portfolio recommendations
This is all a lie. ARK Invest has made no such offerings via social media DMs or group chats.
This scam has been also investigated by Jordan Liles on his YouTube channel, where he offers a detailed video on the subject. We recommend watching his content for a comprehensive understanding of the scam.
Next, let’s break down exactly how scammers carry out this scam from start to finish.
How the Scam Works
Step 1: Fake Facebook Ads
The scam begins with paid Facebook ads featuring images of Cathie Wood. The ad might quote her saying people who buy “three secret stocks” will become millionaires by 2025. These posts are designed to look like press releases or official endorsements.
Step 2: Clickbait Landing Page or Direct WhatsApp Link
Clicking the ad either:
- Sends you to a fake ARK Invest-branded website, or
- Redirects you straight into a WhatsApp group chat
These websites are usually cloned versions of financial news pages. They include fake articles, fabricated interviews, and testimonials—all crafted to encourage trust.
Step 3: Joining the WhatsApp Group
Users are prompted to join the WhatsApp group for “exclusive access.” Once inside, they are welcomed warmly and bombarded with content:
- Daily stock tips
- Claims of “limited-time” investment opportunities
- Messages from someone claiming to be Cathie Wood or her financial team
They build a narrative of urgency: if you don’t act now, you’ll miss the next big tech stock boom.
Step 4: Persuading Users to Invest
Next, the scammers ask group members to open accounts on shady or fake trading platforms. Victims are told that their money will be invested into tech stocks and will see fast returns.
The scammer may say:
“We’ve identified three under-the-radar companies poised for a breakout. Cathie personally selected them. A $500 investment today could return $10,000+ by year’s end.”
Step 5: Fake Results and Requests for More Money
Once someone deposits money, the scammers begin faking growth reports and dashboards. The victim believes they’re making real profits. When they try to withdraw funds, they’re told to:
- Pay taxes upfront
- Upgrade their membership tier
- Cover transfer or compliance fees
Each new fee is another trap. The scammers continue until the victim either runs out of money or realizes the truth.
Step 6: Vanishing Act
Once the scammers feel they’ve taken enough, they disappear. The WhatsApp group gets deleted. The Facebook ad account is deactivated. All communication stops. Victims are left without their money, and no one to contact.
What to Do If You’ve Fallen Victim to the Cathie Wood Scam
If you’ve already provided personal information or money to this scam, act fast. Here’s what you should do:
- Stop All Contact
- Exit the WhatsApp group immediately.
- Block any scammers on WhatsApp, Facebook, or email.
- Report the Scam
- Facebook: Report the ad and the profile.
- WhatsApp: Use the “Report” feature to flag the group and messages.
- ARK Invest: Notify the company directly so they can take legal action.
- Contact Your Bank or Payment Service
- Report the unauthorized transaction.
- Request a chargeback or fraud reversal.
- Monitor for further suspicious activity.
- File Official Complaints
- FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI’s IC3: https://www.ic3.gov
- Local law enforcement or consumer protection agency
- Secure Your Online Accounts
- Change passwords used in connection with the scam.
- Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) where possible.
- Consider a credit freeze if you provided sensitive data.
- Spread Awareness
- Share your experience (anonymously, if preferred) to warn others.
- Leave reviews on Scamwatch, Trustpilot, or Reddit.
- Inform family and friends who might be vulnerable to similar scams.
- Seek Legal Advice or Join Support Forums
- Some law firms specialize in financial fraud.
- Online forums may have groups of victims pursuing joint legal actions.
The Bottom Line
The Cathie Wood Facebook and WhatsApp scam is another example of how cybercriminals weaponize trust and technology. They exploit Cathie Wood’s reputable name, the ARK Invest brand, and popular platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to steal from everyday people.
Cathie Wood is not offering investment advice through WhatsApp or Facebook ads. Any such claim is a scam, full stop. Always verify before you invest and never trust unsolicited offers from social media.
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
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Be careful when installing programs and apps.
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Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
