Brits nearly twice as likely to spot pressure tactics in horror films as investment red flags

Investors are almost twice as likely to recognise pressure tactics in a horror film as they are when those tactics are used to promote an investment opportunity, new FCA data suggests. A survey of UK 18 to 40-year-olds who own or are considering investments found 65% spotted ‘this is your only chance’ as a classic horror warning sign. But when faced with a ‘last chance to buy’ investment opportunity, only 36% said it would make them more cautious, while 37% said they would feel pressure to buy quickly or risk missing out. The pattern also holds for other pressure tactics. While 59% recognised countdowns like the ticking clock in 'Saw' as a tactic designed to make characters act rashly, just 5% said they would be suspicious of the pressure created by a rising investment price graph.Blind spots show up with novelty, too. Nearly half (47%) recognised that horror sequels often bring back familiar threats disguised as something new. Yet only 12% were similarly sceptical of a 'groundbreaking new' investment product, while 1 in 10 said being new would actually make them more likely to invest. Peer pressure and hype also influenced attitudes towards investment. While 80% recognised ‘trust

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