Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance

This study demonstrates that personality traits affect investment scam vulnerability, either directly or indirectly, through risk tolerance. This study uses the Big Five personality traits, specifically openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. This stu...

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Main Authors: Elisa Tjondro, Cherrylia Ester, Yovita Gisella Sardjono, Adhityawati Kusumawardhani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2464309
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author Elisa Tjondro
Cherrylia Ester
Yovita Gisella Sardjono
Adhityawati Kusumawardhani
author_facet Elisa Tjondro
Cherrylia Ester
Yovita Gisella Sardjono
Adhityawati Kusumawardhani
author_sort Elisa Tjondro
collection DOAJ
description This study demonstrates that personality traits affect investment scam vulnerability, either directly or indirectly, through risk tolerance. This study uses the Big Five personality traits, specifically openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. This study collected data by randomly distributing surveys to students from A-accredited universities in Java and Bali, Indonesia, areas known for their economic growth. The study analysed 421 respondents aged 18–24 years old at undergraduate and graduate levels using the partial least squares method. Our findings reveal a negative correlation between the conscientiousness trait and scam vulnerability. The ability of conscientiousness-type respondents to obtain quality and relevant information prevents them from making impulsive investments. This study also finds that students with high openness to experience, extraversion, and neuroticism traits increase their vulnerability to scams through risk tolerance. These types of personality traits cause the individual to tolerate more risky investments, thereby increasing their susceptibility to investment fraud. There is still limited research that connects personality traits, risk tolerance, and scam vulnerability. In addition, this study is able to expand the boundaries of the Big Five personality theory.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
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series Cogent Education
spelling doaj-art-a9de99883a8f4ee49a47c2e73efeee112025-08-20T03:21:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2464309Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk toleranceElisa Tjondro0Cherrylia Ester1Yovita Gisella Sardjono2Adhityawati Kusumawardhani3Department of Accounting, School of Business and Management, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, IndonesiaDepartment of Accounting, School of Business and Management, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, IndonesiaDepartment of Accounting, School of Business and Management, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, IndonesiaDepartment of Accounting, School of Business and Management, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, IndonesiaThis study demonstrates that personality traits affect investment scam vulnerability, either directly or indirectly, through risk tolerance. This study uses the Big Five personality traits, specifically openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. This study collected data by randomly distributing surveys to students from A-accredited universities in Java and Bali, Indonesia, areas known for their economic growth. The study analysed 421 respondents aged 18–24 years old at undergraduate and graduate levels using the partial least squares method. Our findings reveal a negative correlation between the conscientiousness trait and scam vulnerability. The ability of conscientiousness-type respondents to obtain quality and relevant information prevents them from making impulsive investments. This study also finds that students with high openness to experience, extraversion, and neuroticism traits increase their vulnerability to scams through risk tolerance. These types of personality traits cause the individual to tolerate more risky investments, thereby increasing their susceptibility to investment fraud. There is still limited research that connects personality traits, risk tolerance, and scam vulnerability. In addition, this study is able to expand the boundaries of the Big Five personality theory.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2464309Personality traitsrisk tolerancescam vulnerabilityinvestment scamscam susceptibilityUniversity students
spellingShingle Elisa Tjondro
Cherrylia Ester
Yovita Gisella Sardjono
Adhityawati Kusumawardhani
Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
Cogent Education
Personality traits
risk tolerance
scam vulnerability
investment scam
scam susceptibility
University students
title Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
title_full Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
title_fullStr Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
title_full_unstemmed Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
title_short Investment scam vulnerability among university students: the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
title_sort investment scam vulnerability among university students the role of personality traits and risk tolerance
topic Personality traits
risk tolerance
scam vulnerability
investment scam
scam susceptibility
University students
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2464309
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