It could be the combination of what you have said. They thought that they can get easy money and good return of investment, and their decision are clouded when they hear that they will get X amount in X days. But logically speaking its not possible unless is a Ponzi scheme which its turns out to be. To prevent yourself from being scam? Don't invest on them period. Used better judgement and probably asked people around perhaps. There have been a lot of investments scams in the Philippines but people still didn't learn from the past. Its just really sad though this time, it involves bitcoin which put another taint on its name.