Harald de Vries to publish funding guide on fake investors

Harald de Vries will release a new book on June 20, 2026, in the KMU-BIBLIOTHEK that examines fake investors, false projects, upfront fees and the documentation needed for credible corporate financing. The title is aimed at entrepreneurs, investors and advisers who want to spot fraud risks and prepare stronger financing pitches. Why it matters: - The book targets a common pain point in small-business finance: many funding requests fail because the project is not ready for investor scrutiny. - The release focuses on real-world risks, including fake investors, fraudulent fee demands and weak preparation, which can cost companies time and money. - The book also frames compliance, due diligence and financial documentation as gatekeepers to serious financing, not paperwork overhead. What happened: - Harald de Vries will publish “Alles Betrüger? Fake-Investoren, falsche Projekte und die harte Wahrheit darüber, wie Finanzierung wirklich funktioniert” on June 20, 2026. - The book will appear in the KMU-BIBLIOTHEK. - The title is aimed at entrepreneurs, managing directors, founders, investors, advisers and capital intermediaries. - The book addresses why corporate financing fails, how fake investors operate and why professional preparation matters. The details: - The book argues that investors fund verifiable projects, not hopes, promises or polished stories. - It says a fundable project needs understandable numbers, complete documents, clear use of proceeds, a credible business plan, a realistic financial plan, a clean shareholder structure, compliance checks, legal clarity and a defensible negotiation basis. - De Vries says: “Viele Unternehmer verwechseln Kapitalbedarf mit Finanzierungsfähigkeit” and argues that financing begins with review, not payout. - The book explains terms such as Upfront Fee, Retainer, Due Diligence, KYC, AML, KYB, Term Sheet, Proof of Funds, bank guarantee, collateral, covenants and closing. - Those terms are presented as practical tools that determine whether a project is investable. - A major focus is upfront costs in financing. - The book distinguishes between real costs for accountants, auditors, lawyers, experts, project structuring, business plans, financial plans, data rooms, plausibility checks, investor outreach and deal preparation, and fraud schemes that demand fees for invented notaries, fake bank approvals, fantasy certificates or imaginary transfer costs. - De Vries says the blanket claim that upfront costs are always fraud is wrong, but so is the assumption that every pre-financing fee is legitimate. - The book includes examples such as fake investors who promise millions by email or messenger, supposed oil princes, alleged sovereign funds, forged bank confirmations, false proof-of-funds documents, dubious joint ventures, bank guarantee traps and fake notarization or transfer fees. - It also examines the other side of the table: investees that mislead investors with false numbers, beautified business plans, fake bank commitments, inflated collateral, nonbinding letters of intent, phantom major orders, subsidy myths, worthless patents or last-minute rescue financings. - One chapter treats the term sheet as a structured negotiation basis, not a casual statement of intent. - The term sheet covers capital amount, financing type, interest, return, equity stake, term, collateral, reporting duties, covenants, payout conditions, costs, exclusivity and closing conditions. - The book says a term sheet acts as a reality check for capital seekers who cannot clearly define their financing terms. - The writing style is described as direct, humorous and example-driven rather than academic. - De Vries says investors have every right to ask difficult questions when they risk their own money or that of clients. - He adds that frustration over requests for bank statements, documents or compliance data is a warning sign, not a sign of confidence. - KMU-BIBLIOTHEK positions the title as part of a broader knowledge series for small and midsize businesses covering financing, capital raising, marketing, digitization, AI, organization, sales and strategic development. - The book is intended for entrepreneurs preparing for financing, readers with negative experiences involving alleged investors and professionals who want to spot fraud patterns and weak points faster. - The release says financing is a structured process that starts with honest project analysis and moves through documentation, risk review, compliance, collateral assessment, investor outreach, negotiation, term-sheet drafting and contract review. Between the lines: - The book seems designed as both a warning and a checklist, which can appeal to readers tired of vague financing advice. - By covering both investor fraud and dishonest capital seekers, the title suggests that trust failures in financing run in both directions. - The emphasis on preparation, compliance and proof points signals a message that legitimacy in funding is often won before the first meeting ends. What’s next: - The book will be available from June 20, 2026. - Readers can find more information in the book announcement , the fake-investor resource and the corporate-finance website . - KMU-BIBLIOTHEK says the title will join its existing lineup on financing, marketing, digital business and growth topics. The bottom line: - The core message is blunt: companies that want money need credible documents, realistic numbers and disciplined preparation before they ask investors to commit.