When someone tries to defraud you into investing money, that is an investment scam. Recruiters may encourage you to make investments in assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, or even real estate. A scam artist could mislead you or provide you with false details regarding an investment scheme. Also, they might invent a bogus investment offer.
The culprits of investment scams may pose as sales representatives or financial counselors. They radiate charm, intelligence, and friendliness. They can claim that you need to act quickly on a business opportunity. In order to gain your trust, they work to persuade you to pay them your money as soon and unquestioningly as possible. If you feel like you have been scammed by someone like broker and investment advisor Chuck Roberts you will want to consult with a securities law firm to see if you can claim any money back or prosecute your scammer.
What Are The Common Investment Scams?
The common tactic used in investment scams is to persuade you to pay money for a highly questionable or nonexistent investment. You’ll typically lose all or part of your money. Here are a few common scams.
High Yield Investment Programs
These unregistered investments are frequently frauds and are usually managed by unlicensed individuals. The promise of enormous returns with little to no risk to the participant is the defining feature of an HYIP scam. An HYIP website might guarantee annual returns of 40 or 50 % or more, as well as monthly, weekly, or daily returns.
Ponzi Schemes
Ponzi schemes persuade investors to acquire stock in a company or sign “investment contracts” even if there is no actual business backing them. The money obtained from later investors is then simply used to pay the initial investors.
A “front” company may be utilized as a part of various versions to provide the illusion that the plan is more legitimate. These schemes can only go on as long as fresh investors keep putting money into them. Present investors lose their investments when the scam fails, as it always does, while the promoters run away with profits.
Pyramid Schemes
Pyramid schemes are illegal, unlike multi-level marketing businesses, because revenue is primarily generated from the payments provided by new recruits to the scam. To earn money, participants must recruit others in the scheme.
Recruiting more people is necessary so that those who have already signed up can get rewarded. The pyramid eventually falls because the number of persons who are able and willing to participate is exhausted by the number of participants. Products and services are frequently provided in an effort to appear lawful. Be mindful if recruiting raises more money than sales.
Pump and Dump
Scammers use lists of prospective investors in these schemes to advertise an amazing deal on cheap stock. You are unaware that the individual or company who is getting in touch with you also holds a sizable portion of this stock, and that the stock might not even be tied to a real company.
The price of the stock increases significantly as more and more people purchase shares. As soon as the price reaches a high point, the scam artist sells their shares, causing the stock value to fall sharply. You’re left with stocks that are worthless.
Warning Signs to Avoid Investment Scams
The following are the warning indicators of investment scams to watch out for to avoid falling victim to them.
- Be wary of anyone who makes assurances about how an investment will perform. Every investment includes some level of risk.
- Unlicensed individuals selling unregistered assets, such as stocks, bonds, notes, hedge funds, oil or gas contracts, or bogus items like prime bank investments, are a common characteristic of investment scams.
- Returns that are surprisingly secure regardless of market conditions. Any investment that continuously increases month after month, or that offers remarkably steady returns, should raise red flags, especially during volatile times. Even the most reliable assets occasionally go through bumps.
- Avoid anyone who claims remarkable success with a highly complicated investing strategy. Genuine experts must be able to describe their operations in detail. You must have a thorough understanding of any investment you are contemplating, particularly what it is, the dangers involved, and the way the investment generates income.
- Someone may be offering unregistered securities if they attempt to sell you security without providing any supporting documentation, such as a prospectus in the case of stocks or mutual funds or an offering circular in the case of bonds.
- Unauthorized trades, missing money, and other issues with your financial accounts may be due to an honest mistake or they may be a sign of a scam. Check your account statements frequently to ensure that account activity follows your instructions, and make sure you are aware of who is in possession of your assets.
- You shouldn’t be pressured to decide on an investment right away or told that you need to “act now” by any reputable investment expert. Avoid anyone who puts pressure on you to make a decision. Even if there is no fraud going on, using pressure like this is wrong.
What Do You Need to Do If You Have Been a Victim of a Scam?
Being a victim of fraud can leave your mind swirling with questions. Do I need a securities attorney? Do I need to call the police? How can I get my money back? These might be just a few of the questions jumping around in your head. Here are some actions you can take if you believe you are a victim of investment fraud:
- Record it. All the details you can recall should be put in writing. Include the following information:
- the company name,
- the names of the people who spoke with you,
- their contact details (telephone numbers, website addresses),
- the investment advice they provided (regulator registration numbers),
- a timeline of what transpired,
- a copy of your police report (if you filed one and can get one),
- your most recent credit report from credit reporting agencies,
- a list of phone conversations with notes about the information they provided,
- and any other helpful information.
- Take Action. Inform your local regulatory authorities or any applicable scam protection organizations like Global Fraud Protection about the scam.