A basic understanding of how scam artists work can help you to avoid fraud and protect your hard-earned money. Learning how to choose the right broker can assist you in reaching your financial goals. Here are some ways to help you avoid being scammed:
- Ask questions. Fraudsters are counting on you not to investigate before you invest. Take the time to do your own independent research.
- Research before you invest. Unsolicited emails, banners, pop-ups, should never be used as the sole basis for your investment decisions. Understand a company’s business and its products or services before investing.
- Know the company. Always find out whether the representative who contact you is licensed to sell securities and whether the firm has had run-ins with regulators.
- Protect yourself online. Online and social marketing sites offer a wide range of opportunities for fraudsters.
Any investment opportunity that claims you’ll receive substantially more could be highly risky , make sure you understand all the risks before you invest.
Most fraudsters spend a lot of time trying to convince investors that extremely high returns are “guaranteed” or “can’t miss.”
Every investment carries some degree of risk, which is reflected in the rate of return you can expect to receive. If your money is perfectly safe, you’ll most likely get a low return. High returns entail high risks, possibly including a total loss on the investments.
Where can I go for help?
If you have a question or concern about an investment, or you think you have encountered one of these frauds, please see our list of regulators.