Investment scams are the fastest-growing fraud category. They range from fake brokerages to celebrity-endorsed crypto schemes. Here is how to recognize them before you invest.
Investment fraud has overtaken phone and tech support scams as the largest category of reported fraud loss in the US. The FBI reported $4.57 billion in investment fraud losses in 2023 — a figure that has more than doubled in three years.
No legitimate investment guarantees returns. Every investment involves risk. If someone guarantees you a specific return — especially an unusually high one like 10%, 20%, or "double your money" — they are either lying or running a Ponzi scheme.
Legitimate advisors and platforms are legally prohibited from guaranteeing investment returns. The presence of a guarantee is itself the signal.
A significant and growing portion of investment fraud involves entirely fake trading platforms. The platform looks professional, with real-time charts, account balances, and a slick interface. Your account balance appears to grow.
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