Your Red-Flag Checklist
Most investment scams share the same warning signs. Here is a checklist to run before investing, the free tools for checking brokers and advisers and where to report fraud.
The red flags
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed or unusually high returns | Real investments carry risk |
| Pressure to act now | Urgency stops you from checking |
| Unregistered seller or product | Registration brings oversight |
| Unsolicited contact | Scammers find you, not the other way around |
| Secret or complex strategy | If it cannot be explained, it cannot be checked |
| Payment by crypto, wire or gift card | Hard or impossible to reverse |
| Trouble withdrawing | The money may already be gone |
One red flag is reason to stop and check; several mean walk away.
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