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Press Releases
DFI Identifies Top 10 Traps Facing Investors(Madison) The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) today released its annual forecast of the Top 10 Traps likely to ensnare investors. “The path to safe investing is littered with traps that are likely to catch unwary investors. It always pays to remember that any investment that sounds too good to be true, usually is,” said Patricia Struck, Administrator of DFI’s Division of Securities. “Investor traps are usually baited with slick sales pitches promising high returns for little or no risk,” Struck said, noting that investors also can become trapped by legitimate investment products that are suitable for some investors, but not all. Before making any investment, Struck urged investors to make sure that both the salesperson and the investment are licensed and registered in Wisconsin and that they have been given adequate written information that fully explains the investment. “You should also make sure that any claims made for the investment are realistic and not pie in the sky,” Struck said. The following listing in alphabetical order is DFI’s Top 10 Traps for investors. Affinity Fraud. Con artists are increasingly targeting religious, ethnic, cultural and professional groups. Some may be members of the group or pretend to be members in order to gain trust. Con artists often recruit a respected member of a community or religious congregation to promote their schemes by convincing them that a fraudulent investment is legitimate. In many cases, even these leaders become victims of what turns out to be a Ponzi scheme. Remember: Investigate before you invest – no matter who is selling. Foreign Exchange Trading. Foreign exchange (forex) trading can be legitimate for governments and businesses concerned about fluctuations in international currencies, and it can even be appropriate for some individual investors. But the average investor should be wary when it comes to these complex markets. Forex scams attract customers with sophisticated-sounding offers placed in newspaper advertisements, radio promotions, or on Internet sites. Remember: If you don’t understand an investment, don’t invest. Internet Fraud. Scamsters continue to take advantage of technology to lure investors into “pump-and-dump” stock schemes. Be wary of investments being pitched through unsolicited e-mails, instant messages, and phony websites. Remember: The internet can be a con artist’s dream – easy access to you and your money, with no “return address” if the deal goes sour. Investment Seminars. Promoters of unsuitable investments are increasingly seeking potential investors, particularly seniors, by offering seminars, many of them promising a free meal along with “higher returns and little or no risk.” Unfortunately, in many of the cases that securities regulators see, it’s just the opposite: high risk and no returns, just disastrous losses. Remember: There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Oil and Gas Scams. Rising oil and natural gas prices have made a variety of traditional and alternative energy projects attractive to investors. Most of these investments are highly risky and not appropriate for smaller investors. Remember: Con artists tend to follow the headlines. Prime Bank Schemes. Often promising high-yield, tax-free returns, promoters of these schemes offer to let the “little guy” in on what they claim are financial instruments from elite overseas banks usually offered only to the world’s wealthiest investors. Prime banks do not exist and the scam artists have no intention of creating a profit for anyone but themselves. Remember: Often the most sophisticated sounding investments are just false promises in fancy garb. Private Securities Offerings. Con artists are turning increasingly to
private securities offerings under Rule 506 Regulation D of the Securities
Act of 1933 to attract investors without having to go through the full
registration process. Although most are legitimate, these offerings are
increasingly associated with fraud. Remember: Especially with lightly
regulated investment offerings, it pays to consult a trusted financial
adviser. Unsuitable Sales. What might be a suitable investment for one investor might not be right for another. Securities professionals must know their customers’ financial situation and refrain from recommending investments that they have reason to believe are unsuitable. For example, variable and equity indexed annuities are often unsuitable for senior citizens because those products are generally long-term investments that limit access to invested funds. But sales agents stand to earn high commissions on these investment products so they don’t always adhere to the suitability standards – with dire consequences for seniors. Remember: Make sure your investments match up with your age, your need for access to money, and your risk tolerance. Struck strongly advised investors to contact DFI’s Division of Securities at 1-800-472-4325 with any questions about an investment product, broker or adviser, before making an investment. “The best time to call us is before you part with your hard earned money,” Struck said. “It only takes one bad and usually uninformed decision to wipe out your savings.” On its website at www.wdfi.org/fi/securities, DFI provides additional information on regulation of the securities industry in Wisconsin. |
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