Older Adults & Families · Lesson 5
Investment Fraud and Fake Financial Professionals
Verify the adviser, firm, investment and custodian independently before committing substantial funds.
- Investment fraud can be especially destructive when retirement assets are involved.
- Examples include Ponzi schemes, fake advisers, unregistered investments, private-placement fraud, fake real estate deals, cryptocurrency platforms, guaranteed-return schemes and fake trading systems.
- Warning signs: guaranteed returns, little or no risk, secrecy, exclusivity, urgency, complex explanations, unclear custody, inability to withdraw money or personal payment instructions.
Verify the adviser, firm, investment and custodian independently before committing substantial funds.
This is Lesson 5 of the Financial Scams Education Series (Older Adults & Families). Continue with Romance and Relationship Financial Exploitation.
This article is for educational purposes and is not legal, tax, insurance, cybersecurity, or law-enforcement advice. Scam tactics change. If you think you have been scammed, contact your financial institution immediately and consider reporting to appropriate authorities. Su Bella Vida is not a bank, broker, CPA, or law firm. Read our terms & disclaimer.