Fraudsters are banking on you not to do your due diligence before investing. Do your own digging to keep them at bay. It’s not enough to ask for additional details or for references since scammers have no motivation to correct you if you ask for more information or for references.
Take the time to do your own study. A pump and dump scheme includes investors promoting their own stock as a hot investment. They utilize overstated and often fraudulent remarks about an asset to promote enthusiasm among other investors. The stock price soars. Once it rises to an acceptable level, the investors who caused the enthusiasm sell their shares at the new market price and profit.
Investment Fraud Prevention
- Research before investing
- Learn as much as you can about the individual you’ll be dealing with
- Look out for deceptive deals
- Make sure you’re safe while you’re browsing the web
Common Persuasive Techniques and Warning Signs of Fraud
How can well-off, well-educated investors become victims of investment fraud? According to a new study, fraudsters target their victims with a variety of persuasive strategies suited to their own psychographic profiles. Observe the following warning signs.
In the event that anything sounds too wonderful to be true, it most certainly is. “Phantom riches” should be on your radar. You may do this by comparing the expected yields to well-known stock market indices.
It’s possible to lose money on any investment option that promises to provide you with much more than you put in. “Incredible returns,” “breakout stock picks,” or investments with “great upside and absolutely no risk!” should be taken with a grain of salt. The extreme risk or plain deception are characteristics of claims like this.
The term “guaranteed returns” is a misnomer. Investing comes with a certain level of risk, which is represented in the rate of return you might anticipate. If your money is completely secure, you’ll likely obtain a modest return on your investment.
Returns that are too high come with a large price tag, including the possibility of a complete loss on the assets. Most scammers spend a significant amount of time convincing investors that extraordinarily high profits are “guaranteed” or “can’t miss.” Imagine what your life would be like as the richest person in the world. It’s a falsehood you shouldn’t believe.
Be on the lookout for the “halo” impact. Scammers who come off as charming or trustworthy might fool investors because of the “halo” effect. Fake credibility is possible. Take a look at their genuine credentials.
“It’s a hit with everyone.” The phrase “everyone is investing in this, so why shouldn’t you?” should be avoided while listening to pitches. Consider whether or not you’d be interested in purchasing the product. Sales presentations that emphasize the number of people who have already purchased the goods might be a warning sign.
Pressure to Transfer Funds Immediately
Victims of scams are often told by con artists that an opportunity like this is only available for a limited time and will be gone the next day. Try to hold off on making an investment until you have done your due diligence.
Beware of reciprocity. If they do a tiny favor for you, such as free lunch, they assume you’ll do an even bigger favor by investing in their goods which is why fraudsters often use free investment seminars to entice investors.
Making an investing choice too quickly is never a good idea. You should always take materials from free lunches home with you and do more research on investments and the people marketing them before making a purchase. Make certain that the product you’re considering is a good fit for your needs and that you’re aware of all of the costs involved.
Investing in any form involves some level of risk. The risk increases in direct proportion to the expected return on investment. When an investment opportunity promises to secure or guarantee your wealth while offering great returns, you should be careful.
Investors are often enticed by such enticing promises of profit in investment frauds. Make sure that the investment strategy can create such large returns with little or no risk. Be sure to compare your investment’s returns to those of other investments to get a sense of how much risk you are taking. It’s improbable that the investment you’re being given can generate the same rewards without the same dangers, at the very least.
Veeramachineni Lalitha
I am Finance Content Writer. I write Personal Finance, banking, investment, and insurance related content for top clients including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Edelweiss, ICICI BANK and IDFC FIRST Bank. My experience details : Linkedin