Have you ever been approached by a company advising you on some good investment options? However, it turns out to be the most worthless investment. They may lure you by presenting diverse investment options. It could be equities, gold, crypto assets, property developments, REITS, etc. Criminals don’t wear a mask to get spotted easily.
They impersonate themselves as people, organisations, and even legal organisations. However, they are farce and dupes who take your hard-earned money. Everyone faces such incidents at least once in a lifetime.
With more individuals turning to online investment, they are more vulnerable to fraud. So, is there no way to spot and save your money? It is a hard deal to crack, but taking some initiatives may reduce the chances of investment theft. The blog lists some practical aspects that may work here. Let’s first learn some possible signs of investment fraud.
How to spot investment scams quickly?
It is usually challenging to spot investment fraud. It is because the scammers try their best to look genuine. They may have professional-looking websites and portals that make you consider their proposal. However, if you take a moment to improvise your decision, you can avoid the scam. Here are some tell-tale signs of investment scams:
- Companies or agents cold call you regarding an investment opportunity. They follow up with constant emails and an attractive brochure or campaign
- They compel you to check the limited-time offer and fill in the financial details to grab the offer
- The farce companies use jargon to confuse you regarding the terms of purchase. They refrain from explaining or from counter-questioning
- The fake companies promise unbelievable returns on investments. You may not be able to get any data on their previous successful investment advice.
- The scammer company constantly calls you for days to convince you to accept the offer.
- The company may lure you into believing that a particular offer is only for you. They fear you spreading the news to your known ones. Most farce companies wish to keep their offerings private from the customers they deal with.
- The scammer advisors may reveal some investment products that may seem valuable. However, in reality, it does not provide the expected returns. You may even witness a huge loss.
Some investment companies may even ease the task for you. They provide unbelievable offers like pay half the amount now and half later. Most individuals fall prey to this and compromise their savings for higher life goals. Some do it despite facing financial emergencies or difficulties.
Don’t fall prey to such allurements. Do not sabotage the money that you have kept safe for a higher living goal. Instead, check the current cash requirement. If you need a small amount more to bridge the need, don’t worry.
You may get personal loans in Ireland with a no-credit-check option. It helps you get the loan without impacting your credit score. Getting one from the reputed finance companies helps meet needs quickly. You may even witness flexibility over repayments and other loan concerns. You can also use it for investment purposes if you want to. However, borrow only what you can afford to repay.
What steps should you take to invest safely?
The first step to consider here is “Why did you receive the call from an investment company all of a sudden?” Chances are, it may be a high-risk scam. Drop or check the number before attending the call.
No reputable investment firm would cold call to make the offers. Thus, the safety lies in hanging up the call and ignoring any such promotional emails that you receive. It probably holds a link that you must not click at any cost. Here is what you can do next:
Check the fraudulent investment companies
Every country takes some necessary steps to prevent financial fraud. Thus, if living in Ireland, check the Central Bank of Ireland’s website. You may find a list of unauthorised investment firms, fraud companies, and warning notices there. You can also use portals like Scamcheck.ie and Fraud SMART to spot the falsely operating investment firm.
Don’t act on fear or urgency
Scammers may launch ads and campaigns demanding urgency. It is a clear trap of investment false promises. Don’t react to it immediately. Instead, divert your mind somewhere else and block the mail the very moment. It prevents you from acting wrongly due to rage and fear. A genuine company will ask you to consider the opportunity and act later. However, a scammer would never warn you.
Research before investing money
It is human nature to act immediately on something that he finds attractive. However, it may turn you from a sound professional to a defaulter. Always research everything about the investment firm that approaches you with an offer. Check the following aspects:
- Check financial history, financial commitments, and cash flow records before partnering
- Check the business registration in Ireland with the Central Register
- Check if they hold relevant certificates
- Identify whether they exist in person. Check their official site and track the office address.
- Understand their fee structure and transparency in dealings.
Report any suspicious scam
If you see all the signs of fraud and suspect a scam, report it immediately. For that, you can contact the Central Bank of Ireland and the Irish Police. If possible, also report it to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
It is especially ideal for customer-related investment issues. It would be ideal to support your suspicion with proof. It would help the authorities take immediate and accurate action then.
Check for suspicious payment methods
- Usually, the investment company asks the customer to invest a lump sum to begin the investment account. While doing so, be wary of the fraud aspects, like:
- Transferring money through a gift card or a wire transfer
- Writing a cheque to an individual instead of an investment firm.
- They ask to send the money to a different company than whom you are dealing with
- Sending payment to a suspicious virtual or office address
The payment purpose is unrelated to what you aim for. Beware of the receipts that reveal payment made for furniture purchase, luxury watches, goods, etc.
Bottom line
Investment scams are common in the country. You cannot stop them, but you can be conscious while investing. It is advisable to take the advisors’ help to spot the right investment companies to deal with. It reduces the risk of entering a potential fraud and protects your money. Identify your investment goals and research the authentic companies to research.
