Spotting investment fraud

Sicherheitab 9 J.

“10% return guaranteed, no risk!” – if it sounds too good to be true, it's a scam. Ponzi schemes, crypto scams and fake financial advisers cost Germans billions every year.

How to spot investment fraudsters:

Red flags (warning signs):

🚩 "Guaranteed return" of 10%+ without risk – doesn't exist. Historically, shares deliver approx. 7% WITH risk
🚩 Time pressure: "Today only!", "Exclusive offer!", "Last chance!"
🚩 Insider tip: "Only insiders know this", "The banks don't want you to find out"
🚩 Celebrity testimonials: fake recommendations from celebrities/CEOs
🚩 No legal notice, no BaFin licence: reputable providers in Germany are registered with BaFin (the financial supervisory authority)
🚩 Ponzi/pyramid scheme: returns are paid from new investors' money, not from real profits

Golden rule: if someone guarantees you a 10% return WITHOUT risk – it is ALWAYS a scam. No exceptions. Real 10% only exists WITH risk (shares, and even then not guaranteed).

What to do if you're suspicious? Check the BaFin website (bafin.de/warnungen), contact the consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale), report it to the police.

Did you know? The biggest investment fraud in history: Bernie Madoff swindled investors out of more than $65 billion. His Ponzi scheme worked for over 20 years. He died in prison in 2021.

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