Investment Fraud: How You Can Spot A Criminal Scheme

Although making an investment can be a valid way to grow your savings, it is important to be able to distinguish between a legitimate scheme and a potentially fraudulent one. Some investment opportunities will be based on false information, where criminals will encourage people to hand over their money only to steal it.

Investment fraud schemes are often very sophisticated, with cloned websites that resemble legitimate brands. Many fraudsters will also research their victims carefully before beginning a scam, meaning they will have all kinds of convincing financial information to hand when they get in touch.

Read on for an overview of how you can spot a fraudulent investment scheme.



Online Communication

Investment fraud often begins online or over the phone, without any face-to-face interaction. You may be contacted by a cold caller out of the blue, or you could receive an email or message over social media. Equally, scams may advertise via social media postings, where they can use fake celebrity endorsements to make their schemes seem legitimate.

Time Pressure

Another key indication that an investment scheme is fraudulent is if there is the implication of time pressure. This is where the scheme’s representative or the advert itself will convey the message that this is a limited time only deal, pressuring you to hand over your money without giving you time to think about the risks involved.

High Returns

Investment fraud schemes will typically promise high returns for your investment, stating that there is little or no risk involved. This is designed to pressure you to invest without taking time to consider your options. Some fraudsters will also use fake testimonials from those who allegedly received large payouts in order to persuade you.

Exclusivity

As with many financial scams, investment fraud centres around the promise of exclusivity. This is a persuasive technique that directly targets an individual victim, making you feel like you’re lucky or smart to have uncovered this lucrative investment opportunity. Fraudsters will use their research to tailor the scheme to your financial situation, making it difficult for you to resist.

Lefevre Litigation: Successful Fraud Representation In Aberdeen

At Lefevre Litigation, our expert fraud defence lawyers can support you throughout your legal battle. Whether you’ve been accused of running a fraudulent investment scheme, or you’re being charged with benefit fraud, we can help you to put together a strong defensive case.

We understand that fraud cases can be complicated, where we will work hard to ensure that your side of the story is heard. Get in touch with us today to speak to one of our leading fraud solicitors.