Top 10 Lines From Fraudulent Investment Promoters
- "We don't make money unless you make
money."
- "I know you get offers everyday from people
who tell you they're going to make you rich. I
can make it easy for you to make your decision
based on actual facts."
- "This opportunity is the best chance to make
extra money for guys who work for a living...
guys like you and me."
- "I've been in the business for 20 years, and
I can tell you this: I know no other program
that's legal that's so easy to afford and so easy
to work that can bring in this kind of big money
from such a small investment."
- "I know this can work for you. I personally
guarantee your success, right down to the last
penny."
- "Give me one percent of your trust. I'll
earn the other 99 when you see the return."
- "Of course there's a risk. There's a risk in
everything."
- "Sure we could finance this venture
ourselves. But we're trying to build a power base
for the future with folks like you."
- "We're talking about a cash cow here. But
it's going fast. I need your check tomorrow at
the latest."
- "I can't be lying. There are laws against
that."
High pressure sales pitches may sound exciting, but as
a rule, should be resisted. Before you invest any money,
take your time. Get a second opinion from a professional
you trust: a financial planner, an attorney, or an
accountant. Finally, research the company's reputation.
Call your local consumer protection agency and the
consumer protection agency in the city where the company
is headquartered for more information.
WHAT THEY SAY ISN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY
MEAN
Americans lose hundreds of millions of dollars to
telemarketing fraud. When the subject is investment
opportunities, telephone scam artists don't always mean
what they say.
| What
They Say |
What
They May Mean |
| "I
have an investment opportunity for you. Profits
are almost certain. The risk is definitely
minimal." |
Once
I get your check, my profits are certain. There's
no risk for me. |
| "It
would be illegal for me to guarantee profit. But
our customers are making thousands of dollars a
month on our investments." |
Not a
single one of our customers has ever made a dime
on our investments and none of them ever will,
but if I don't say the words "guaranteed
profits" I may be able to stay out of jail. |
| "Once
you see how well you do with me, you'll be my
client for life." |
Once
you invest with me, I'll keep calling to get more
money from you until you absolutely refuse to
invest one dollar more and tell me that at least
three times. |
| "If
you don't take some risk, you'll never make a
profit....The opportunity is going fast. You
better act now." |
The
biggest risk you could ever take is listening to
me, and I know if I don't get your money now,
you'll find someone who will talk you out of this
crazy thing you're about to do. |
| "I
know you've been burned before on investments
over the telephone, but trust me that this
opportunity is different." |
I
know you've been burned before because I bought
the mailing list from those guys after government
regulators put them out of business. And trust
me, my investment opportunity will be just as
sure a loser as those others. |
| "We've
been in business for over 20 years." |
We
close down and change our names every two years
or so to try to keep one step ahead of law
enforcement. |
| "Are
any of your investments currently showing you a
40 to 50 percent return with low risk?" |
I
know there's no such thing as an investment that
makes that kind of return with low risk, but if
you don't hang up the telephone when I say that,
I just may be able to get you to buy the junk I'm
selling. |
| "This
is the next great business you've been reading
about in the papers. It's going to make fortunes
for people, and you can get in on the ground
floor." |
Fortunes
can always be made by people who devote great
time and energy to develop businesses from the
ground floor, but not by people who just send
checks to someone who calls them on the phone. |
Investment Tips
Do:
- Take your time before investing your money.
- Research the investment opportunity. It's
unlikely you will make money in a business deal
you can't understand or verify.
- Get a second opinion. Consult someone you trust,
such as a financial planner, attorney, accountant
or friend.
- Research the company's reputation. Call your
local consumer protection agency and the consumer
protection agency in the city where the company
is located.
Don't:
- Believe everything you read - or assume that
slick promotional materials are legitimate.
- Let anyone pressure you into making an investment
decision if you're not interested or ready.
- Spend more money than you can afford to lose.
- Use your IRA funds until you have talked to your
tax consultant. You may risk large tax penalties.
- Send money by overnight delivery or wire
transfer, or authorize a credit card payment or
automatic debit to your bank account to anyone
you don't know.
- Believe anyone who promises big returns with
little or no risk.
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