Don’t be a victim of scam

    
Scams can come in the form of emails requesting to use your bank accounts, false lottery winnings or work at home ventures. While some scams are pretty obvious, others may be more difficult to recognise, ADEMOLA ALAWIYE writes

No one wants to fall for a scam. Yet, thousands of people have been scammed over the years. It is particularly tricky to avoid a scam when there is a crafty fraudster involved. There are many forms of financial fraud and scams today and experts say a lot of caution is required by people if they are to stand a chance of preventing themselves from becoming victims.

Being careless will not only amount to the loss of hard-earned funds or savings, it can also subject the victim to ridicule. The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions says, “Many victims of financial crimes blame themselves for not seeing through the scam”.

Calling on people to take steps to protect themselves against scams it says, “No matter what we call them — con artists, con men, scamsters — they’re criminals. They steal our money. They’re not just people next door trying to make a living.

They are trying to deprive us of the money that we have worked hard to earn and save. They destroy lives.”

To avoid becoming a victim, the WSDFI says the following self-defence tips will be helpful.

Don’t be a courtesy victim

Con artists will not hesitate to exploit the good manners of the potential victim. Remember that a stranger who calls and asks for your money is to be regarded with utmost caution and skepticism. You have absolutely no obligation to stay on the phone with a stranger who wants your money. It’s not impolite to say you are not interested and hang up.

Don’t be rushed – check it out

Say no to any salesperson that pressures you to make an immediate decision. If he or she doesn’t have the time to explain the investment to your regular investment professional, or other party, or if they ask “Can’t you make your own investment decisions?” Say ‘NO!’You have the right and responsibility to check out the salesperson, firm, and the investment opportunity itself. Before you even consider investing, get the prospectus, review it carefully, and make sure you understand all the risks involved. But remember, even written material sent from the promoter can be fraudulent or misleading.

Always stay in charge of your money

Don’t be taken in by anyone who wants your money and assures you that he or she is a professional and can handle everything. Beware of any financial professional who suggests putting your money into something you don’t understand. And never let yourself be talked into leaving everything in his or her hands.

Always watch over and protect your nest egg

Never trust anyone who wants you to turn over your money to them and then sit back and wait for results. If you understand little about the world of investments, take the time to educate yourself. Constant vigilance is a necessary part of being an investor.

Never judge a person’s integrity by how they look or sound

Far too many investors who are wiped out by con artists later explain that the swindler “looked and sounded so professional.” Successful con artists sound extremely professional and have the ability to make even the flimsiest investment deal sound as safe as putting money in the bank. Remember that sincerity in a voice, especially on the phone, has no bearing on the soundness of an investment opportunity. Always do the necessary homework.

Watch out for salespeople that prey on your fears

Con artists know that many investors, particularly older investors, worry that they will either outlive their savings or see all of their financial resources vanish overnight as the result of a catastrophic event. It’s quite common for swindlers and abusive salespeople to pitch their schemes as a way to build up life savings to the point where such fears are no longer necessary. Remember that fear and greed can cloud your good judgment and leave you in a much worse financial posture.

Exercise particular caution if you have limited or no experience handling money

Ask a con artist to describe his ideal victim and you’re likely to hear “elderly widow or widower.” Many people now in their retirement years have limited knowledge about handling money. They often relied on their spouses to handle most or all money decisions. Those who have received windfall insurance in the wake of the death of a spouse are prime targets for con artists. People who are on their own for the first time in years should always seek advice of family members or impartial professionals before deciding what to do with their money.

Monitor your investments and ask tough questions

Too many investors trust unscrupulous investment professionals and outright con artists to make financial decisions for them. They then compound their error by failing to keep an eye on the progress of the investment. Insist on regular written reports. Check the written information. Look for excessive or unauthorised trading in your funds. Don’t be swayed by assurances that such practices are routine or in your best interest. Don’t permit a sense of friendship or trust to keep you from demanding this information. If you suspect something is wrong and you don’t get satisfactory answers, get help.

Look for trouble retrieving your principal or cashing out profits

If a stockbroker, financial planner, or other individual stalls you when you want to pull out your principal or profits, demand to know why. Since unscrupulous investment promoters have probably pocketed the funds of their victims, they will go to great lengths to explain why your savings are not available.

Don’t let embarrassment or fear keep you from reporting investment fraud

Investors who fail to report that they’ve been victimised often hesitate out of embarrassment. Con artists know all about such sensitivities.

They count on these fears preventing or delaying the time when the authorities will be notified about the scam. It’s true that most money lost to investment fraud is rarely recovered. In many cases, however, when investors recognised early that they’d been misled, they were able to recover some or all of their funds by being a “squeaky wheel”.

Copyright PUNCH.