Investment Scams
Investment scams normally appear out of the blue and promise very high returns with little to no risk. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Protect yourself from investment scams
According to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) statistics, every year Australians lose more money to investment scams than any other type of scam. Investment scams normally appear out of the blue and promise very high returns with little to no risk. In this case the old saying is correct – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
In all cases, money spent in an investment scam never goes to a real investment, it goes straight into a scammer’s bank account.
For up-to-date information on current scams in Australia, you can visit scamwatch.gov.au.
Common types of investment scams
Fake cryptocurrency
Unsolicited calls with investment opportunities
Romance baiting
Fake celebrity endorsements
Ponzi schemes
Superannuation theft
Always remember
Tip: You can look at ASIC’s financial advisers register or their list of companies you should not deal with as a good starting point.
Pause
Don’t invest straight away. Stop and think about the investment opportunity and how legitimate it is.
Review
Do your research. Are you confident that the company or person providing you financial advice is real?
Ask
If you’re still unsure, show a family member, friend or even a financial advisor who you know and trust and ask for their opinion before handing your money over.
How can I recognise an investment scam?
If someone contacts you out of the blue to offer you financial advice or a new investment opportunity be wary as this is most likely a scam. Keeping an eye out for the following could help you to determine that it may be a scam.
Scammers might:
contact you repeatedly for various investment opportunities
promise large returns on your investment with little to no risk
use high-pressure tactics to encourage you to act quickly
use fake celebrity-endorsements to make the investment more appealing
ask you to deposit funds into multiple different accounts.
How do I protect myself from investment scams?
There are a few simple things you can do to identify, avoid and protect yourself from falling victim to investment scams.
Remember to:
not engage in unsolicited phone calls offering you financial advice
always do your research before investing money, especially if it sounds too good to be true
never feel pressured into making a decision – even if you are given an urgent deadline or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
check if the financial advisor who is offering you financial advice is registered via the ASIC financial advisers register
check ASIC’s list of companies you should not deal with
I think I’ve been scammed, what should I do?
If you think you’ve been scammed and potentially lost money or given personal banking information to someone you should not have, please contact our friendly customer service team immediately on 1300 654 822 and they will assist you.