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Throughout the nation, investment fraud is growing like wildfire, with new scams and new victims every day.

We have compiled the Top 5 Scams to watch out for:

1. SENIOR INVESTMENT FRAUD: Volatile stock markets, record low interest rates, rising health care costs, and increasing life expectancy have combined to create an ideal environment for investment fraud against seniors. Older Citizens are being targeted with increasingly complex investment scams involving unregistered securities, promissory notes, viatical products and Ponzi schemes, all promising inflated returns.
   
   
2. PROMISSORY NOTES: These short-term debt instruments are often sold by independent insurance agents and issued by little known or non-existent companies promising high returns - upwards of 15 percent a month - with little or no risk. When interest rates are low, investors may be lured by the higher, fixed returns that promissory notes offer. These notes, however, can become vehicles for fraud when the issuer of the note has no intention of ever delivering the claimed returns.
   
   
3. VARIABLE ANNUITIES: Sales of variable annuities have increased dramatically over the past decade. As sales have risen, so too have complaints from investors. Too often, clients aren’t told about high surrender charges and the steep sales commissions agents often earn when they move investors into variable annuities. Some investors are often not informed that variable annuity returns are not guaranteed - they are subject to the volatility of the stock market. The benefits of variable annuities, including tax deferral, come with strings attached and additional costs. High commissions often are the driving force for sales of these products, which are unsuitable for many retirees. In fact, variable annuities make sense only for consumers willing to invest for 10 years or longer.
   
   
4. UNSCRUPULOUS BROKERS & AGENTS: Despite the stock market’s recent rebound, regulators are still receiving high numbers of complaints from investors of brokers cutting corners or resorting to outright fraud to fatten their wallets. Investors should carefully scrutinize their account statements and immediately raise a red flag about any questionable charges or transactions. While most independent insurance agents are honest professionals, some are lured by high commissions into selling fraudulent or high-risk investments, such as promissory notes, ATM and payphone investment contracts and viatical settlements. Similar products are sometimes offered by stockbrokers, in a process that is called “selling away.” If a broker or agent offers you this kind of high risk or fraudulent investment, just say “No!”
   
   
5. AFFINITY FRAUD: Con artists know that its only human nature to trust people who share common interests or beliefs. That’s why scammers often use their victims religious or ethnic identity to gain their trust, and then steal their life savings. And no group is immune from fraud. Regulators have uncovered many schemes in which victims were targeted and approached through their church affiliation or membership in fraternal or ethnic organizations. No matter where you hear about an investment or who presents it to you, always exercise caution and thoroughly check out an offer before investing.

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