Introduction to Understanding and Avoiding Fraud and Scams

Investment frauds and scams do damage not just on a personal level—there have even been mass uprisings in nations because of them. The more powerful and well orchestrated the fraud, the better its ability to penetrate throughout a society. And once the damage is done, you can’t always count on getting your money back; it simply may not be there anymore, and neither may the perpetrators.

Frauds and scams have been with us for thousands of years. They are not always easy to spot, but once you know the signs (and the signs tend to be similar no matter the type of scam), you can start asking the right questions. Let’s look at several of the most common types and what you can do if you are ensnared. At the end of the tutorial, we will provide resources to use and places where you can report scams.