Spotting Investment Scams
Unlicensed brokers and high‑pressure ‘VIP’ schemes turn deposits into blocked withdrawals. Use this guide to evaluate offers before you fund—and to document issues if you already did.
Classic red flags
- Guaranteed returns or secret strategies.
- Deposit escalations to unlock “VIP” benefits.
- Withdrawal blockers: taxes/fees first, KYC penalties, “AML holds”.
- Private messaging only, evasive about company identity.
Quick evaluation checklist
- Exact legal entity and jurisdiction provided up front.
- Where funds actually settle (custodian, bank, exchange).
- Written complaints and withdrawals process with timelines.
- Independent reconciliation outside their dashboard.
If you already funded
- Stop sending money; export statements and chat logs.
- Attempt a small withdrawal and capture the response.
- Start your evidence pack and timeline.
- Consider a dispute strategy.
Need help applying this?
Open a case and we’ll tailor the steps to your situation.