Contrary to popular perception, it’s not just the most vulnerable or gullible among us who fall prey to financial scams. The list of Bernard Madoff’s 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Ponzi scheme victims, to cite one famous example, included people who you might think would know better.

Professional con artists are just that: professionals. They are very good at what they do, whether it’s 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:credit repair scams, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:COVID-19 scams, or 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:whatever might be the latest twist. Despite a wealth of information on how to spot and avoid scams here at In🌊vestopedia and on the websites of government agencies that deal with the problem every day, many people still find themselves sucked in.༺ What should you do if you become one of them?

Listen to Your Suspicions

If the person you’ve been dealing with stops returning your calls, this could be a sign that something is amiss. If you aren’t receiving regular account statements, or if your statements show unexplained losses or consistent returns despite the ups and downs of the market, those could be signs, as well. And if you get the runaround when you try to make withdrawals, your money could be long gon♓e.

Report It to Authorities

Approximately one in 10 adults in the United States are victims of fraud each year, and collectively, Americans lose billions of dollars to fraud annually, according to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Financial Industry Reg𒊎ulatory Authority (F💯INRA). And remember, these statistics only account for people who report fraud. Many don’t.

If you suspect that you are the victim of a scam, make sure to report it. 🤪Doing so may help you and prevent others from falling prey to the same scam.

Depending on the nature ✅of your compl🍌aint, agencies that might be of assistance include the , your local FBI office, your state attorney general, and . You also might want to consult a private attorney, especially if your loss was substantial.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Investment fraud victims can file reports via the FINRA Investor Complaint Center. It has an online form that investors can use to report problems with brokerage firms and brokers, as well as links to file complaints with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Securities and Excha♔nge Commission (SEC), the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历ও史查询:Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:National Futures Association (NFA).

Make Careful Notes and Save the Evidence

FINRA recommends creating a “fraud file.” This entails gathering documentation related to the fraud and keeping it in a secure location. Depending on the nature of the scam, your file should, at the very least, include a written timeline of events and the alleged scammer’s name and contact information.

Also, keep copies of any account statements you received, along with canceled checks, emails, and other relevant documents. Canceled checks, for exampꦯle, could help investigators trace where the money was deposited.

Don’t Blame Yourself

Even though you may have missed what now seem like obvious red flags, you aren’t the first, and you likely won’t be the last. So, don’t be ဣtoo🐈 hard on yourself. Remember, you aren’t the criminal. The one who stole from you is the criminal.

Don’t Expect Too Much

Unfortunately, your 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:odds of getting all your money back are pretty slim. Many experts say you’ll be lucky to receive even pennies on the dollar. Still, you might get something back, but you’re sure to get ꦦnothing if you don’t report it.&nbs🍰p;

You also might be eligible for a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:tax deduction, as with some other types of thefts. 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts, explains what to do. Note that some of the special tax rules enacted after the Madoff scandal now apply to the victims of Ponzi schemes. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Bottom Line

Many victims 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:try to avoid scams in the first place. Still, if you’re ensnared by one, by all means, report it, both for your o🔯wn good and others, and avoid using unscrupulous credit repair companies. If you want help to fix your credit, research the best credit repair companies.

Above all, report the scam. If nothing else, you might have the satisfaction of helping to put a scam artist out of business—at least for a while.