The office of the Mississippi Secretary of State (SOS) urges investors to beware of con artists seeking to capitalize on fear and uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic. Never make an investment decision without understanding what you are investing in, who you are doing business with, where your money is going, how it will be used, and how you can get it back.
Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any concerns about the investment professional you are working with or the product being offered, please contact the SOS Securities Division at 601-359-1334.
To help investors identify common telltale signs of possible investment fraud, we've provided three questions to ask before making a new investment.
- Is the investment being offered with a guaranteed high return with little or no risk? All investments carry risk that you may potentially lose some or all of your money. Anyone who says their investment offer has no risk is lying. No one can guarantee an investment return.
- Is there a sense of urgency or limited availability surrounding the investment? If the offer is legitimate, it will be there later. If someone offers you a “can’t miss” investment opportunity and puts you on the spot, don’t be afraid to walk away.
- Is the person offering the investment, and the investment itself, properly licensed or registered? For the same reasons you wouldn’t go to an unlicensed doctor or dentist, you should avoid unregistered investment salespeople and their products.