Taking Advantage of a “Senior Moment”, Florida Investment Fraud Targets Retirees

Florida investment fraud often focuses on retired seniors who are trying to rebuild a "nest egg" in the wake of the market collapse. Fraudsters depend on seniors being uninformed and trusting, and will try to sell complicated investments that sound completely secure, but end up leaving investors completely broke. These fraudsters know that as a senior, you're worried about having enough money to cover your costs after retirement, and will try to play upon those fears to pressure you into risky or outright fake investments.

How Can I Protect Myself from Florida Investment Scams?

You should always be suspicious of anyone offering "guaranteed" high returns on an investment. However, if you are considering an investment and you're unsure if it's legitimate, take these few extra steps to be sure your "nest egg" is safe:

• Sleep on it. Never make a decision immediately. If you feel any pressure to invest right away, or if you are told that you must act now or miss the opportunity, it is a huge "red flag" that you are being roped into an investment scam.
• Check up on your broker. Con artists make their money by being charming and appearing trustworthy. If someone is asking for your money, it is never wrong or "rude" to be sure they are what they claim. There are many resources available to be sure the salesperson is licensed and qualified. You may also want look into any past complaint history.
• Talk about it with a friend. Sometimes being able to discuss the opportunity with someone you trust helps you see parts of the deal that are suspect. A friend or family member may be able to see pitfalls or suspicious activities that you didn't see at first.
• Get everything in writing. Be sure you get a copy of every document, and review them at home after the meeting to be sure there is no "fine print." The deal should always be exactly the same on paper as what was offered at the meeting.

The securities arbitration attorneys with Meyer Wilson understand how losing your "nest egg" can mean losing your quality of life. We represent retirees nationwide in stockbroker mediation, arbitration, and litigation, and we may be able to help you recover your losses. Give us a call toll-free at 1-866-8-BROKER, or use our confidential online contact form. To thank you for visiting our site, we'd also like to send you a FREE copy of our book Five Signs of Investment Fraud...And What to Do if It's Happened to You.