a financier guide to averting microcap fraud

All investment opportunities need to be studied carefully so that you won’t be pulled into a scam. Studying an investment will also allow you to know if it’s for you. Some investments are meant for specific profile types. You should be able to weigh the plus and minuses of every investment opportunity. So, always beware of hot investment tips like a stock pick for the day. It’s possible that the stock is being jockeyed and you can get burned in the stock market. There are plenty of people getting burned in the stock market because of penny stock offers.

Penny stock offers are many and varied and all of them tempting. They can flood your inbox with “once-in-a-lifetime” offers. These email messages are often well-written and designed, with persuasive words and convincing testimonials from upwardly-mobile-looking personages. Phrases such as “hot penny stocks,” “best penny stocks,” “top penny stock picks” the list goes on and ever on are quite often used. If you don’t know much about stock trading, there’s a higher-than-average probability that you’ll plump for the deal and pray to strike it rich. If, on the other hand, you’ve learned from your own or others’ experience, you’ll know deep in your gut that this just might be another fraudulent offering.

Well then, how can you tell if it’s a scam? Easier said than done, really. But there are some common signs you can look out for:

One sign to be wary of are astronomical returns, or if they guarantee success in the stocks. Stocks are risky investments. There are no guaranteed returns to it. Astronomical returns are possible but rare. You need to have been able to time the market well and your stock pick was right on target. But usually, returns from the stock market don’t reach the sky. They are higher than most investment vehicles but not absurd returns. Bottom line is foolproof returns are impossible. Only savings can boast of safety.

Second, scams usually say the deals are for a limited time only and the investment price is very cheap. This makes you think the coast is clear and you will be getting a bargain. But once again, not doing due diligence on any investment is the biggest risk you can take. You can lose all your money in that single lapse of judgment.

Next, the testimonials and claims are often very persuasive and impressive. This should send another bell ringing in your head. Check out their claims and see if they are true. More often than not, they are lies, blatant lies at that.

The important thing to do is to not be gullible. Always be skeptical and do due diligence by checking their SEC records. Make sure they are duly licensed and their information can be checked for legitimacy. They have to have a good reputation and a long track history before you can even think of investing your hard earned money with them.

You should never cave in to pressure to invest in something. Patience has its virtues in making money. Always remember the rule 1 in investing is to never lose money. By remaining skeptical and doing due diligence, the odds of losing money is significantly lessened. Success comes from investing in companies with great fundamentals for a long term horizon.

The journalist who wrote this paper has identified a capital structure expert named Josh Yudell. I believe Josh Yudell to be widely considered an expert in the fields of investor relations, SEC compliance, corporate finance and capital structure.