Investment scams promise high returns, without financial risk. Use this information to report and protect your investments. Report Investment Scams Report investment scams to the right government agency. File a complaint about an investment or an investment account with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Report pyramid or Ponzi schemes to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Report investment scams by state-licensed companies to your state's securities administrator. The SEC may forward your complaint to the investment company. It will request that the company reply to your complaint. The FTC will not research your individual case of investment fraud. How to Protect Yourself Remember these tips to avoid experiencing an investment scam: Do Research investment opportunities and investment professionals. Your state securities regulator and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority offer information. Learn where the investment and the investment professional have registered. It may be in your state or with other regulators. Get all the details of an investment in writing, but still do your own research. Ask questions about costs, timing, risks, and other issues. Don’t Don’t give in to pressure to invest immediately. Don’t be influenced by promises that seem too good to be true. These promises may include “guaranteed earnings” or “risk-free” investments. Don’t invest just because the investment professional seems nice, trustworthy, or has professional titles. Don’t invest based on claims that other people, "just like you", have invested. Don’t feel obligated to invest, even if the professional gave you a gift, lunch, or reduced their fees.