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Do the research. Check for a trial period. Get a broker report. Be a smart spender. Recognize Ponzi schemes.

Article:
Investing your money is not something you should rush into. To best avoid scams, you should first read up on the steps of investing. Make sure you know the basics ins and outs of investing your money, especially online, before you commit your time and money. An investment scam often does not include trial-periods or customer satisfaction. Before you invest your money, invest your time researching the terms and conditions of the products. If an investor is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, you may be able to get reports that include information such as investor qualifications, reliability, and employment history. This can illuminate any past problems or concerns prior to investing. Avoid Ponzi, pump and dump, and other common investment fraud schemes. In today's internet marketplace, it is easy to share your financial information to scams. Do not pay upfront or pay anyone unless you are absolutely sure where your money is going to go. The schemes pay the current investor by using money from new investors. It is a common fraud that collapse due to no legitimate income. Some red flags include: Promise of high return with no risk. Unregistered and/or unlicensed sellers. Difficulty receiving payments. Secretive or overtly complicated strategies.