Monday, January 31, 2011

a financier guide to averting micro-capitalization fraud

By Jeffery Larson


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.

One common investment proposal that you will find littering your inbox is penny stock offers. They are very persuasive and if you don't think with your mind, you will easily fall to their trap of absurd return claims and ultra convincing testimonials. It gets worse if you don't have basic financial literacy or if you do not know anything about the stock market. You will easily fall into the trap and lose your money.

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.

Next, penny stock scams tell you that their offer is for a limited time only and that you are getting a steal by investing now only and that the prices right now are a bargain. While it is true the prices could be a bargain, it will take an intensive research to do that. Such claims need to be verified and unless they can prove it, then you have to remain skeptical. Plus the stock market is always there. There is no such thing as a limited duration offer. You can avail stocks any time you want by having an account with your broker.

These offers also try to persuade you with their glittering success stories. Again, this is one strategy that never gets old in tricking people into the scam. You should research these claims carefully. In fact, ask the company to provide proof of their claims.

So how can you tell which penny stock offers are scams? It's not easy; but it's not that hard either. Don't be gullible; don't be easily fooled. Verify the stock's authenticity, and the credibility of the broker or promoter touting it. Check their company records, which ought to be available online; if they're not forthcoming with their information, then there's something wrong. Make sure the company offering the shares has legitimate state and federal licenses to do business. Always double-check to see if such companies are registered with the SEC.

Never be pressured to make an investment decision. Always give time to study the offer before making a sound decision. Success is not instant, especially with stock investments. You have to learn about stocks, and about trading. Long term is often the best strategy in stock investment. Just look at Warren Buffet.




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