Ever wonder if you're at a high risk for investment fraud? You can find out using this unique -- and free -- tool.
It's the fraud Risk Meter. Created by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, it's based on the latest research on financial fraud. You can find out whether you're at a low, medium, or high risk for investment fraud by answering a few questions such as these:
1. Have you ever checked with a securities regulator to see whether an investment professional was licensed before you did business with that person?
2. Have you considered, or would you consider, an investment that a friend, family member or co-worker recommended?
3. Have you attended an investment seminar with a free meal?
Your fraud risk profile
The fraud Risk Meter compares your responses with the findings of two research studies -- a 2007 Senior Fraud Risk Survey by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, and a 2006 Investor Fraud Study by the Consumer Fraud Research Group -- that examined how known investment fraud victims differ from non-victims.
Based on your responses to the questions, the Risk Meter gives you a total score and places you in a green, yellow, or red zone when it comes to investment fraud risk.
That's not all. The tool explains why your answers to various questions make you a fraud risk.
For example, if you answered "yes" to the question, "Have you attended an investment seminar with a free meal?" the tool explains why that's a risky type of behavior. It's because victims of investment fraud are three times more likely than non-victims to have attended at least one "free meal" investment seminar.
Use the Risk Meter today to find out how susceptible you are to financial fraud.
To learn more about financial fraud, go to www.saveandinvest.org.
FINRA is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. Our chief role is to protect investors by maintaining the fairness of the U.S. capital markets. FINRA does not endorse, sponsor, or guarantee, nor is it sponsored by, any advertisers on this site, and any dealings with those advertisers are solely between you and the advertisers.
