INVESTING FRAUD -
Resources from Alberta Securities Commission
We are very proud to have partnered with the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) to provide you with resources to protect yourself from investment fraud. The ASC is the expert here in Alberta that is responsible for administering the province’s securities laws and protecting investors. One of the goals of the ASC is to ensure that those who sell securities in Alberta are registered and that they conduct themselves according to applicable laws and professional standards. They also strive to protect investors from improper, misleading or fraudulent practices while allowing our capital market to thrive.
Did you know that most people spend more time buying a car or planning a vacation than investing in their savings? This is often because many people don’t know where to start. Here is a guide to help you understand the basics of investing and help you start your investing journey.
Do you, or an older adult in your life have any financial concerns? Are you unsure how to read your bills, financial statements, or other financial documentation? Here is a checklist that you can fill out where you can determine what your financial concerns are. Just follow the link below, print off the checklist, and fill it out. At the end of the day, it is your money and there are supports available to help increase your financial and investment literacy.
Choosing a financial advisor can be a big decision. A financial advisor can help set your financial goals, choose investments that fit your goals, and track your progress. This session will go through some questions you should be asking your next or current financial advisor.
CLICK HERE to download Questions To Ask When Looking For A Financial Advisor
Security regulators work with the Canadian Securities Administrator (CSA) to protect investors in Canada. As an investor, you have certain rights through statutes, regulations, and policies. The Canadian Securities Administrator (CSA) ensures that registered firms and advisors ensure that these rights are abided by. Do you know your rights as an investor? Check out this resource to increase your financial literacy by learning your basic rights as an investor.
Did you know that most people turn to friends and family for investing advice? Scam artists take advantage of the trust you have in people you are close with in order to orchestrate an investment fraud – this is called “affinity fraud”. Scam artists will first befriend a respected or influential member of a group who then recruits new investors. During affinity fraud, investors lose their hard-earned money to individuals they thought they could trust. Here is a resource you can read to help defend yourself and your money against this fraud.
CLICK HERE to download The Affinity-Fraud-Prevention-Checklist
Did you know that a mutual fund is a type of investment fund? An investment fund is a collection of investments, such as stocks, bonds, or other funds. Unlike most other types of investment funds, mutual funds are “open-ended,” meaning as more people invest, the fund issues new units or shares. You can learn more about mutual funds and how you can incorporate them into your investment portfolio by reading this detailed guide.
We would all like to find a great investment that guarantees financial security, but unfortunately, some investment opportunities are just too good to be true. If an investment opportunity you’re interested in sounds too good to be true, it may be a scam in disguise. Check out this resource to see what the common red flags of investment scams are.
Scammers are working hard to separate you from your hard-earned money, investments, and assets that took you a lifetime to accumulate. This lesson has 10 self-defense tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of an investment scam. Follow the link to learn these tips and strengthen your defense against fraud and when you are done, make sure to share these tips with your friends and family!
We all seem to know someone who is talking about how they are investing in cryptocurrencies and how easy it is to make money. Cryptocurrencies are digital coins or tokens that act as a more efficient medium of exchange over the internet for goods and services. With this new currency or bartering system comes concerns of fraud and scams. Before investing in cryptocurrencies, we encourage you to read this guide to cryptocurrencies so you are informed about how the world of cryptocurrency works. And if you know someone who is thinking about investing in cryptocurrency, make sure you share this information with them!
Have you heard or read about certain stocks gaining lots of attention on social media? These stocks are called “meme stocks” because they gain lots of attention on social media and then their share price increases very quickly. Unfortunately, if you base your investment decisions using trends and information on social media, the result can be disastrous to your finances and investments. You can learn more about why it is not a good idea to hop on the bandwagon and invest in stocks that are popular on social media by reading the following resource.
Do you know what a Robo-advisor is? Robo-advisors are governed by complex mathematical rules and algorithms designed by investment managers, financial advisors, and data scientists. Robo-advisors provide investors with a diverse investment portfolio that is based on the risk level that is chosen by the investor. Robo-advisors are a good option for individuals who want to use an automated advisor and want to take a more low-key approach to investing, but a robo-advisor may not be a good investing option for you. You can learn more about what robo-advisors are and if they are a good option for you by clicking the link below.
Did you know that although there are new scams and frauds reported on a regular basis, they are normally based on a certain category of scams? To learn more about these scams and how to protect your hard-earned money, follow the link below.
Although scammers are trying to get your hard-earned money, there are ways to educate and protect yourself against investment fraud. This resource will help you spot and stop investment fraud by providing you with some tips on how to protect yourself against fraud.
CLICK HERE to download Spot and Stop Senior Investment Fraud
None of us like this think about older adults like our parents, grandparents, or friends and family members being a victim of abuse, but unfortunately, it happens. Did you know that financial abuse is the most commonly reported form of elder abuse in Alberta? As a person ages, changes in their ability to make important decisions and difficulties with memory loss can increase their chances of being a victim of financial abuse. Click here to learn about common types of scams targeted at seniors, signs that a senior may be at risk: and what to do if you believe a senior might be at risk:
CLICK HERE to download – Protecting-seniors-from-financial-abuse-and-investment-fraud
Did you know that there are numerous reasons that a financial advisor may require you to name a trusted contact person to attach to your financial account(s)? The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) also strongly recommends that you add a trusted contact person to your financial account(s). Click here to learn
· WHAT IS IT?
· WHY HAVE ONE?
· WHO SHOULD HAVE ONE?
· HOW WOULD HAVING A TRUSTED CONTACT PERSON HELP YOU
CLICK HERE to download Do You Have a Trusted Contact Person?
Free Download
The Alberta Securities Commission has created a fantastic handbook called DON’T BE FOOLED BY FRAUD – A GUIDE TO PROTECTING YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY. This handbook teaches us “To stop it, we need to understand it.” As we all know Investment scams are a dime a dozen, but did you know that many fraudsters follow a series of steps that are easy to identify if you know what to look for? It’s a playbook of sorts — while the scam may look different on the surface, the fraudster’s plays are mostly the same. Download this fantastic resource and remember…share the information inside with family and friends!
