Institutions, businesses, and individuals can all fall victim to investment scams, in turn suffering considerable financial and reputational harm. These sophisticated schemes are orchestrated by serious and organised crime syndicates. By employing pressure tactics and promising too-good-to-be-true returns, they will swindle your savings and vanish.
Don’t lose your hard-earned money to an investment scam. A fraud investigation will unearth actionable evidence of the suspected crime that can be used to help recover your assets and prosecute the culprit.
Leveraging a global network of whistleblowers, expert witnesses and exclusive resources, bfr is a world leader in fraud investigation. Our skilled investigators rack down the offenders behind complex cyber-enabled frauds, uncover the money trail and bring to light strategic cyber threat intelligence about internet fraudsters’ financial operations, physical locations and identity details.
Book a consultation for our fraud investigation service today.
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Investigate investment fraud worldwide with bfr
bfr conducts serious fraud investigations by utilising extensive intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, advanced cybercrime investigation methods and strategic profiling of suspects for civil and criminal action.
In addition, our skilled investigators work with internal legal experts who specialise in cross-border fraud and global asset recovery services in foreign jurisdictions. Using this expertise, we can freeze bank accounts and assets associated with offenders involved in serious fraud.
In recent years, bfr has received law enforcement awards, plaques of recognition and commendations for uncovering major cyber fraud networks and syndicates whilst disrupting large-scale fraud gangs working in Asia, Europe and Central America.
Securities fraud
Securities fraud is also referred to as stock or investment fraud and is one of the many illegal operations targeted by Bureaus FTC Report’s international investigative services. These types of scams involve deceptive practices relating to commodities and stocks, intending to fraudulently profit off investors.
bfr has recovered millions of dollars for victims of fraud and continually manages complex class action lawsuits for large investor groups targeted by international internet fraudsters.
Cryptocurrency scam
A growing number of fraudsters are using cryptocurrency to scam their victims, due to the difficulty in reversing blockchain transactions and the lack of regulatory protections.
Cryptocurrency scams can take several forms. Individuals can be victims of crypto fraud through investments in scam currencies. It can also include digital heists where hackers steal cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum from individuals and large cryptocurrency exchanges.
An example of this type of attack is the large-scale theft of more than $32 million from Japan’s Bitpoint exchange. This follows on from the massive $500million hacking operation that targeted another exchange, Coincheck.
This type of fraud investigation must trace the transaction to the offender’s cryptocurrency wallet, before gathering intelligence to reveal their identity. This painstaking process demands the professional expertise and particular resources of renowned investigators like bfr.
Binary options fraud
Binary trading scams are used to defraud investors of millions of dollars every year. They promise quick returns through the prediction of asset, commodity or index prices over a short period.
While many licenced firms trade in them as legitimate financial services, investment in binary options is high-risk with returns that are almost impossible to predict, even for professionals. This system of investment is often co-opted by scammers.
Forex scams
Traders can be lured into investing large sums of money with the promise of high returns in foreign exchange fraud operations.
Forex scams rose to prominence in 2008 when currency trading first began to emerge as a common form of investment fraud. Because one trader’s gain is another trader’s loss, the foreign exchange market runs as a zero-loss game in the best-case scenario.
Once you factor in brokerage and other transaction fees the overall investment landscape becomes a negative-loss proposition. While forex trading is not always fraudulent by definition, there are large numbers of scams associated with the industry, making it a hotbed of potential scams.
Sports betting fraud
Sports betting scams are presented as legitimate investment opportunities under a range of guises. These can include the promotion of impressive-sounding computer prediction software that supposedly uses advanced data algorithms to predict sporting results based on the analysis of previous events.
Victims can also be lured in by betting syndicates or punters clubs which require the investor to set up a sports betting account and make regular deposits. In these cases, the scammers promise to make winning bets on behalf of the victim but in reality, drain the accounts of money and launder these funds for their own profit.
Ponzi and pyramid schemes
A Ponzi scheme operates by using funds from new investors to repay earlier ones, without any legitimate underlying investment to generate returns. As the scheme grows, the promised returns become unsustainable because there are no genuine investments to generate profits.
Eventually, the scheme collapses when the operator can no longer meet the expected payments to investors. When this happens, investors often lose their entire investment as the fraudster typically spends the money on personal expenses, hastening the scheme’s demise.
Similarly, a pyramid scheme involves recruiting new investors to earn returns, rather than selling genuine products or services. While genuine multi-level marketing exists, pyramid schemes lack a legitimate underlying business, making their sustainability reliant solely on recruiting new participants.
Fraud investigation with a proven track record
Expert fraud investigations
Our fraud investigators, analysts and researchers have been collecting evidence to locate investment scammers around the world for over 30 years. With our unrivalled investigative skills on your side, you can maximise the chances of recovering your losses.
Worldwide resources
bfr works closely with state, federal and international law enforcement agencies across the globe. Our fraud investigators can also collaborate with local and foreign correspondent lawyers to uncover money trails and hidden assets in almost any country.
Dynamic strategies
Harnessing direct access to local databases, confidential witnesses, cybercrime and cyber forensic experts, and a network of confidential informants, bfr uses myriad techniques to conduct fraud investigations into the most intricate investment scams.
Actionable evidence
Whichever jurisdiction the scam operates within, bfr can compile comprehensive intelligence for criminal proceedings. Equipped with actionable evidence of the offender’s identity and actions, you may pursue legal action and recover your stolen funds.
Powerful results
As one of the world’s leading fraud investigation firms, bfr has played a crucial role in supporting international law enforcement agencies in dismantling serious and organised crime groups. Our provision of pivotal evidence has led to significant police operations, arrests, and prosecutions worldwide.
Complete discretion
bfr performs every investment fraud investigation with exceptional professionalism, sensitivity and discretion. To protect client privacy, we encrypt all personal data and will only ever disclose case information with your explicit consent.
Investment fraudsters to watch out for
Bureaus FTC Report is actively investigating complaints about the following fraudulent investment companies:
Frequently asked questions
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In an investment scam, the orchestrator coerces their victim into investing funds with promises of substantial financial gains within a short timeframe. Perpetrators of these scams often project an air of legitimacy and expertise, inundating victims with facts and figures to make their investment proposition seem lucrative.
There are three primary types of investment scams:
- The investment offer is entirely fabricated.
- The investment does exist, but funds provided to the scammer are not allocated towards that investment.
- The scammer falsely claims affiliation with a reputable company.
Regardless of the scenario, funds ‘invested’ are directed straight into the scammer’s bank account, rather than towards any legitimate investment. Recovering lost funds becomes exceedingly challenging if the scammer is based overseas.
Investment fraud can operate from any location, facilitated through telephone or internet communications. These scams utilise technology that conceals both the location and identity of the perpetrators.
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Investment scams may have the following red flags:
- Promises of guaranteed, fast, and exceptionally high investment returns
- Pressure tactics to urge immediate action to prevent ‘missing out’
- Offering commissions for involvement in options trading or foreign currency trading to expand the client base and attract new investors
- Online communications about the investment from a so-called friend or romantic interest whom you’ve never met in person
- False news stories, social media posts or advertisements of celebrity endorsements
- Requests for you to recruit friends and family to participate in the scheme in exchange for commission
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To avoid falling victim to investment fraud, always follow the below steps:
- Exercise caution when considering ‘investment opportunities’ that promise high returns with minimal risk, such as real estate and property ventures, stock promotions, foreign currency trading, superannuation schemes, and binary options.
- Be aware that scammers might impersonate genuine investment firms when contacting you, even though they are not employed by the firm. Once you agree to invest, your funds will not be allocated to the investment.
- Do not disclose your personal information to individuals contacting you via phone or email offering investment opportunities or financial advice, especially if you have not met them in person. Hang up or delete the email.
- Refuse to succumb to pressure when making decisions about your finances or investments, including superannuation. Simply hang up and ignore any further attempts to contact you.
- Verify the legitimacy of an investment by contacting the company through a number listed on its official website, rather than one provided by the caller. Inquire whether the individual who contacted you is a current employee proposing a legitimate business opportunity.
- Seek advice from friends and family before committing to any investment opportunities. They may provide valuable insights and identify potential warning signs.
- If in Australia, consult ASIC’s list of companies you should avoid. If the company that contacted you is listed, refrain from engaging with them.
- If in Australia, confirm that the company holds a valid Australian Financial Services licence, as scammers operating from overseas are unlikely to possess this mandatory licence.
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Investment scams are often conducted on an international scale, spanning multiple jurisdictions. This tactic aims to impede law enforcement efforts in tracking down scammers and complicate the process of investors recovering their assets.
If you are situated in Australia, it is advisable to report such scams to the ACCC via its ‘report a scam’ page. This allows others to be alerted to ongoing scams and facilitates potential disruptions. For individuals located outside Australia, these scams should be reported to the relevant local authority.
Additionally, it is essential to report the scam through your national fraud reporting portal. For instance, in Australia, you can report it via www.cyber.gov.au, while in the USA, you can use www.ic3.gov, in the UK, www.actionfraud.police.uk, and in Canada, www.antifraudcentre.ca.
If you have fallen victim to an investment scam, we are here to assist you. Please reach out to us to book a consultation. Our team can perform a thorough fraud investigation to gather actionable evidence for asset recovery through legal proceedings.
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An investment fraud investigator uncovers and analyses information linked to alleged or potentially illicit activities to determine the presence of deceit or theft.
Possessing a distinct skill set, we leverage decades of expertise to navigate complex investigations and yield precise, favourable outcomes.
- The process of fraud investigation can encompass several components, including:
- Collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders possessing relevant knowledge.
- Gathering intelligence pertinent to the case.
- Conducting comprehensive analyses of transactions.
- Employing cyber forensics techniques.
To get started, book a consultation with bfr now.
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Due to the legal complexities of cyber scams, a favourable outcome is never assured from an online fraud investigation. Nevertheless, actionable evidence against the perpetrators increases the likelihood of being able to initiate legal action, which may lead to asset recovery through court proceedings.
At bfr, our investigators will conduct an initial evaluation of your case to identify any commercial or financial risks associated with the investigation. We will also offer advice on the practical prospects of recovery. Armed with this expert guidance, you can make an educated decision regarding your desire to engage our services.
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Should your funds become entangled in another jurisdiction, you may be able to recover them through relevant court proceedings or private settlement negotiations.
A resolution becomes increasingly plausible once bfr has secured substantial legal leverage against the perpetrators.
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The length of an investment fraud investigation is contingent upon its complexity and whether legal proceedings are underway. Typically, bfr can locate the perpetrators within one to three months.
Following this milestone, a recovery plan must be enacted based on the findings of the investigation. This typically involves drafting an initial demand letter, which, if disregarded, leads to legal recourse such as filing a lawsuit and/or lodging a criminal complaint, along with close collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
In such instances, bfr investigators can aid law enforcement authorities in obtaining search warrants and/or pressing criminal charges against the culprit, ultimately resulting in their arrest and prosecution.
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The key features of fraud revolve around deceit and dishonesty. Consequently, as the alleged victim, you must demonstrate that your decision to transfer funds was influenced by the fraudulent misrepresentations made by the scammer regarding the supposed investment.
The skilled investigators at bfr will handle the next steps, gathering hard evidence of fraud to satisfy the criminal burden of proof required in courts across the globe.
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The cost of conducting an investment fraud investigation depends on the complexity of the scam, the monetary stakes involved, and the jurisdiction from which the perpetrators operate.
Typically, investigations become more arduous and costly as losses escalate – especially if funds have been dispersed across multiple financial entities or platforms.
bfr’s experienced investigators will create a customised plan of action for your specific case, allocating resources strategically to maximise the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Philippines National Police 
Californian Association of Licensed Investigators 
NSW Police Force 
Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission 