Scammers targeting your retirement funds - Self-directed IRAs are becoming a risky business
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scammers-targeting-your-retirement-funds-2013-10-23
(To what level will people stoop to make money? - From what is happening, there is no level which is too low. Can an investor trust an 'investment advisor' when the advisor has a vested interest in earning a commission as a part of your investment proceeds, while you take the risk.? While this article is about the US market - it is just a cautionary advise to be absolutely certain and verify from independent sources when 'investment advise' is offered (at all times) and especially when it pertains to retirement funds)
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The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) reports that scam artists pitching self-directed IRAs is now among the top 10 threats facing investors today. To be sure, self-directed IRAs can be a safe way to invest retirement funds, NASAA said in release. But investors should be mindful of potential fraudulent schemes when considering a self-directed IRA.
NASAA is warning investors “fraud promoters pushing a Ponzi scheme or other investment fraud can misrepresent the responsibilities of self-directed IRA custodians in order to deceive investors into believing that their investments are legitimate or protected against losses.”
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scammers-targeting-your-retirement-funds-2013-10-23
(To what level will people stoop to make money? - From what is happening, there is no level which is too low. Can an investor trust an 'investment advisor' when the advisor has a vested interest in earning a commission as a part of your investment proceeds, while you take the risk.? While this article is about the US market - it is just a cautionary advise to be absolutely certain and verify from independent sources when 'investment advise' is offered (at all times) and especially when it pertains to retirement funds)
Excerpt
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The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) reports that scam artists pitching self-directed IRAs is now among the top 10 threats facing investors today. To be sure, self-directed IRAs can be a safe way to invest retirement funds, NASAA said in release. But investors should be mindful of potential fraudulent schemes when considering a self-directed IRA.
NASAA is warning investors “fraud promoters pushing a Ponzi scheme or other investment fraud can misrepresent the responsibilities of self-directed IRA custodians in order to deceive investors into believing that their investments are legitimate or protected against losses.”