Investment Scams

Advance Fee Scams: Fraudsters convince victims to send them money upfront for a promised service or product that never materializes.

Fake and non-existent product scams: You pay money for a product from an overseas factory and they never deliver any product or the product you receive is nothing like what you ordered.

Fake Investment Scams: Deceptive schemes that promise high returns but ultimately steal victims’ money. This can include Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes.

Forex scams: Fraudulent investment opportunities in the foreign exchange market (Forex).

Ponzi Schemes: A fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to investors from funds contributed by new investors, not from legitimate profits.

Pyramid Schemes: Multi-Level Marketing (MLMs) schemes that focus on recruitment rather than product sales, resembling a pyramid structure.

Other Scams

Bank Switch Scams: Deception used to trick victims into sending money to the wrong bank account.

Come to Nigeria and Ghana Scams: Fraudulent schemes that lure victims to China with promises of business opportunities or romance, then steal their money or passports.

Cryptocurrency Scams: Deceptive practices involving cryptocurrencies, such as fake initial coin offerings (ICOs) or pyramid schemes.

Credit Card Processing Scams: Schemes involving fraudulent use of credit card processing systems.

Fake Educational Institution Scams: Deceptive institutions that promise degrees or diplomas but lack accreditation or legitimacy.

Fake Lawyer Scams: Impersonating lawyers to defraud victims by offering fake legal services or manipulating them into unnecessary legal fees.

Fake “Love” and “Friendship” Scams: Deceptive online relationships built to gain the victim’s trust and ultimately steal their money or personal information. Also known as Butchering the pig scams.

Fake Notary Scams: Impersonating a notary public to steal personal information or facilitate other fraudulent activities.

Horse Breeding Scams: Deceptive schemes involving the buying or selling of horses, often with inflated prices or fake pedigrees.

Real Estate Scams: Deceptive practices used to defraud buyers or sellers in real estate transactions.

Wine Future Scams: Fraudulent schemes involving investments in future wine vintages, often with inflated prices or nonexistent contracts.

In the past couple years, our internet fraud lawyers have seen a dramatic rise in Butchering the Pig Scams, These deceptive online relationship schemes involve fraudsters building trust with victims (often through romantic or friendly online relationships) over time, before manipulating them into making increasingly large investments in fraudulent ventures. Often, the scammers exploit the emotional connection to pressure victims into continuing to invest, even when faced with red flags or suspicious activity. These scams can be particularly devastating, as they often leave victims with significant financial and emotional distress.

If you think you’ve been scammed, reach out to us right away so we can help.