Des Moines ā The Iowa Insurance Division is alerting investors to be on guard against an anticipated surge of fraudulent investment schemes amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
āIn these extraordinary times the health and welfare of our people is our first concern, and that includes financial health,ā said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. āScammers will begin perpetrating schemes that require little or no advance planning and minimal sophistication. Most will simply be old scams dressed up in new clothing. Especially in these times of market and economic challenges, investors must stay calm, keep their eyes on the longer term ābig pictureā and remain vigilant to protect themselves.ā
In particular, the Iowa Insurance Division warned investors to be on the lookout for investments specifically tied to the threat of COVID-19. Bad actors can be expected to develop schemes that falsely purport to raise capital for companies manufacturing surgical masks and gowns, producing ventilators and other medical equipment, distributing small-molecule drugs and other preventative pharmaceuticals, or manufacturing vaccines and miracle cures. The schemes often appear legitimate because they draw upon current news, medical reports and social and political developments.
Scammers also will seek to take advantage of concerns with the volatility in the securities markets to promote āsafeā investments with āguaranteed returnsā including investments tied to gold, silver and other commodities; oil and gas; and real estate. Investors also can expect to see āget rich quickā schemes that tout quickly earned guaranteed returns that can be used to pay for rent, utilities or other expenses. These schemes also target retirees and senior citizens, falsely claiming they can quickly and safely recoup any losses to their retirement portfolios.
āInvestors should stay clear of anything sounding too good to be true, such as guarantees of high returns with no risk,ā Ommen said. āIowans can double-check with our office to make sure the investment and the person offering the investment are properly licensed or registered.ā
Iowans can contact the Iowa Insurance Division at iid.iowa.gov or 877-955-1212.
Schemes to Watch for and How to Protect Yourself
- Private placements and off-market securities. Scammers will take advantage of concerns with the regulated securities market to promote off-market private deals. These schemes will continue to pose a threat to retail investors because private securities transactions are not subject to review by federal or state regulators nor are they subject to due diligence by a broker-dealer or investment adviser. Retail investors should only invest in such private offerings when they understand the investment and the industry in which it operates and have independently verified the facts for themselves.
- Gold, silver and other commodities. Scammers may also take advantage of the decline in the public securities markets by selling fraudulent investments in gold, silver and other commodities that are not tied to the stock market. These assets may also be attractive because they are often promoted as āsafeā or āguaranteedā as hedging against inflation and mitigating systematic risks. However, scammers may conceal hidden fees and mark-ups, and the illiquidity of the assets may prevent retail investors from selling the assets for fair market value. The bottom line is there really are no ācanāt missā opportunities.
- Recovery schemes. Retail investors should be wary of buy-low sell-high recovery schemes. For example, scammers will begin promoting investments tied to oil and gas, encouraging investors to purchase working or direct interests now so they can recognize significant gains after the price of oil recovers. Scammers will also begin selling equity at a discount, promising the value of the investments will significantly increase when the markets strengthen. Investors needs to appreciate the risks associated with any prediction of future performance and recognize that gains in the markets may not correlate with the profitability of their investments.
- Get-rich-quick schemes. Scammers will capitalize on the increased unemployment rate. They falsely tout their ability to quickly earn guaranteed returns that can be used to pay for rent, utilities or other expenses. They also target retirees and senior citizens, falsely claiming they can quickly and safely recoup any losses to their retirement portfolios. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Replacement and swap schemes. Investors should be wary of any unlicensed person encouraging them to liquidate their investments and use the proceeds to invest in more stable, more profitable products. Investors may pay considerable fees when liquidating the investments, and the new products often fail to provide the promised stability or profitability. Advisors may need to be registered before promoting these transactions and legally required to disclose hidden fees, mark-ups and other costs.
- Real estate schemes. Real estate investments may prove appealing because the real estate market has been strong and low interest rates have been increasing the demand for housing. Scammers often promote these schemes as safe and secure, claiming real estate can be sold and the proceeds can be used to cover any losses. However, real estate investments present significant risks, and changes to the economy and the real estate market may negatively impact the performance of the products.
How to Protect Yourself
- Ask questions and research the investment and person offering it. Investors should always ask if the salesperson and the investment itself are properly licensed or registered. This information can be confirmed by the Iowa Insurance Division. Investors also can check FINRAās BrokerCheck. Avoid doing business with anyone who is not properly licensed.
- Donāt fall for phishing scams. Scammers may use the coronavirus outbreak to make their phishing attacks harder to resist. Phishing is a type of cyber-attack in which the attacker pretends to be a legitimate organization in order to steal your data or money. Scammers may claim an association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization or claim to offer novel or expert medical advice or services. They may even impersonate government personnel. Is the World Health Organization really emailing you? These emails may look real and sound good, but any unsolicited emails that have attachments and web links can point to dangerous websites and malicious attachments that can steal information from your computer, lock it up for ransom, or steal your identity.
- There are no miracle cures. Scientists and medical professionals have yet to discover a medical breakthrough or have developed a vaccine or means to cure COVID-19. Not surprisingly, the vaccines being sold by online pharmacies are not real. You should not send money or make payments over the phone to anyone claiming they can prevent COVID-19, have a vaccine or other preventive medicine.
- Avoid fraudulent charity schemes. White-collar criminals may pose as charities soliciting money for those affected by COVID-19. Before donating, you should independently verify any charity that is raising money for the sick or secure donations to help uninsured persons pay for medical treatment. You should also avoid online solicitations for cash and gift cards, as these schemes have become a popular way for scammers to steal money. Think with your head and not with your heart. If you want to donate to a cause, you should work with a legitimate, established organization.
- Be wary of schemes tied to government assistance or economic relief. The federal government may send checks to the public as part of an economic stimulus effort. It will not, however, require the prepayment of fees, the advance payment of a processing fee or any other type of charge. Anyone who demands prepayment will almost certainly steal your money. Donāt give out or verify any personal information either. Government officials already have your information. No federal or state government agency will call you and ask for personal information.
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