The digital world is full of opportunities for fast profits. From initial coin offerings to day trading, the opportunities to invest your money and make it grow faster are almost endless.
But with so many opportunities out there, how do you know which ones are trustworthy? The rapid growth of cryptocurrencies has also led to an increase in scams and fraud schemes involving digital money.
As such, it’s important that you understand the risks and engage several cryptocurrency fraud lawyers before investing in any cryptocurrency. And considering its rather unregulated nature, the risk of fraud when dealing with virtual currencies is higher than with traditional investments.
These tips will help you identify potential red flags when evaluating any opportunity related to virtual currencies.
1. Exchanges That Require Very Little Information To Start Trading
If an exchange requires very little information to start trading, it’s a sign that the exchange is not thoroughly vetting its customers. This leaves the exchange open to money laundering and other financial crimes.
This is particularly important to keep in mind when investing in cryptocurrencies because all transactions are irreversible. Once you send money to a fraudulent exchange, there’s no way to get your money back.
2. No Annual Or No-Fee Commitments
The terms of your investment should be set in a contract. Be wary of any platform that doesn’t require you to sign a contract. If the people running the platform don’t want you to sign a contract, they may be hoping to escape the legal consequences of breaking their promises if the platform fails to meet its projected returns or goals.
That’s why it’s important to have everything you’re investing in—including the ICO—in writing and reviewed by a team of cryptocurrency fraud lawyers.
You should also be cautious if the deal sounds too good to be true. Be wary if a platform promises extremely high-interest rates or returns with no risk. Legitimate investments will require you to make some sort of commitment, like putting money into a savings account or stocks.
3. Vague Identities Of The People Involved In The ICO And Its Development Team
Beware of platforms that don’t list their team members’ names, let alone their backgrounds. Legitimate companies will be happy to provide this information. This is because the people behind the platform want to be transparent about their identities and qualifications.
If the people behind the platform are hesitant about listing their names and backgrounds, it’s a sign that they are trying to hide something. It could be that they have criminal records or that they’re unqualified to manage the platform.
Even if the exchange is not engaging in any illegal activities, a lack of thorough vetting is still a red flag. An exchange that doesn’t require identification is more likely to make mistakes (such as accidentally violating the law) that could impact its customers’ investments.
4. Escrow Shouldn’t Be Optional
You should be suspicious if the platform doesn’t mention escrow. Escrow services help to secure funding by holding investments in a third-party account.
If the wallet or person you’re transacting with receives money before the transaction is complete, there’s nothing stopping them from disappearing with the money. An escrow account makes it so the money is put in a third-party account until each party is satisfied.
5. The Exchange Uses a Strange Address
It’s important to read up on the history of the address used by the exchange or crypto wallet platform. Keep an eye out for any past scandals or lawsuits involving the address.
You can do your research and use online tools like Google Street View to see what the actual address looks like. This will help you determine if the address is legitimate.
But how do you know what’s too good to be true? If you’re not sure about an ICO, it’s important to do your research.
The Key Takeaway: Stay Informed About the Latest Scams
The digital world has created a new generation of investors. However, the same general guidelines for investing apply to these new investors just as much as they do to experienced investors.
That said, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It’s important to do your research before investing your money in any opportunity.
Learn about the signs of a potential scam and keep an eye out for red flags that could indicate a company is a scam. It’s also a good idea to consult with cryptocurrency fraud lawyers and read articles published by trusted publications that discuss possible scams related to virtual currencies and the crypto industry.
This will help you to identify potential red flags before putting your money at risk.
But as important as it is to be cautious when it comes to investing, it’s also important to remember that investing is a long-term process. You’re not going to be able to make a fortune by day trading or investing overnight. It takes time to build lasting wealth in the crypto business.
