Appendix:
Useful Resources
The next time you are tempted by a fantastic investment opportunity, evaluate it against the Ponzi checklist below. If you check off even one of the items listed below, think twice about investing.
This checklist also holds true for any investment. Never hand over your money without first comparing your potential investment against this list.
Ponzi Checklist
Investor Protection and Other Resources
There is a wealth of investor protection and fraud awareness information on the Internet. Below are just a few of the government agencies and nonprofit organizations who provide fraud tips, alerts and interesting case histories.
United States
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
www.sec.gov
Check the investor tools section
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
www.finra.org
www.saveandinvest.org/fraudcenter/
Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force
www.stopfraud.gov
Federal Bureau of Investigation
www.fbi.gov
See Scams and Safety tab
North American Securities Administrators Association
www.nasaa.org
See the Top Investors Threats section
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
www.acfe.com
See the Fraud Resources section
Canada
B.C. Securities Commission
www.befraudaware.ca
www.investright.org
Ontario Securities Commission
www.osc.gov.on.ca/en/investors
The Canadian Foundation for Advancement of
Investor Rights
www.faircanada.ca
See Investor Resources section
Canadian Securities Administrators
www.securities-administrators.ca
RCMP
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/inv-fra-eng.htm
Information on investment and securities fraud
Association of Certified Forensic Investigators of Canada
www.acfi.ca