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Provided by the Oklahoma Securities Commission and the University of Oklahoma OUtreach
Whether in person, over the phone or on the Internet, scam artists are waiting to separate you
from your money. They succeed, because their methods are increasingly complex, confusing and ever-changing.
Over the next 26 weeks, The Investor Weekly will provide readers with straightforward,
non-biased, factual information as a resource for making sound investment choices.
We will address important investment topics such as common financial scams confronting
Oklahomans, the ABCs of mutual funds, and cultivating relationships with investment advisers.
The Investor Weekly, is part of the Invest Ed
Investment Literacy Project, an investment education partnership between the Oklahoma Securities Commission and
the University of Oklahoma Outreach.
“This partnership offers us a great opportunity to reach a broad range of Oklahomans about
the importance of understanding investing, making sound financial choices and avoiding fraud and abuse," said Irving
Faught, Oklahoma Securities Commission Administrator.
The Investor Weekly is supported by the Investment Minute, a series of 130 investment
education radio spots, now airing Monday-Friday on your favorite radio stations and the Invest Ed Web Site at
www.investedok.org.
Here are a few tips to ensure that you or someone you know does not fall prey to
some of the current fraud scams out there today:
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Ask for detailed information regarding any investment, and get it all in writing.
Then verify everything they tell you through outside sources, like the Oklahoma Department of Securities, the
state attorney general’s office or the Better Business Bureau.
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Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics. If they don’t want to give you time to
think about it, the only “opportunity” you’ll be missing out on is to lose your money.
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Remember that claims of profit potential are often outrageous for a reason.
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Don’t believe you can get something for nothing.
Luckily, common sense can be your greatest weapon in this fight. The first step is simply
being aware of the different types of scams affecting our state. Next week, we’ll cover 5 of the most common investment
fraud schemes.
For more information, listen for the Investment Minute on your
local radio station or visit the Invest Ed web site at www.investedok.org.
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Web site Design/Development/ Flash: Malinda Brown,
Center for Independent and Distance Learning