Scam Prevention & Assistance Resources
While many of the most common scams—such as relationship scams and government impersonator scams—are carried out by unlicensed individuals and might not directly involve accounts held at investment firms, the losses can impact the overall wellbeing of customers, as well as the value of customer accounts.
Financial professionals and firms might be among the first to hear from a customer about a potential scam and be in a position to assist the customer in identifying red flags to ultimately avoid victimization. In some cases, professionals are tasked with assisting customers after they have incurred losses due to a scam.
Investment professionals and firms are welcome to leverage and amplify scam prevention resources from FINRA and other trusted organizations through your own communications channels, such as newsletters, websites and social media.
Training for Front-Line Staff
View and share live and on demand Financial Crimes Spotlight Webinars with client-facing staff so that they are in a better position to protect customers from scam threats.
WATCH ON DEMAND TRAINING WEBINARS
Investor Content and Articles
FINRA’s Protect Your Money content can help customers build knowledge and avoid problems such as the latest frauds, which all too often are perpetrated by people outside FINRA's jurisdiction.
In addition, many of FINRA’s Investor Insights articles address the variety of frauds and scams targeting consumers.
EXPLORE AND SHARE INVESTOR INSIGHTS
Social Media
Both FINRA and the FINRA Foundation maintain social media accounts through which we share relevant and bite-sized investor education and fraud prevention tools and information. Firms are permitted to share our posts with customers.
Scam Awareness Fact Sheets
Research demonstrates that knowledge about scams and the tactics of scammers is key to preventing victimization. Download and share these factsheets with your customers to help them learn to spot and avoid scams.
- Broker Imposter Scams
- Relationship Investment Scams (aka, Pig Butchering)
- Crypto Investment Scams
Assisting Victims of Fraud & Scams
Prevention is an important part of combating financial scams. However, fraud claims victims in spite of preventive methods. When fraud occurs, many victims are left to cope with the aftermath of compromised identities and financial loss, as well as a painful range of emotions including guilt, embarrassment and intense shame.
This collection of resources can help firms, consumer advocates and family members assist fraud victims, from determining the type of fraud and reporting it to the proper authorities to finding support to address the social and emotional impacts.
Helplines & Support Groups
Helplines
- AARP’s Fraud Watch NetworkTM Helpline is a free resource for AARP members and nonmembers alike. Trained fraud specialists and volunteers field thousands of calls each month. Get guidance you can trust, free of judgment. Call 877-908-3360, toll-free Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
- The FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors® provides older investors with a supportive place to get assistance from knowledgeable FINRA staff related to concerns they have with their brokerage accounts and investments, including concerns about investment scams. Call 844-57-HELPS (844-574-3577) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Support Groups
- In collaboration with the FINRA Foundation, Give an Hour offers free, virtual Peer Group Programs led by mental health counselors for both scam victims and supportive family members.
- The FINRA Foundation works with FightCybercrime (the Cybercrime Support Network) to provide free, counselor-led, virtual Romance Scam Recovery Groups for individuals to work through the loss, embarrassment, and isolation that can accompany romance scams.
Additional Resources
Share consumer-focused tips and fraud awareness resources from the FINRA Foundation, SEC, State Regulators, FTC and more.
FINRA Foundation Fraud Fighter Resources
The FINRA Foundation offers training and tools for both consumers and professionals in a position to educate and assist consumers impacted by fraud.
SEC’s Investor.gov
The SEC provides investor updates, fraud awareness videos and resources to help consumers protect their investments.
NASAA Investor Information and Multimedia Library
NASAA and its state and provincial regulator members offer a variety of investor education and fraud prevention resources for investors of all ages.
FTC Consumer Alerts on Scams
The Federal Trade Commission issues consumer alerts about the latest scams, and provides information on avoiding, reporting, and recovering from them.
BBB Scams HQ
BBB provides information and resources on the various types of scams, as well as the warning signs to watch out for while online, on the phone, or when an unusual text message is received.
AARP Fraud Watch Network
AARP’s team of fraud fighters has the real-world tips and tools to help protect you and your customers.
Research on Consumer Financial Fraud
The FINRA Foundation and its partners are at the forefront of research to better understand the prevalence and types of financial frauds committed in the U.S., behavioral and neurological risk factors, and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at protecting consumers.
EXPLORE THE FINRA FOUNDATION RESEARCH CENTER
Contact Investor Education
Christine Kieffer and Rob Mascio
FINRA, Office of Investor Education
1700 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 728-6964