Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

SEC Emblem
Investor.gov
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Auxiliary Header

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Follow Us
  • Información en Español
Please enter some keywords to search

Main navigation

  • Introduction to Investing
    • Getting Started
      • Five Questions to Ask Before You Invest
      • Understanding Fees
      • Asset Allocation
      • Assessing Your Risk Tolerance
      • Investing on Your Own
      • Working with an Investment Professional
      • Researching Investments
    • Investing Basics
      • Save and Invest
      • Invest For Your Goals
      • How Stock Markets Work
      • Investment Products
      • What is Risk?
      • Role of the SEC
      • Glossary
    • General Resources
      • Investor Alerts & Bulletins
      • Publications and Research
      • Useful Websites
  • Financial Tools & Calculators
    • Financial Tools
      • Investment Professional Background Check
      • Fund Analyzer
      • Retirement Ballpark E$timate
      • Social Security Retirement Estimator
    • Calculators
      • Calculadora de interés compuesto
      • Compound Interest Calculator
      • Savings Goal Calculator
      • Required Minimum Distribution Calculator
      • College Savings Calculator
  • Protect Your Investments
    • Fraud
      • Types of Fraud
      • How to Avoid Fraud
      • Resources for Victims
    • Get Help
      • Submit Questions and Complaints
      • Arbitration and Mediation Clinics
  • Additional Resources
    • Spotlight
      • Crypto Assets
      • HoweyTrade
      • World Investor Week
      • Director's Take
      • Investing Quizzes
      • Microcap Fraud
      • Public Service Campaign (new) – “Investomania”
      • Public Service Campaign (prior videos)
    • Retirement Toolkit
      • First Job
      • Switching Jobs
      • Employer-Sponsored Plans
      • Federal Government Plans
      • Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
      • Managing Lifetime Income
      • Senior Specialist Designations
      • Social Security
      • Avoiding Retirement Fraud
    • Information For:
      • Librarians
      • Teachers
      • Military
      • Veterans
      • Native Americans
      • Seniors
      • Youth

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Protect Your Investments

Main navigation

  • Types of Fraud
    • Affinity Fraud
    • Advance Fee Fraud
    • Binary Options Fraud
    • High Yield Investment Programs
    • Internet and Social Media Fraud
    • Microcap Fraud
    • Ponzi Scheme
    • Pre-IPO Investment Scams
    • Pyramid Schemes
    • “Prime Bank” Investments
    • Promissory Notes
    • Pump and Dump Schemes
  • How to Avoid Fraud
    • How to Avoid Scams – VIDEOS
    • Protect Your Social Media Accounts
    • Red Flags of Investment Fraud Checklist
    • What You Can Do to Avoid Investment Fraud
  • Resources for Victims

Types of Fraud

Investment fraud comes in many forms. Whether you are a first-time investor or have been investing for many years, here are some basic facts you should know about different types of fraud.

Affinity Fraud
Advance Fee Fraud 
Binary Options Fraud
High Yield Investment Programs
Internet and Social Media Fraud
Microcap Fraud
Ponzi Scheme
Pre-IPO Investment Scams
Pyramid Schemes
"Prime Bank" Investments
Promissory Notes
Pump and Dump Schemes

Information on the following frauds is available on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission website at the links below.

Commodity Pool Fraud
Foreign Currency Trading Fraud
Precious Metals Fraud

Featured Content

Top 10 New Year’s Investing Resolutions

Consider including some investing resolutions as part of your plan for 2023!

Would you invest in HoweyTrade?

Watch our mock video to see what real scams can look like.

Crypto Assets

See our spotlight page to expand your knowledge and understand the risks of investing in crypto assets.

Investing Quiz – January 2023

Test your knowledge of Ponzi schemes, CUSIP numbers, “blue sky” laws, and more! 

Tweets by @SEC_Investor_Ed

Sign up for Investor Updates

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Site Information

  • SEC.gov
  • MyMoney.gov
  • FOIA
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
  • USA.gov
  • Disclaimer
Return to Top