We are all aware that there can be a fine line between a legal company going out of business and investment fraud — something could happen to turn a business into a fraudulent entity, or a scam could be put in place and operated to appear as a legitimate investment opportunity. Yet regardless of how investment fraud originates, if you get stung, the crucial thing to remember is to not give up hope.
Our tough, business-savvy team of investment fraud lawyers at Pearl Lemon Legal offers professional guidance and support in a wide range of investment fraud situations. We have a track record of successfully assisting creditors and investors in recouping cash, both domestically and internationally, with a focus on cases involving cryptocurrency scams and binary option trading misconduct.
Give yourself the best opportunity to recover your money. Get in touch with us for further details about how a Pearl Lemon Legal investment fraud lawyer can help.
Protect Yourself Against Investment Scams
Investments are never without risk, but the risk is exponentially greater for individuals who are not aware of the tricks used by predatory scammers. Identifying the warning indicators of investment fraud is the first line of defence against being a victim of a scam:
- The old adage remains true: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Beware of unauthorised calls, texts, emails, or letters that offer one-time investment opportunities.
- Avoid being pushed into making an investment of any kind. Give yourself time to conduct your research, so you can decide with confidence.
- Consult a governmental organisation, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or a reputable independent financial practitioner for guidance.
- Avoid getting conned twice. Avoid follow-on frauds, where con artists sell the information of victims to other con artists.
However, as you’ll know from the many stories seen in the media, even those who do their due diligence can fall victim to investment fraud. The second safeguard against losing out to investment fraud is to recover your funds by exercising your creditor rights to do so.
In a variety of investment fraud and scam situations, our investment fraud lawyers have successfully recovered money for our clients who were the victims of:
Cloned companies
Another unfortunate by-product of the rise of the Internet as a place to do business, in this con, the scam artist gives the impression of speaking for a legitimate business. Often, a very convincing fake website will be created, and while it may resemble the real company’s website almost exactly, the contact information will usually be different.
This is one investment fraud scenario in which our experienced investment fraud lawyers have seen people who genuinely thought they were too savvy to ‘get conned’ become embroiled. Fortunately, we have had the experience and dedication to help them unravel the mystery of who the scammers really are and regain their funds.
Support for Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin Fraud Cases
Bitcoins are unregulated, and over the past four years, their value has ranged from £1.30 to £751. The bitcoin market is unregulated, and neither a central bank’s reserves nor a government provide support for the currency’s value. Scams of many kinds are feasible, and at Pearl Lemon Legal we’ve seen and dealt with a lot of them.
Assistance with Property Investment Fraud
Property fraud often involves con artists promising a “get rich quick” property investment scam and boasting that it can make victims a fortune in real estate.
Typically, victims go to a free seminar on how to invest in property and make money. The con artists may convince them to part with money in exchange for enrolling in a seminar or course that claims to teach them how to do this.
Or, they can be given the option to purchase yet to be built properties at a discount. Victims might decide to invest some or perhaps all of their hard-earned funds in real estate because they believe it is a quick way to build wealth.
Investors are unaware that the land is either used for agriculture or is abandoned. It is frequently unsuitable for development or will undoubtedly be denied planning permission. They can consequently lose every penny they invested.
Buy-to-let fraud is another version, where businesses offer to find, remodel, and manage homes while claiming to generate significant returns from rental income. In reality, the homes are almost basically abandoned, considered derelict and there are no renters.
Help with Wine and Fine Art Fraud Cases
Over the years, there have been a lot of clever fine wine frauds. Even if the wine’s worth doesn’t increase, you can always drink it, is a common statement made in these frauds, giving them a somewhat innocent appearance. That presupposes the wine has ever been bought, which in many cases it hasn’t.
Similar scams are often seen in the art world, and this is an area of investment fraud law that is being made even more complex in the face of the rise in the perceived value of digital art and NFT offerings.
It often takes a very experienced investment fraud lawyer with a strong knowledge of the digital world to help clients in these types of situations regain their funds. Fortunately, there are a number of these on the Pearl Lemon Legal team.
Legal Advice for Carbon Credit Scams
The lack of centralised oversight in the carbon credit sector leaves it vulnerable to fraud. Credits are valued differently in each jurisdiction, and the absence of principal legislation can make it challenging to trace a credit’s provenance.
This could imply that the subject of an investigation isn’t even aware that the credits are fake or fraudulent. In some circumstances, the very existence of evidence of fraudulent credit may be contested. In this case, the help and advice of an experienced investment fraud lawyer is almost always a must.
Addressing Pyramid and Ponzi Scheme Losses
Pyramid and Ponzi schemes are some of the oldest types of investment fraud and can be some of the most damaging to those caught up in them. As old as they are though, new schemes are seen all the time, and they find new victims every day.
The investment fraud lawyers at Pearl Lemon Legal are committed to helping those caught up in these frauds in any way possible, both on an individual and multi-party level.
Recovering Losses from Mis-sold Investments
In our work as investment fraud lawyers, we have gained substantial knowledge of the sophisticated methods investment scams use target investors and how they are operated, as well as how professional misfeasance can result in people losing money.
Due to our experience, we are well-positioned to assist investors and creditors in receiving recompense by holding dishonest businesspeople and professionals accountable.
Expert Legal Help for Investment Fraud Cases
We help clients recover assets lost to investment fraud, even when businesses have provided false information. Using proven strategies, our team specializes in asset tracing and recovery across domestic and international jurisdictions. Working alongside forensic accountants, legal professionals, and fraud organizations, we identify and secure funds effectively.
Victims of investment fraud have several legal options, such as filing a winding-up petition against the fraudulent corporation. This process involves investigating the company and its responsible parties to recover funds. Our experienced fraud lawyers collaborate with insolvency practitioners and liquidators to ensure the best approach for holding accountable parties liable for financial losses.
From tackling fraudulent investments to addressing corporate deception, our dedicated legal team is here to help secure your assets and protect your interests.
To prosecute an individual fraudster under civil law for misappropriated funds, there must be evidence of violations such as misfeasance, misrepresentation, or unjust enrichment. Our team works to access crucial information, often available through investigative or prosecuting agencies, especially when the fraudster has a criminal conviction. Unlike criminal cases, civil proceedings require proof based on a balance of probabilities, making the process more accessible for victims.
Our investment fraud lawyers represent both individuals and businesses in recovering losses. We also handle class actions (multi-party lawsuits) for cases where multiple victims have been defrauded. This allows clients to share costs and pursue legal action more efficiently.
With expertise in asset tracing and recovery within the UK and internationally, we develop effective legal strategies tailored to your needs and financial considerations. Whether dealing with investment fraud or other corporate disputes, we provide reliable and affordable legal support to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Victims of investment fraud can pursue civil actions, such as filing lawsuits for restitution or joining class actions. Our team will help you determine the most suitable legal strategy.
Yes, our team can investigate and pursue asset recovery through civil proceedings, even without a criminal conviction, depending on the evidence available.
We collaborate with forensic accountants, legal professionals, and fraud organizations worldwide to locate and secure assets across jurisdictions.
Our services are designed to be flexible and transparent. During the initial consultation, we’ll outline potential costs and discuss options to suit your budget.
We handle a wide range of cases, including cryptocurrency scams, property fraud, Ponzi schemes, and mis-sold investments such as pensions or bonds.
