The Investor Protection Trust
The Investor Protection Trust is a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. The primary mission of IPT is to provide independent, objective information needed by consumers to make informed investment decisions. Founded in 1993 as part of a multi-state settlement, IPT serves as an independent source of non- commercial investor education. IPT operates programs under its own auspices and uses grants to underwrite important initiatives carried out by other organizations. This web page is an opportunity for Atlantans to advance the need for investor education.
WABE has been airing Investment Education minutes and news stories covering investment fraud.
Click here to join the IPT Discussion Forum
Investor Protection Radio Series
Part 1: Identity Theft/ Mortgage Fraud Click Here to Listen
After years of being number one in the nation for mortgage fraud, Georgia has finally slipped a few rungs down the ladder. But it is still hovering near the top.. and a big part of the problem stems from identity theft. In our occasional series on investment fraud, Susan Mittleman reports on a victim- turned advocate —on keeping your home and your identity safer.
Part 2: Hitman Scam Uncovered Click Here to Listen
Criminals are getting more creative - and bold - when it comes to trying to separate you from your money through fraud scams. Susan Mittleman reports on one of the newest email scams - in our occasional series on Fraud.
Part 3: Atlanta Police Say Old Ponzi Scheme Reborn Click Here to Listen
We’ve heard about various ponzi schemes- investments that pay early investors with money garnered from later investors, until they go bust. One recent case was based on Atlanta’s thriving real estate market, attracted investors nationwide - many of whom lost thousands of dollars. Susan Mittleman has this report as part of our occasional series on investment fraud.
Part 4: Senior Fraud Click Here to Listen
When it comes to fraud, senior citizens are often vulnerable victims because they may just not know what to look out for. In our occasional series on investment fraud, Susan Mittleman reports on one way some folks are trying to educate themselves, their families and their communities on how to keep their hard-earned money from landing in the wrong hands.
Part 5: Senior Fraud Terminology Click Here to Listen
Elderly citizens are often vulnerable targets of fraud. As part of our ongoing series on investment fraud, Susan Mittleman reviewed some basic terminology and some do’s and don’ts for seniors with Jim Baggett — a volunteer leader with Georgia’s AARP’s Fraud Fighters.
Part 6: Holiday Fraud Prevention Tips Click Here to Listen
Federal Trade Commission estimates that nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year.
Part 7: Advance Fee Fraud: an old scheme with new tricks Click Here to Listen
One of the most enduring scams is the advance-fee fraud - whereby a scam artist convinces his victim to send money, usually overseas. It’s more successful than ever, largely thanks to the Internet which provides scammers easy access to victims, victims’ personal information, and anonymity.
Part 8: Bank Fraud Click Here to Listen
Computer technology has streamlined banking. Most of the time, that’s to our benefit - we can pay our bills online and get cash from an ATM. But there is a dark side, too — computers make it easier to commit bank fraud. As part of WABE’s continuing series on consumer fraud, Philip Graitcer takes a look at how one businessman became a victim.
Part 9: Identity Theft Click Here to Listen Anyone can be a victim of identity theft. According to a Federal Trade Commission report, over 8-hundred cases of identity theft are reported in Atlanta each year, As part of WABE’s continuing series on consumer fraud, Philip Graitcer reports that identity theft can be a devastating crime with lasting impact
Part 10: Penny Stocks Part 1 Click Here to Listen You can be a victim of investment fraud even if the scammer doesn’t know you… even if it’s a stock you’re investing in… and even if that stock is legitimate. As part of our occasional series on investment fraud, Joshua Levs has the first of two reports now on how scammers are using penny stocks and the Internet to defraud Americans out of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Part 11: Penny Stocks Part 2 Click Here to Listen If you invest in stocks, you might become a victim of fraud without having any indication at all… until it’s too late. In the second of two reports on penny-stock scams and the Internet, here’s Joshua Levs.
Part 12: Message Boards Click Here to Listen You can find an online message board on just about anything: religion, romance, sports. You can get or give advice — all while staying virtually anonymous. There are a lot of pros…but it’s the con-artists investors have to worry about. Eve Chen reports on message board scams in our occasional series on investment fraud…
Part 13: Nigerian Scams Click Here to Listen The Nigerian scam is know by names like the “419 scam” — referring to a section of the Nigerian criminal code — or more simply, “Advance Fee Fraud.” The scam is a time-tested formula that produces the same result: victims willingly fork over money they’ll never see again to people they’ve never met. Jayne Solinger reports.
Part 14: David Sawyer Profile Click Here to Listen What if you suspect that your business partner is secretly stealing from you? Not nicking office supplies but diverting funds into another account or worse. Or you are going through a divorce and think your spouse may be hiding quite a bit of money. Who are you gonna call? Maybe someone like David Sawyer. Sawyer is a Fraud Examiner- a forensic accountant and CPA- A CSI for White Collar Crime. Reporter Kelley Colihan has this profile.
Investment Protection News
How much should it cost to protect your identity in Georgia?
Lawmakers mulled that question today while considering a bill allowing consumers to freeze their credit. WABE’s Charles Edwards reportsClick here to listen
Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams
The Internet serves as an excellent tool for investors, allowing them to easily and inexpensively research investment opportunities. But the Internet is also an excellent tool for fraudsters. That’s why you should always think twice before you invest your money in any opportunity you learn about through the Internet.
This alert tells you how to spot different types of Internet fraud, what the SEC is doing to fight Internet investment scams, and how to use the Internet to invest wisely. Read More from the SEC »
Investment Fraud Awareness Quiz
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and the Canadian Securities Administrators have collaborated on a quiz to help you identify your vulnerability to fraud. Take our 12-question quiz and learn what you can do to avoid becoming a victim of investment fraud.
