How to Avoid Offshore Fraud
As far as scams go, offshore frauds can be particularly difficult to detect. There are many great offshore opportunities that can help you to save on taxes. The fact that there are genuine opportunities available means that it can be a bit hit and miss whether you are choosing a reliable opportunity or not. That is unless you know exactly what to look out for.
The Differences between a Genuine Opportunity and a Scam
A genuine offshore investment will be researchable. This means that you will be able to find consumer reviews of the bank and you will be able to see how long it has been in business. They will also be chartered. One of the main ways to spot a fraudulent offshore investment is if it isn’t chartered.
In the UK you can see if a bank is authorised by visiting the FSA Register online. This will list all of the internet banks that are authorised and trustworthy. There is a list on the FSA website that states which banks are currently unauthorised too. It is advised that if you deal with these banks that you take caution. Any investment opportunities that you are presented with from an unauthorised bank could be a fraud.
Another way to tell if the opportunity is genuine is where you were approached by the company? Whilst genuine opportunities may contact you, most of the time it is fraudulent companies that seek out new customers through email. Genuine opportunities are often found on actual bank websites. If you have been contacted asking you if you are interested in an opportunity, you should research as much as possible about the company before you agree to anything.
The above are just a few ways to spot a fraudulent investment. Offshore investments can be worthwhile just as long as they are offered by authorised banks. Make sure you follow this advice if you want to prevent offshore fraud.
Tags: offshore fraud, forensic accountant, fraudulent investment, fraud investigation, investment fraud