Common Investment Scams
Fake "Wealth Tax" on High-Yield Investments
Scammers posing as tax authorities claim that investors must pay a special wealth tax on their high-return investments before withdrawing profits. They pressure victims into making immediate payments, warning that failure to comply will result in penalties or frozen accounts. Once the money is sent, the scammer disappears.
Advance Tax Payments for Stock Market Gains
Fraudsters target investors by claiming they must prepay taxes before they can liquidate their stock market profits. Victims are told that regulatory laws require this advance payment to process withdrawals. Trusting the legitimacy of the request, the victims transfer funds, and the scammer is gone.
Fake Tax Fees for Crypto Staking & Trading
Scammers trick investors in cryptocurrency staking or trading platforms by claiming they need to pay a "crypto earnings tax" before withdrawing their digital assets. Believing the demand is legitimate, victims send money—only to find out that the tax doesn’t exist and their investment was a scam.
Phantom Tax Obligations on Private Equity Deals
Victims are lured into fake private equity investments with promises of high returns. Later, scammers inform them that their dividends or buyout earnings are subject to immediate tax payments before they can be transferred. Victims, eager to secure their profits, pay the demanded amount—only to realize there were no actual returns.
Investment Tax Refund Scams
Fraudsters pretending to be financial advisors or government officials contact investors, claiming they are eligible for a large tax refund on their investment losses. They request bank details or Social Security numbers to process the refund—only to steal the victim’s identity or drain their accounts.