Fraudulent investment schemes are often marketed by telephone salespersons armed with high pressure and sophisticated selling techniques. Some swindlers surround themselves with the trappings of legitimacy -- rented office space, a receptionist, investment counselors, and professionally designed color brochures describing the investment.

Seniors are a prime target for fraudulent investment schemes since many have saved a good amount of money for their retirement years. Fraudulent schemes require you to invest your money -- often lots of it. Most promise you either a large increase in the value of your investment or higher-than-market interest on your capital, or both.

These schemes are fraught with danger: in most cases, you will never again see the funds you invested. And you may not even receive the promised interest. If you do receive interest, you will often be paid late. Often, unbeknownst to you, your interest will be paid from the investments of others who are newly brought into the program in order to keep it alive. The swindler hopes these payments will allay any suspicions you might have as to the strength of your investment.

If answers to any of the following questions are yes, you may be dealing with a swindler who wants you to put money in to a fraudulent investment:
* Does the salesperson make it sound as you can't lose?
* Are you promised an unusually high rate of return or interest payment on your capital?
* Are you pressured to make a decision immediately or in a short period of time because new investment units "are selling fast?"
* Does the salesman have any prior successful experience in the investment area he is promoting?

Protect yourself. Be suspicious of any deal that promises fantastic return at little risk. Know whom you are dealing with. If you are not sure, check the company's reputation with your local Better Business Bureau, Postal Inspector's Office, or District Attorney's Consumer Protection Unit. You can find good consumer law attorneys, consumer debt advocate, consumer fraud lawyer and consumer bankruptcy attorneys at Justin London Law. The consumer rights attorneys or consumer rights lawyers or consumer protection lawyers makes sure that consumers gets their due rights and compensation.

Protect your retirement nest egg. If you've been the victim of an investment fraud where the mail was used, contact your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector.

Federal laws also prohibit unfair or deceptive trade acts or practices. If you think you've been cheated, immediately let the appropriate government offices know. These agencies often have the resources to go after unscrupulous merchants. Law enforcement in the consumer fraud area is poor in some parts of the country, but many hardworking investigators do their jobs superbly. The more agencies you notify, the more likely someone will take notice of your complaint and act on it.

To find the consumer protection office in your state, county or city, visit the federal consumer action website (of the Federal Citizen Information Center) at http://consumeraction.gov/ (click on "Where to File a Complaint" and "State Offices").

Unfortunately, government agencies are rarely able to get your money back. However, some large metropolitan areas sponsor mediation programs that help resolve problems between consumers and businesses. If the business has a license (a contractor, for example), try calling the state agency that licenses it to see if they can help resolve the dispute. Also, a local Better Business Bureau (BBB) may be able to mediate your dispute with the business. (To find your local BB office, visit the BBB website at www.bbb.org.)