When it comes to investing money, it can be terrifying. We all want to ensure that we get as much money back as possible and that we do avoid losses if at all possible. If you are worried that you have been part of investment fraud, hiring an investment fraud attorney should be your next step.
What is Investment Fraud?
It is helpful first to understand what investment fraud is before you charge in and figure out what is happening. Investment fraud is a massive range of things; you need to look out for several types of investment fraud. The first and most common type of investment fraud is investments made without the investor’s consent.
These can be trades, sales, purchases of stocks, or trades not agreed to by the investor. Basically, it means any moves with your money that you have not agreed to and that you have not approved prior to them taking place.
Another type of investment fraud you might see is straight out theft of money from their accounts. This is less common as most people trying to perpetrate fraud are going to be a bit sneakier about it. You might also see some brokers trying to trick you into investing in something that is not a sure thing or a fraudulent investment.
This could be an investment that does not exist, a stock that is not being traded, or an investment that will not make you money but instead is used to get your money out of your account. Overall, investment fraud is basically any activity in which manipulation was used in some way or other to secure the investment that they wanted from you.
When to Contact a Lawyer?
If you feel that you are a victim of investment fraud, you should contact a lawyer as quickly as possible. You should, of course, contact your broker first and ask them about the impropriety and see if they can prove to you that there was no fraud and that there was no issue, but then you need a lawyer.
If you feel that you have lost a great deal of money, getting a lawyer involved is going to be the best option and the highest chance of getting any of your money back. With the help of a great lawyer, you can get some money back, and the chances of your getting your money back are higher.
You should contact a lawyer as soon as you notice that there is something wrong. The reason for this is that the longer the fraud goes on, the harder it is to prove that you were not aware of it and that you did not agree to the investments that were going on and the money that was changing hands.
What Can an Investment Fraud Lawyer Do?
Investment fraud lawyers can do a great deal for you and your case to get your money back. They are going to first want to see a statement of your account so that they can see how the money is moving and how it flows within your account. They are also going to want to see your investment portfolio to see what investments you typically have and what new or old investments you might have attained or lost.
They will also want to see any investigation reports that might be in existence if the company that the broker works for has investigated them in any way. They might also want to talk to you about your fears and about why you feel that there was fraud in the first place. There are a few things that an investment lawyer will be able to do. They will start by reviewing your case and seeing if there is any apparent fraud that they can see.
They will then move on to file a claim with the FINRA Dispute Resolution Department. This will be an arbitration that will get you back some of your money if you are dealing with a legitimate fraud case. A lawyer will be able to help you do the arbitration form and help you get that process started.
If you are unwilling to go to arbitration or are not ready to deal with the arbitration, you can always move to the next step, creating a lawsuit. With this, you will have to put out money of your own to help fight for your money back, and you will also have to take the time out of your life to do it.
With arbitration, you may not get as much of your money back, but it is faster than trying to sue for any money back. If you decide to go ahead with a lawsuit, you will need to be fully transparent with the court, and you are going to have to show your accounts so that the judge and the court can determine what sort of settlement you might get.
Suing for damages is a good way to go if you have lost a great deal of money and if you want to get money back and you also want to seek to get your money back along with damages that you might feel that you are entitled to.
It is difficult for many people to get a lawsuit set up, and it can be challenging for many people to fight for their money back. If you do have a lawyer, you will be able to go about your lawsuit, and you are also likely to be able to have a better outcome.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
You do need a lawyer to help you get the most out of your lawsuit and ensure that you will be able to get your money back and get closer to getting the money you need back. The right lawyer will be able to help you get your money back, create a clear and concise case set up so that you can easily prove that there was fraud, and so on.
An investment fraud lawyer is going to be able to clearly decide where the fraud took place, they are going to be able to find the proof that there was fraud, and they are also going to be able to help you get as much of your money back as possible.
It can be so hard to fight a fraud case, but with a great lawyer, you will be able to fight. You will be able to get your money back, and you will be able to possibly get the broker that was fraudulently held responsible for the fraud and that they are legally admonished. It is possible to get some money back if you have been subject to fraud, but you need a great lawyer.
