Learning Resources

Forex
Check out companies, understand the basics, be skeptical about claims of big returns and low risk, and don’t risk money you can’t afford to lose.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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The CFTC and SEC have recently observed investment scams where fraudsters pose as “cryptocurrency” advisory trading businesses touting proprietary trading systems or mining farms.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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Virtual currency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, or a store of value, but it does not have legal tender status. Learn more about the risks associated with this digital asset.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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Be cautious of sales pitches touting “IRS approved” or “IRA approved” virtual currency retirement accounts. Virtual currency prices sometimes experience wild price swings. This volatility is not reduced or limited just because the virtual currencies are held in an IRA.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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Pump-and-dump schemes occur in the largely unregulated cash market for virtual currencies and digital tokens, and typically on platforms that offer a wide array of coin pairings for traders to buy and sell. Learn the warning signs and how these schemes operate.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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Use extra caution when considering trading advice, products or services touted on social media. It’s easy for fraudsters to create a profile that hides their true identity, or use multiple profiles to promote their schemes. Find out what to look for, and how to avoid getting lured into their frauds.
Binary Options Fraud
These websites commonly are operated in other countries with fake U.S. addresses. They also regularly feature unreasonable claims of “wins” or big returns, phony testimonials, and fake social media comments.
Binary Options Fraud
The number of binary option trading websites has increased significantly in recent years, and so have the number of fraud complaints related to them.
Binary Options Fraud
Mobile apps make finance more convenient, but some binary option trading apps may be linked to unregistered offshore platforms. Here’s what to watch for.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
Not all educational seminars, web courses, or training software can deliver the A+ results they promise. Before you pay for classes or training materials, try out these free resources first.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
The CFTC’s Reparations Program provides a forum to address complaints and resolve disputes between registered commodity futures trading professionals and their customers.
Binary Options Fraud
It’s perfectly normal for investors to test out new strategies. But be careful. There are seemingly “easy” or “low-cost” or “low-risk” offers popping up online that are actually frauds designed to drain money from investors’ accounts.
Commodity Pool Fraud
These frauds commonly involve individuals and firms that are often unregistered and advertise false claims of high profits and low risk.
Commodity Pool Fraud
Trading futures through a commodity pool may have some benefits, but make sure the pool and its operators are properly registered.
Forex
There has been a sharp rise in forex trading scams in recent years. Learn signs of potential fraud and the tactics fraudsters commonly use. 
Forex
Be on guard for ads that tout high returns with low risk, or high paying careers trading forex.
Precious Metals
Owning gold, silver, platinum, or palladium may sound appealing, but cold calls, promises of easy profits, and “financing agreements” could be signs of fraud.
Precious Metals
Gold is often pitched as a safe port in the storm, but precious metals prices can be volatile and past performance is a poor predictor of future returns.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
Beware of promises of easy profits from commodity futures and options based on seasonal demand and other well-known public information.
Unregistered Sites and Advisers
Websites that fraudulently promote commodity trading systems and advisory services are on the rise. Watch out for sites that tout trading signals or systems with unrealistically high returns and little risk.
Unregistered Sites and Advisers
No trading system can guarantee profits. Before trading, check to see if the broker and trading platform are properly registered with the CFTC.
Unregistered Sites and Advisers
There are plenty of groups and discussions that tout trading signals, systems and platforms. Before you sign up and make an initial deposit, be sure the brokers or advisers are registered.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
If you've been harmed by fraud, taking these steps may help you avoid further financial losses, and help with the recovery process.
Binary Options Fraud
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When Nick and Lowell tried to withdraw money from their allegedly insured binary options trading accounts, they hit a wall. Watch their stories to learn the telltale signs of binary options fraud, so you can steer clear. [5:49]
Binary Options Fraud
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How does binary options fraud work? How can you recognize and avoid it? And what should you do if you suspect you’re being defrauded? We answer these questions and talk to real investors in the first episode of our series, The Truth Behind Binary Options Fraud. [6:28]