The private market attracts predators. Here’s how to spot them.

Verify the rails, not the story

Real private-market transactions settle through registered broker-dealers into accounts at qualified custodians. Before sending money anywhere: confirm the firm on FINRA BrokerCheck, confirm wire instructions by calling a number you found yourself, and be suspicious of “secondary shares” of a hot company offered to strangers.

Common patterns

Fake pre-IPO funds with fabricated documents; imposter websites one letter off from real firms; “guaranteed” IPO pops (no one can guarantee that); romance-adjacent investment grooming; pressure to keep the opportunity secret. Secrecy plus urgency plus wires equals walk away.

If you’ve been targeted

Keep everything — emails, wire receipts, numbers — and report to the SEC (sec.gov/tcr), FINRA, IC3.gov, and your bank immediately. Speed matters for wire recalls. Report imposters of us to security@investnow.com.

Where to report investment fraud

First, and fastest: your bank or brokerage. If money moved, call the institution’s fraud department immediately to freeze the account and attempt a wire recall — recall windows are measured in hours, not days.

Then file with the agencies — each report helps authorities connect cases:

IC3.gov — the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the primary intake for cyber-enabled investment crime and major financial fraud. File even if you’re unsure your case qualifies.
ReportFraud.ftc.gov — the Federal Trade Commission’s intake for scams and deceptive practices, especially those arriving by phone, text, or social media.
SEC Complaint Center (sec.gov/tcr) — for fraud involving securities, brokers, advisers, or crypto assets treated as securities.
FINRA — when a registered broker or firm is involved; their recovery guide is also worth reading.
Your state — notify your state securities regulator and your State Attorney General.
Local police — file a report; civil recovery and insurance claims often require one.

Keep everything — emails, wire receipts, screenshots, phone numbers — and report fast: speed matters more than completeness on day one. Imposters of this platform: security@investnow.com.