Fraud & Scams
Imposter platforms and spoofed sites
The easiest way to steal from private-market investors is to impersonate someone they already trust. Spotting a clone takes thirty seconds — if you know where to look.
Imposter fraud doesn’t argue with your judgment; it borrows someone else’s reputation. Criminals register a domain one letter off from a real platform, copy its design pixel for pixel, sometimes even mirror its staff pages from LinkedIn — then run ads or send messages steering victims to “complete your investment.” The site is perfect because it’s a photocopy. The wire instructions are the only original content.
The tells
Check the domain character by character — look-alikes swap letters (rn for m), add words (invest-now-secure), or use a different ending. Arrive by your own navigation, never by a link in an unsolicited message. Verify contact channels against the ones you already have: a “new wire address” or a support number that differs from the official site’s is the scheme itself. And be suspicious of urgency — real platforms don’t need you to fund within the hour.
The double-check that defeats it
Before sending money anywhere, independently confirm the destination: call the platform at a number you found yourself (not one from the email), or log in by typing the address you know. Thirty seconds of out-of-band verification defeats nearly every imposter scheme ever run — which is why the schemes work so hard to make you feel there’s no time for it.
If you interacted with a clone
Change your passwords from a clean device, alert your bank immediately if money moved (wire recalls are time-critical), and report it: the platform being impersonated, the FBI’s IC3, and the SEC. Imposters of this platform can be reported to security@investnow.com — takedowns work best fast. More schemes and reporting steps live in the Fraud & Scams Center.
Educational only. InvestNow is a demonstration platform. This page is general information, not investment, legal, or tax advice, and not an offer or solicitation of any security. Private-market investments are speculative, illiquid, and can lose their entire value. Consult a qualified professional about your circumstances.