Scam artists will do anything to gain your trust, in order to entice you to invest in their schemes, warns the Ontario Securities Commission. They may make promises of huge profits from investing in offshore markets, and may even guarantee the returns to give you a sense of security. They are aware of the large amounts of money you pay in taxes and your frustration with earning low returns. They will pretend to share your opinions, and sympathize with your frustration.

In one example, farmers in Eastern Ontario were approached through investment seminars about offshore investment opportunities with guaranteed returns of 15%. One potential investor was told that the large Canadian banks use depositors' money to invest in these same offshore markets for their own profits.

When someone offers you returns that are more than the going rate, there is more of a risk that you will lose your money. Are you taking on more risk than you can afford? There are several red flags you can watch out for when evaluating investment opportunities, to make sure you know the risks:

Offshore investment opportunities - once you send your money out of the province, you lose any protections provided by Ontario law. Frauds and scams frequently involve an offshore institution to make it more difficult to trace the transactions. Once your money is in someone else's control you may have difficulty getting it back.

Unsubstantiated guarantees - A guarantee is only as good as the person or company making the guarantee, and their credit rating. If they can borrow money from the bank at 8%, and invest it at 15%, why are they willing to pay you 15% on your money? Chances are, they need you to lend them money because their credit is bad and the banks will not lend them money. If you invest money with them, there is a good chance that you will not get it back.

High return and low risk - The higher the promised return on an investment, the greater the risk. If you think that a guarantee lowers your risk, read about unsubstantiated guarantees, above.

To protect your money:

• Be wary of investment opportunities that offer guaranteed high returns and low risk
  
• Check out the investment opportunity, and the registration of the person or company offering you the investment - call the OSC Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-785-1555 or view the Registrants List online in the Market Participants section of the OSC website www.osc.gov.on.ca
  
• Have a trusted professional, such as your financial adviser, lawyer or accountant, evaluate any investment opportunity pitched over the telephone or at an investment seminar.
  
  

For further information or to file a complaint, contact the Ontario Securities Commission at 1-877-785-1555.