Unveiling Investment Fraud: Understanding the Basics and Protecting Yourself

Investment fraud is a significant problem.  Consumers reported losing more money to investment scams—more than $4.6 billion—than any other category in 2023. That amount represents a 21% increase over 2022.  Investors can be vulnerable to fraud at key ‘wealth events’ in their lives, such as when they face a decision about what to do with money arising from the sale of a house, an inheritance, or an IRA rollover.

Join this presentation on safe investing by the NJ Bureau of Securities for an overview of what you can do as an investor to protect yourself against investment fraud. Tips on how to check on investments and financial professionals and how to spot the “red flags” of investment Fraud will be shared.  How to report fraudulent activity and what victims can do if they are defrauded,  will also be covered.

Presenter Theresa A. Hendricks, is an Investigator for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Securities in Newark, New Jersey. She is involved in the investigation and resolution of various enforcement actions concerning broker-dealers, investment advisers, and their agents and representatives. Theresa also represents the Bureau at several public speaking events. She started her career as an investigator with the Bureau in 2002. Theresa has created her own nonprofit organizations “Sisters in Spirit,” and the “The HER Center” community organizations for women that she has operated for many years. She is a Leadership Newark Alumni and has worked part time as an Academic Program Manager for Essex County College where she developed and implemented various workshops, lectures and social events for its students.