Recently, oil and gas price fluctuations have led to investment fraud, causing many investors to sustain serious financial losses. If you invested in Leaf Equipment Leasing Fund, Waveland Drilling Partners, BDA Bradford Drilling, KBS REIT, Net REIT or other oil and gas deals, it may be to your advantage to consult with an experienced securities arbitration attorney.
Unscrupulous brokers and financial advisors often take advantage of news stories to reel in investors with empty promises. With the saturated coverage of rising gas and oil prices, some have made promises to investors that they would experience returns over a very brief time period. While it is true that investments in gas and oil can be very lucrative, securities fraud arbitration lawyers know that recently, the gas and oil market has been an ideal opportunity for fraudulent brokers to take advantage of clients.
If you have been victimized by these gas and oil products after being advised by a financial broker to invest, filing an arbitration claim is one option that may allow you to recover part or all of your losses. Trusted securities arbitration lawyers want consumers to be aware of the signs that an oil/gas investment opportunity may not be on the up and up:
- You receive a “cold call.” When someone you have never heard of or done business with in the past calls you with a great investment opportunity, beware. Often times, innocent people are defrauded in schemes whereby a complete stranger will call numbers listed in the telephone directory, pressuring them to invest.
- Be news savvy. By staying on top of the news stories, you can be prepared ahead of time. Fraudulent brokers and financial advisors will closely monitor news stories to see if there is anything that might be a so-called “good” investment opportunity. When you receive a phone call or are contacted to invest in any opportunity that has been highlighted in the news of late (such as oil and gas), be suspicious.
- Look out for red flags. When a broker makes claims that an investment “guarantees” returns or that the return will be extremely high, be wary. There is a certain amount of risk that comes with any investment. Additionally, “exclusive” opportunities in which you are advised regarding confidentiality or told that you should not share the opportunity with others is likely investment fraud.
Be smart, and perform careful research before handing over your hard-earned money to a stockbroker or advisor, particularly when the product that is being touted as a fantastic investment has recently been in the headlines. If you have already been a victim and have lost money on a scheme involving oil and gas, rely on a capable securities fraud attorney to help you recoup your losses.