Campaign For Wise and Safe Investing Offers Free Investment Education Seminars
      
      To help Montana consumers protect themselves from investment fraud and scams, the Montana State Auditor’s Office is teaming up with AARP and the Investor Protection Trust to launch the statewide Campaign for Wise and Safe Investing.
      
      As part of the campaign, the public is invited to attend free, two-hour seminars in Missoula, Stevensville and Hamilton. Experts in wise and safe investing will help consumers learn how to better prepare for their financial futures, while avoiding some of the most common investment scams.
      “Our fight against fraud never stops,” said State Auditor John Morrison. “Each year, con artists plot new ways to cheat people out of their hard-earned savings, often just by repackaging the same old tried-and-true scams. We know that the best kind of law enforcement is to prevent the crime in the first place. And that’s what the Campaign For Wise and Safe Investing is all about – giving Montanans the tools that they need to protect themselves from fraud.”
      
      People will learn about the top ten questions to ask before putting money down on any investment. People will also learn how to pinpoint the tricks and tactics used by crooks and scam artists. Specific topics for discussion include:
      

• Investment Scams

• Pyramid Schemes

• Ponzi Schemes

• Gifting Schemes

• Affinity Fraud

• Unregistered Securities

• Mining/Precious Metals

• Promissory Notes

• Theft in Brokerage Accounts