Spotting Potential Hurricane Harvey Investment Scams

Unsolicited communications about investments that exploit the latest natural disaster frequently include:

• price targets or predictions of swift and exponential growth;
• the use of facts from respected news sources to bolster claims of a price run up; for example, that some percentage of the billions of dollars it will take to rebuild after Harvey will contribute directly to a company's bottom line;
• mention of contracts or affiliations with federal government agencies or large, well-known companies;
• standard corporate developments, like contracting with a supplier, presented as major events;
• statements about how much easier it is for low-priced stocks to skyrocket in value in comparison to higher-priced stocks; and
• pressure to invest immediately, such as "You must act now!"