If you entrust your capital to a financial advisor or a corporate entity, you are not only investing money but...
Our own Scott Silver, Attorney and Managing Partner of Silver Law Group, recently joined host Zach Tidwell on the Going in Blind podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on investment fraud, how Ponzi schemes work, and what everyday investors can do to protect themselves.
Scott brings over 25 years of experience representing defrauded investors, and this episode is a great primer for anyone who wants to understand how financial fraud actually happens and what to watch out for.
From Wall Street Defense to Investor Advocate Scott shares how he started his career defending brokerage firms and eventually made the switch to representing the investors those firms were accused of harming. He describes the moment the dot-com bubble burst in 2000 as a turning point that shaped the practice he has today.
The Difference Between a Ponzi Scheme and Financial Fraud Not all financial fraud is a Ponzi scheme, and not all Ponzi schemes are the same. Scott breaks down the distinction in plain language, explaining what it actually means when someone is “paying investors back with new investor money” versus simply stealing funds outright.
How These Schemes Find Their Victims From affinity fraud targeting church and community groups to sophisticated offshore websites that look completely legitimate, Scott walks through the tactics bad actors use to earn trust and move money.
The Red Flags Every Investor Should Know Scott outlines practical due diligence steps, including checking whether your financial advisor is properly registered with FINRA or the SEC, understanding what a fiduciary duty actually means, and why anyone who won’t answer your questions shouldn’t have your money.
When the Money Is Gone What happens after fraud is uncovered? Scott explains the role SEC receivers play in recovering assets, why some investors never see a full recovery, and why the lack of required insurance for smaller brokerage firms is a serious gap in the current system.
The Growing Threat of AI-Powered Fraud Scott and Zach discuss how bad actors are using deepfakes, fake websites, and AI-generated content to run increasingly convincing scams, and why older investors are especially vulnerable.
Give the full episode a listen below, and if you or someone you know has concerns about an investment or a financial advisor, Scott and the team at Silver Law Group are always available to help.
