Service · Investment scams
Ponzi schemes and investment fraud: how to spot them and how to file a claim
Platforms with fixed returns, investment clubs, opportunities that reach you through social media or through someone you trust. We analyze how the program was structured and tell you what real options exist for your case.
Short answer
How does a Ponzi scheme work?
A Ponzi scheme pays early participants with money from people who join later, not with real profits. That is why, at first, the payments arrive and build trust.
When fewer people join, the scheme stops paying. Promoters often blame the delays on audits, bank freezes, or platform upgrades, and sometimes relaunch it under a new name.
If the SEC or the CFTC has already sued the program, a court may have appointed a receiver to recover and distribute assets. Filing a claim with the receiver is usually free, and you should not pay anyone for that process.
Common patterns
- Platforms that promise a fixed daily or monthly return
- Investment clubs or “communities” that pay you to bring in others
- Romance or online friendship investment scams
- Online jobs that require deposits to keep getting paid
- Fake investments in gold, oil, real estate, or startups
Red flags
How to spot an investment scam
Any one of these signs is reason enough to stop and verify.
- High, fixed, or “guaranteed” returns
- You get paid more for bringing in new participants
- There is no real product or business that explains the profits
- Withdrawals come with delays, limits, or new conditions
- Pressure to reinvest instead of withdrawing
- The company is not registered with the SEC, the CFTC, or your state regulator
How INDAGA helps
What we do and what you get
- An objective assessment of how the program was structured
- A check for regulatory and court actions
- If there is a receiver, how to file a claim and with which documents
- Possible options, with their cost and limitations
Cost: included in the Viability Report (USD 500), payable when you receive the report.
Step 1
We analyze the structure
How the payments were generated, who promoted the program, and which companies were behind it.
Step 2
We check public actions
Lawsuits by the SEC or the CFTC, state prosecutors, and whether a receiver has been appointed.
Step 3
We organize your participation
Contributions, withdrawals, and communications in a report ready for a claim or a complaint.
Free evaluation
Request an analysis of your investment case
Tell us the name of the program, how much you put in, and what has happened with the payments. We will get back to you at no cost.
- Free, no obligation
- Reply on WhatsApp within one business day
- If your case is not viable, we tell you plainly
- We will never ask for keys, seed phrases, or access to your device
What is a receiver and how do I file a claim?
A receiver is the person a court appoints to recover and distribute the assets of a fraudulent scheme. The receiver publishes a claims procedure that is usually free. The report tells you whether there is one in your case and which documents you need.
I received some payments at first. Can I still file a claim?
Yes, although the payments you received are taken into account. Some proceedings calculate your net loss: what you put in minus what you withdrew. The report organizes those figures.
Can I be asked to return what I earned?
In some cases, receivers seek to recover fictitious profits paid to certain participants. If that is your situation, it is a good idea to consult a licensed attorney; the report will flag it for you.
The platform changed its name and is still operating. What should I do?
Don’t deposit any more, save evidence of both the old and the new name, and report it to the SEC or the CFTC, depending on the type of investment, as well as to IC3.
Does it help if the person who brought me in is a relative or a friend?
Yes. Many victims join on the recommendation of people they trust, who often lost money too. The analysis focuses on the program and on where the money went.
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