• Characteristics of Various Types of Securities
• The Ins and Outs of Income Trusts
• The Prospectus – Being Informed
• Understanding Mutual Fund Fees
• Stock Options
• Offshore Investments Sold Through Internet Can Wash Your Savings Away

The phrase “offshore banking” may conjure up images of tropical islands and suave James Bond-type gentlemen discretely discussing multi-million dollar deals. But in the Internet age, the picture of offshore banking is more likely to include sleazy con men trying to pry every last dollar from trusting investors.

Con men have set up shop in lightly regulated areas throughout the world and they’re using the Internet to troll the globe for victims.

Use any Internet search engine and type in the phrase “high yield offshore investments.” The search engine will return a lengthy list of Websites all designed to separate an innocent investor from his or her money.

Some of these sites promote “investment clubs” where an initial investment of several thousand dollars is required to get into “the club.” Some of these sites also offer to pay “referral fees” if you convince others to invest as well.

Other sites claim to represent “international banks” with offers of investment opportunities providing astronomical returns – often as much as 200%.

These websites have one thing in common: they never explicitly tell you how the investment works. Instead they cloak their offer with complicated language about international banking, prime bank instruments and a secret world of banking operations only available to the very rich.

When you see these kinds of offers, alarm bells should start ringing. Most of these sites are scams, designed to suck as much money from you as possible. Many of these websites are designed to appeal to people who distrust government. The sites play up the idea that you can make huge returns and avoid paying taxes by moving your money to an offshore account.

Legally, you can send money offshore as long as taxes are paid on the money and any interest earned. By encouraging you to invest to avoid taxes, these sites are encouraging you to break laws.

Anyone selling offshore investments still needs to be registered. In most cases, the people using the Internet to sell offshore investments to you are not registered. They are violating securities regulations. That means you’re taking a huge risk if you choose to put your money into an offshore investment promoted through the Internet.