Farmers are no strangers to risk. Weather, markets, and input costs all require careful decision-making. Unfortunately, scammers know that hardworking people are always looking for opportunities to grow and protect their financial future. That’s why investment scams continue to target Americans with promises of easy money, guaranteed returns, or exclusive opportunities. According to the FBI and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these scams often involve cryptocurrency, real estate, precious metals, or other “can’t miss” investments that sound too good to be true.

Know the Red Flags

Be cautious if someone:

• Promises guaranteed profits or little-to-no risk
• Pressures you to act immediately
• Claims to have a secret system or insider opportunity
• Discourages you from discussing the investment with family, your lender, or a trusted advisor
• Contacts you unexpectedly through social media, text messages, or dating platforms
• Requires upfront fees, taxes, or additional payments before you can access your money

A good rule of thumb: if the opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Before You Invest

Take time to research the company independently, verify licenses and registrations, and talk with a trusted financial professional. Legitimate investments involve risk, and no one can guarantee extraordinary returns.

If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

Act quickly. Immediate reporting may improve the chances of limiting additional losses.

1. Contact your financial institution and request assistance with any recent transactions.
2. File a report with your local law enforcement agency.
3. Submit a complaint to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
4. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
5. Consider reporting the incident through the AARP Fraud Watch Network Scam-Tracking Map to help warn others in your community.

At Farm Credit Illinois, we encourage members to pause, verify, and protect before sending money or sharing financial information. A few extra minutes of verification today can help safeguard the assets you have worked a lifetime to build.

For more information, view FCI’s Fraud & Security page: https://www.farmcreditil.com/Tools/Fraud-and-Security