Legal Question in Investment Law in California
I think I have been scammed in one of those 'ponzy' schemes. How do I know and what can I do about it?
3 Answers from Attorneys
If you were told something too good to be true, that you were going to get rich overnight without work or risk, you were scammed. You can always sue him, if you can find him, but typically there is nothing effective you can do, the scammer blows town and spends all your money, or is out of state or out of country. File a police report and investigate to see if the scammer is still even around or has any assets unspent.
In addition to private suits, the state attorney general has jurisdiction and authority to investigate and prosecute Ponzi schemes and other kinds of investment fraud.
One thing you could do is send me the particulars privately to my e-mail, and I'll give you a free opinion. LawGuru rules don't allow you to post names or other confidential information on the bulletin board, nor are the LawGuru lawyers allowed to post answers to questions containing names. If you'll send me at least a paragraph, but please not more than a page, I'll get you an opinion in a few days.
Occasionally, insistently demanding to sell back your "investment" or to have your money "disinvested" and returned will work; I know this from friends' experiences, and it works in the early stages of a scam because the scamster wants to keep the thing running as long as possible without being forced (by lawsuits or cops) to grab the stakes, blow out the lantern, and go into hiding.
Please send me an email with some details if you are interested in pursuing a recovery.
Best,
Daniel Bakondi, Esq.
The Law Office of Daniel Bakondi, APLC
870 Market Street, SUite 1161
San Francisco CA 94102
415-450-0424
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