Losses we look at
We review claims from investors across Australia who have lost money through fraud, misrepresentation or unsuitable advice.
- Cryptocurrency and forex trading scams, including fake platforms showing fabricated balances
- Unlicensed advisers and cold-call operations selling investments to Australian residents
- Unsuitable or misrepresented products recommended by a licensed adviser
- Inappropriate leverage, margin lending or borrowing against the family home
- Self-managed super fund investments placed in unsuitable or non-compliant assets
- Property investment and off-the-plan schemes sold on misleading projections
- Romance and impersonation scams where payments left an Australian bank account
Where recovery actually comes from
Chasing the fraudster is rarely the answer. Value normally lies with the regulated parties around the loss: the licensee responsible for an authorised representative, the adviser's professional indemnity insurer, the bank or payment provider that processed the transfers, or the platform that onboarded the account.
Licensed firms are required to be AFCA members, and AFCA determinations are binding on the firm if you accept them. Where a firm has collapsed, the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort may cover certain unpaid determinations for personal financial advice, subject to its own limits.
How we assess your case
We map the money — every transfer, counterparty and platform — and check the entities involved against the ASIC registers, ASIC's moneysmart investor alert list and AFCA membership records. That tells us quickly whether a claim has a realistic target.
If it does, we pursue it through AFCA or the courts as appropriate. If it does not, we say so plainly rather than taking a fee for work with no prospect of return.
Warning signs of an investment scam
- Returns presented as guaranteed, consistent or risk-free
- Pressure to invest quickly, or to add funds to release a withdrawal
- A firm with no AFS licence, or one impersonating a licensed business
- Withdrawals refused, delayed, or subject to a sudden 'tax' or 'fee'
- Contact moved to WhatsApp, Telegram or a personal account early on