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That new opportunity sounds pretty nice... almost too nice.

How can you tell if it's too good to be true? Watch for the signs:

---Phantom Riches/Guaranteed Returns---

Watch for claims like "incredible gains" or "no risk, big return!"

---Urgency---

A "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" that's "gone tomorrow" might just be a way to put the pressure on so you don't investigate an investment.

---The "Halo" Effect---

Likable, charismatic scammers may fake actual qualifications with a trustworthy act.

Read up on more warning signs of an investment scam at Michigan.gov/InvestorEducation.

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You can avoid being scammed before your next investment with three steps:

---Pause---

Take a moment to consider the opportunity - many scams rely on false urgency.

---Investigate---

Always question an investment and research a business and its products.

---Verify---

Use BrokerCheck to research the background and experience of financial advisers and firms.

Find more ways to protect your money at Michigan.gov/InvestorEducation.

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Not all investments (or the people who tell you about them) are what they seem. Learn how to spot the signs of common investment scams like:

---Romance---

Scammers form an  online relationship before requesting money for a new or exciting "opportunity."

---Affinity---

Scammers build trust within a community of people before pushing exciting "opportunities" on individuals in the group.

---Influencer---

These scams use financial influencers and engaging videos to promise big returns.

Learn more about common investment scams at Michigan.gov/InvestorEducation.