As someone who works in the field of investigating international financial fraud, I thoroughly enjoyed the front-page Feb. 13 article on the prevalence of financial fraud in South Florida (“Tricks of their trade: Scammers see gold in South Florida”).

   While some charlatans engage in high-pressure sales tactics, most tend to be very charming, with references at the ready, and are not overly pushy.  In fact, many will happily explain any irregularities uncovered by potential investors and suggest that you not invest if you feel uncomfortable.  The objective, of course, is to make the scrutinizing investor feel guilty, while playing on his greed by telling him the investment is exclusive.

   Documentation is often so convincing it fools the savvy as well as the inexperienced investor.  But, as the article noted, a professional due diligence (a business assessment of the company, with a history of its operations and any past litigation) almost always uncovers clues that point to fraud.  It also provides information on the key officers, including their backgrounds.  This ensures that the identities listed are true individuals and are properly linked to the company.