FINRA Warns on Fake High-Interest CDs

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority warned investors Wednesday to be wary of promotions touting certificates of deposit that promise interest rates that are substantially higher than current averages, and provided investors with a list of “red flags” that indicate a CD offer may be fraudulent.

In an investors alert, High-Yield CDs: Red Flags That Signal a Scam, FINRA notes an instance of suspected email fraud, in which the pitch appeared to come from a large U.S. bank that supposedly was promoting a CD offered by an international banking partner.

At a time when most CDs at U.S. banks and credit unions were offering just over 1% for a comparable term, this pitch offered a CD with a 15% yield, and contained instructions on how to wire funds, FINRA said.

“Savers continue to face near-historic low yields on traditional bank products,” said Gerri Walsh, FINRA’s senior vice president for Investor Education. “Fraudsters attempt to take advantage of investor desire for higher yields by luring them into potentially fraudulent CDs that promise both safety and double-digit returns.”

The alert provides a list of red flags that would likely indicate a CD offer may be fraudulent, including:

–interest rates that are significantly higher than average;

–emails with addresses that are not originated and sent by the financial institution that is cited in the promotion;