The Consumer Price Index (CPI) drives markets and motivates policy, but it is nothing but speculation, estimation and wild guesses.
A recent “tweak” to the health insurance CPI reveals the formula is basically a scam.
A Georgia couple nearly lost more than $186,000 in a gold scam. But they ended up turning the tables and scamming the scammers.
The demand for physical gold has gone through the roof in the midst of economic chaos caused by the coronavirus. We’re beginning to see shortages of some bullion products. As more people pile into the market, the number of scammers looking to take advantage of gullible investors also increases.
Recently, some guy started commenting on the SchiffGold Facebook page, claiming he could sell you “cheap gold” directly from African mines. This was certainly a scam. Why would anybody sell gold “cheap” when they can easily command a market price?
The answer to that question is they wouldn’t.
If some guy was trying to talk you into buying gold, would the fact he was an ATF agent make you more comfortable with the transaction?
I’m just going to say upfront, my answer is an emphatic no.
Here’s a tip for you.
If some guy comes up to you in a gas station parking lot and tries to sell you gold, don’t buy it.
Seriously. Just say, “No!”
I’m a pretty cynical person. And I don’t really trust people. To call me skeptical would be an understatement. I’m the guy who wastes time Googling an even slightly sketchy sounding story posted on Facebook to see if it’s really true. So, I don’t think I would be very easy to scam.
Now, I’m not arrogant enough to think it could never happen. I’m sure there are ways I could be fooled. But I still find it really difficult to understand how some of these scammers ever make a dime. I mean, who actually believes that Nigerian prince is going to send them $8 million? Who actually goes to Target to buy gift cards to send to the Indian IRS agent? (Yes. That is a thing.) And who goes to a storage facility to buy cheap gold?
That last one … It just happened.
This week, I want to talk about scams.
“But however mysterious is nature, however ignorant the doctor, however imperfect the present state of physical science, the patronage and the success of quacks and quackeries are infinitely more wonderful than those of honest and laborious men of science and their careful experiments.” – P.T. Barnum
Yes. There are plenty of quacks in the world. And you’ll find more than your fair share in the realm of precious metals investing. There are scammers and con artists, and smooth talkers galore out there, eager to separate the unwary from their hard-earned cash.
