Avoiding a bad investment deal can be as important as finding the right mix of investments. There are two main types of investing scenarios to avoid: 1) the investment scam, an outright illegal operation and 2) the raw deal, an arrangement that’s legal but clearly not in the best interest of the investor.

The specifics of fraudulent offers and sketchy investments may change as times change. Today’s environment may be ripe for tricks involving green energy or pre-IPOs whereas shady offshore investments may have been more prevalent in the past.

Sales pitches associated with out-and-out scams and lousy deals tend to be consistent. They may promise high returns with no risk or grant access to investments typically reserved for the ultra-wealthy. What’s tricky is that they often contain an element of (half) truth.