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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers about Trust Scores, verification methodology, data sources, investment scams, and investor protection.

General Questions

4 questions answered

Trust Scores & Methodology

8 questions answered

Data Sources & Verification

8 questions answered

Independence & Business Model

5 questions answered

Features & Tools

5 questions answered

For Businesses

4 questions answered

Investment Scams & Fraud

7 questions answered

Education & Scam Prevention

16 questions answered

AI Limitations & Disclaimers

8 questions answered

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Methodology

Scoring details

Education

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Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is Smart Money Verified?

Is Smart Money Verified free to use?

Who can use Smart Money Verified?

How do I contact Smart Money Verified?

Trust Scores & Methodology

How does the Trust Score work?

How is the Trust Score calculated?

What are the Trust Score tiers?

How accurate are the verification reports?

Does a high Trust Score guarantee a company is safe?

How often are Trust Scores updated?

What are the limitations of Trust Scores?

How does high-risk industry scoring work?

Data Sources & Verification

What data sources does Smart Money Verified check?

How does Smart Money Verified verify SEC registration?

What types of companies can I verify?

Can I verify private companies?

What if a company has little public information?

Can I verify a financial advisor by name?

What is a CRD number and how do I find it?

Is my search private?

Independence & Business Model

Is Smart Money Verified independent?

Do companies pay for higher scores?

How does Smart Money Verified make money?

Do you give investment advice?

Can a company dispute its Trust Score?

Features & Tools

How long does verification take?

Can I download or print verification results?

Can I compare multiple companies?

What are red flags in a verification report?

Is the comparison free?

For Businesses

What is the Smart Money Verified Badge?

How does the business verification process work?

What are the requirements to get verified?

How does the badge increase conversions?

Investment Scams & Fraud

What are the most common investment scams?

How can I identify investment fraud before losing money?

What should I do if I suspect investment fraud?

How do I verify if an investment advisor is legitimate?

What is a Ponzi scheme?

Can I report a fraudulent company?

How much money is lost to investment fraud each year?

Education & Scam Prevention

What is identity theft and synthetic fraud?

How do retirement and IRA scams target seniors?

What is land title fraud and how can I protect my property?

How do online payment and P2P transfer scams work?

What are the warning signs of social media investment scams?

What are annuity and insurance product misrepresentation tactics?

How do foreclosure rescue scams target homeowners?

What are rental and vacation property scams?

How do phishing and smishing attacks steal financial information?

What is Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud?

How are AI and deepfakes used in investment scams?

What are high-pressure sales tactics in financial fraud?

Why are 'guaranteed returns' always a red flag?

How do I verify if a financial company is legitimate?

What are investment recovery scams?

What steps should I take if I've been scammed?

AI Limitations & Disclaimers

Are AI-generated verification results always accurate?

What are the limitations of AI verification?

Should I rely solely on Smart Money Verified before investing?

Does Smart Money Verified provide investment advice?

What if I believe my company's verification information is inaccurate?

Why do you display disclaimers about AI limitations?

Can a Trust Score change over time?

What happens if I invest based on an inaccurate Trust Score?

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