How to Smell a Rat: The Five Signs of Financial Fraud

2008 and 2009 will be remembered for bear markets, a global credit crunch, and some of the largest investment scams ever. But these scams are nothing new, they've been repeated throughout history, and there will certainly be more to come. But the good news is fraudsters often follow the same basic playbook. Learn the playbook, and know how to ask the right questions, and financial fraud can be easy to detect and simple to avoid.

In How to Smell a Rat, trusted financial expert Ken Fisher provides you with an inside's view on how to spot financial disasters before you become a part of them. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, this reliable resource takes an engaging look at recent and historic examples of fraudsters, how they operated, and how they can be easily avoided. Fisher also shows you the quick, identifiable features of financial frauds and arms you with the questions to ask when assessing a money manager.

• Prepares you to identify and avoid financials cams that could instantly destroy your wealth
• Contains examples that highlight how financial frauds are committed
• Provides questions everyone should ask before entering any investment endeavor

With How to Smell a Rat as your guide, you'll learn how to protect your interests and assets from unnecessary losses.

KEN FISHER is the Founder, Executive Chairman, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Fisher Investments, a $387-plus billion (as of 3/31/2026) investment adviser and money management firm serving large institutions and high-net-worth individuals. For over 32 years, Fisher wrote Forbes' "Portfolio Strategy" column, making him the longest continuously running columnist in the magazine's venerable history. He now writes monthly, native-language columns in over 25 major media organs worldwide, including the New York Post, Britain's Daily Telegraph, Spain's elEconomista and Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore. In total, his columns span more countries and more languages in more total reach than any other, non-syndicated columnist of any type ever.

LARA HOFFMANS graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in theatre. She is a content manager at Fisher Investments and contributing editor of MarketMinder.com. She also coauthored with Ken Fisher the bestsellers The Only Three Questions That Count and The Ten Roads to Riches.