CFTC Warns of Crypto Retirement Account Scams

Consumers should be wary of cryptocurrency retirement accounts that purport to be approved by the Internal Revenue Service, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) warns.

In a new publication dated February 2, the CFTC urges people to "exercise caution" about such offers, especially those that claim that the IRS has somehow reviewed or approved the product. The Internal Revenue Service, the CFTC notes, “does not endorse or consider investments in individual retirement accounts.”

 “Taxpayers tend to focus more on retirement savings during tax time to increase contributions or maximize savings. As a result, some companies may try to lure consumers into purchasing highly volatile cryptocurrency by using false claims or by presenting the virtual currency as less risky because it can be used for retirement savings.”

As CoinDesk previously reported, cryptocurrency-linked individual retirement accounts are not an entirely new tactic. But as the CFTC says, cryptocurrency investments offered to U.S. taxpayers recently do not disclose all of the risks involved or are outright fraudulent.

“Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account custodians and trust companies have limited responsibilities to investors and will not evaluate the quality or legitimacy of investments or their promoters,” the agency said in a statement.

The CFTC is playing an increasingly active role in regulating cryptocurrency-related activities, including enforcement strengthening control over the financial products and futures offered. Panel Chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo is scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking Committee on February 6 to discuss the CFTC's implementation of market oversight.