Do you give subjects a right of reply before publishing?

Yes. Every individual and organisation that is the subject of a critical investigation is given a meaningful opportunity to respond before publication. We typically allow five working days for major investigations and 48 hours for time-sensitive reports. Responses are published in full or summarised fairly.

How do you protect confidential sources?

We will not reveal the identity of a confidential source without their explicit consent, except in extraordinary circumstances where there is an imminent risk to life. We use secure communication channels for sensitive source communications and do not retain source-identifying information beyond what is necessary for verification purposes.

Editorial Policy — Standards & Accountability

Q: Is InvestorWatchdog editorially independent?

Yes. InvestorWatchdog's editorial decisions are made exclusively by our editorial team. No advertiser, investor, sponsor, or third party has any influence over what we investigate, what we publish, or how we report. We do not accept payment for coverage, positive or negative.

Q: How can I make a complaint about InvestorWatchdog's journalism?

Email editorial@investorwatchdog.com with the headline of the article, the specific claim you are complaining about, and the basis for your complaint. We will acknowledge receipt within two working days and provide a substantive response within ten working days.

InvestorWatchdog is an independent investigative publication covering financial fraud, investment scams, and regulatory failures. This policy explains the standards we hold ourselves to — how we verify claims, how we give subjects a fair right of reply, how we protect sources, and how to raise a complaint if you believe we’ve gotten something wrong.

1. Our Mission

InvestorWatchdog exists to serve the public interest through independent, evidence-based investigative journalism focused on financial fraud, investment scams, and regulatory failures.

Our mission is to expose fraudulent actors, hold regulators accountable, and give investors the information they need to protect themselves. We operate without financial ties to the industries we cover and accept no advertising from financial services firms.

Every investigation we publish is driven by one question: does this serve the public interest? If the answer is yes, we publish. If it doesn’t, we don’t.

2. Editorial Independence

InvestorWatchdog’s editorial decisions are made exclusively by our editorial team. No advertiser, investor, sponsor, or third party has any influence over what we investigate, what we publish, or how we report it.

We do not accept payment for coverage, positive or negative. We do not accept gifts, hospitality, or other benefits from sources. We do not allow commercial relationships to influence editorial content.

Our journalists disclose any potential conflicts of interest to the Editor before beginning an investigation. Where a conflict can’t be managed, the journalist is recused from that story.

3. Accuracy & Verification Standards

We apply rigorous verification standards to every claim we publish.

Before publication, every factual claim must be supported by at least one of the following: documentary evidence, on-record statements from named sources, verifiable public records, or corroboration from two independent sources.

We do not publish allegations based solely on anonymous tips. Anonymous sources may provide leads, but claims must be independently verified before publication.

Where we’re unable to verify a claim to our standard, we don’t publish it. Where we have strong evidence but can’t achieve full verification, we explain the evidential basis and its limitations to readers directly in the article.

4. Right of Reply

Every individual and organisation that is the subject of a critical investigation is given a meaningful opportunity to respond before publication.

We contact subjects by email and, where possible, by phone, providing a clear summary of the allegations and a reasonable deadline for response — typically five working days for major investigations, 48 hours for time-sensitive reports.

Responses are published in full or summarised fairly. Where a subject declines to comment or doesn’t respond, we note this in the article. Non-response does not delay publication of matters in the public interest.

We do not treat legal threats as a substitute for substantive engagement with our reporting.

5. Source Protection

We take the protection of confidential sources extremely seriously. We will not reveal the identity of a confidential source without their explicit consent, except in extraordinary circumstances involving imminent risk to life.

Sources who provide information in confidence are told clearly what protections we can and cannot offer, and advised on operational security where relevant.

We use secure communication channels for sensitive source communications and do not retain source-identifying information beyond what’s necessary for verification.

Whistleblowers and victims who share their stories with us are treated with care and respect. We explain the publication process clearly and obtain informed consent before publishing personal accounts.

6. Corrections Policy

We correct errors promptly and transparently. When we make a factual error, we correct it as soon as it’s identified, note the correction clearly at the top of the article, and explain what was wrong and what the correct information is.

We do not silently edit articles to remove errors. All corrections are dated and preserved in the article record.

If you believe we’ve made an error, contact us at editorial@investorwatchdog.com with the specific claim you believe is incorrect and the evidence supporting your position. We will investigate and respond within five working days.

We distinguish between corrections (factual errors), clarifications (where additional context is needed), and updates (where new information has emerged after publication).

7. Risk Scores & Ratings

InvestorWatchdog’s Risk Score is a proprietary assessment tool used in Scam Watch investigations. It is not a financial rating and should not be used as the sole basis for any investment decision.

Risk Scores are calculated using our published Methodology, which considers factors including regulatory status, complaint volume, withdrawal refusal patterns, corporate structure opacity, and on-chain evidence where applicable.

Risk Scores represent our editorial assessment at the time of publication. They may be updated as new information emerges. A high Risk Score indicates significant investigative concern — it does not constitute a legal finding of fraud.

We publish our full Methodology so readers can assess our scoring approach independently.

8. Legal & Regulatory Compliance

InvestorWatchdog is an independent publication investigating financial fraud and investment scams internationally. We take into account the relevant legal standards across every jurisdiction our reporting touches, including internationally recognised defamation, press-freedom, and data-protection principles. Where legal standards differ between jurisdictions, we apply our own verification and right-of-reply standards — designed to exceed the minimum legal bar in any jurisdiction we operate in — rather than the lowest common denominator.

We rely on the public interest defence where applicable. We believe that exposing financial fraud and protecting investors from harm constitutes a clear and compelling public interest.

We do not publish information that would identify victims without their explicit consent, and we anonymise victim accounts where requested.

We cooperate with legitimate law enforcement requests through proper legal channels. We do not cooperate with requests we believe are designed to identify confidential sources or suppress legitimate journalism.

9. Complaints Procedure

We take complaints about our journalism seriously and investigate all substantive complaints promptly.

To make a complaint: email editorial@investorwatchdog.com with the headline of the article, the specific claim you’re complaining about, and the basis for your complaint. We will acknowledge receipt within two working days and provide a substantive response within ten working days.

Questions about our editorial standards? Contact us at editorial@investorwatchdog.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Does InvestorWatchdog accept anonymous tips? Yes, anonymous tips can provide leads, but we do not publish allegations based solely on an anonymous source — every claim must be independently verified before publication.

What is a Risk Score? A Risk Score is InvestorWatchdog’s proprietary editorial assessment used in Scam Watch investigations, based on our published Methodology. It is not a financial rating and reflects investigative concern, not a legal finding of fraud.

How do I file a complaint about an article? Email editorial@investorwatchdog.com with the article headline, the specific claim you’re disputing, and your supporting evidence. We acknowledge complaints within two working days and respond substantively within ten.

Will InvestorWatchdog protect my identity if I report something to you? Yes. We will not reveal a confidential source’s identity without their explicit consent, except in extraordinary circumstances involving imminent risk to life.