what is a high yield investment 
a high yield investment typically refers to the corporate bonds issued by corporations with low credit ratings these are legitimate investments unlike hyips they offer higher yields than other corporate bonds such as those referred to as investment grade bonds to compensate investors for the higher level of risk associated with the credit ratings high yield bonds are also referred to as junk bonds the bottom linehigh yield investment programs or hyips are fraudulent investment programs that are also known as ponzi schemes they re sometimes referred to as prime bank investment scams because of the alleged investments that their organizers may advertise perpetrators of hyips often use social media and compelling websites in addition to more traditional methods of communication to attract investors who are eager for big returns they often guarantee returns of more than 100 the key to spotting and avoiding hyips is to ask pointed questions about an investment and to take note if you receive no satisfactory details look to sources of pertinent information other than the program itself for instance contact the sec to learn whether the operator is registered ask your financial advisor or brokerage firm what they know about the program most importantly use your common sense to recognize when a high yield is too high to be lawfully possible 