Penny wise and pound foolish

The region is going through a massive spurt of growth that brings with it many opportunities. Unfortunately the reverse is also true as con artists seek to cash in on investors' naivete or carelessness.

Almost every day the courts have to deal with cases where people were too quick to give their money away, too blinded by the potential of profit making to read the small print or even to ask sensible questions.

Not all sharks are in the sea and any person involved in a commercial transaction would do well to get legal advice. Compared to the potential loss, the cost of such advice is a small price to pay.

But no advice or background check can replace old-fashioned common sense. Genuine commercial activity of any type carries risk of loss as well as the possibility of profits. A fool and his money are soon parted.