Gold has been on a tear, but that doesn't mean that the metal is without its dangers. Even legitimate investment in gold requires a strong stomach, but far worse is the panoply of scammers who are out to take advantage of recent trends and investor interest. Here's how to spot a scam, and invest in gold safely.
With gold trading at around $1,600 an ounce, this most precious of metals seems to many like a smart investment. And if you have a television, you've doubtless seen ads encouraging you to buy physical gold. But think twice: Owning bullion can be more trouble than it's worth, and alternatives exist.
Gold bugs shrug off Tuesday's drop and note that so far, shares of gold miners haven't skyrocketed along with the price of physical gold. So, one pro offers his top-three gold-mining stock picks for investors who are still on the outside looking to get in.