Pressure has intensified in the United States on companies involved in precious metals investments. The Financial Times has identified 17 lawsuits filed in US courts over the past decade. As media outlets note, the claims center on the misleading of clients and the charging of excessive fees that significantly erode investment returns.

In a number of instances, investors allege having paid substantial markups when purchasing coins and bullion. Certain companies stand accused of selling products at premiums that are many times higher than the intrinsic value of the gold contained within them.

The legal proceedings also address cases of systemic misconduct, where damages run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Moreover, some organizations have re-entered the market under new names following bankruptcy.

Experts point out that private investors are particularly vulnerable to such risks, often failing to distinguish between the prevailing market price of the metal itself and the actual cost of the investment products they purchase.