Agree - my first thought when I posted my concern yesterday was,...

Agree - my first thought when I posted my concern yesterday was, why are people handing out their mobile numbers and email addresses to conduct a discussion which can easily be continued on HC? It makes no sense whatsoever.

I must admit it is the first time that I have witnessed that type of conduct on HC. Sometimes you will see two posters go offline for some sort of related discussion but never an invitation to set up a entirely new chat forum. What?

Worse still, I think an offline forum affords one or two people the potential to control and direct the discussions - hardly the foundation for open and transparent dialogue.

Irrespective, if you are an inexperienced investor there are many lessons to be learned and trials to be endured. Sadly, nothing that I or others write here will spare you those lessons and trials. However, a good safeguard is to keep your eyes and ears open and always ask yourself, WHY (apologies, I never use capitals but wanted to make a point)? If, you can think of no good reason to answer your own WHY question, then there probably isn't one!

Take extreme care people - it's your hard earned after all.

Oh ... by the way those offline forums have been called "boiler rooms".