Investors

Investors

List of Firms Using Inaccurate Information 

The SEC maintains a list of unregistered entities that it alleges uses misleading information to solicit non-US investors  known as PAUSEor fake firms. It recently updated that list  to add four firms that are impersonating real firms, and 9 bogus firms. The list, known as the Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities […]

ponzi scheme
Investors

Victims of $102 Million Ponzi Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed charges and obtained an asset freeze against the individuals and companies behind a $102 million Ponzi scheme that bilked investors throughout the U.S. According to the SEC’s press release, the defendants defrauded more than 600 investors through sales of securities in issuers they controlled, […]

Securities and Exchange Commission
Investors

Merrill Lynch Admits Masking to Defraud Customers

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith with misleading customers about how it handled their orders.  Merrill Lynch agreed to settle the charges, admit wrongdoing, and pay a $42 million penalty. According to the SEC’s order, Merrill Lynch falsely informed customers that it had executed […]

Insider Trading
Brokers Investors

Insider Trading Attorney

Insider trading is a serious securities fraud violation, which has significant civil, and criminal, penalties. In recent years, the SEC and the Courts have expanded the definition of insider trading, which can now include trading insiders, and those who get information from insiders and even the random man in the […]

Cryptocurrency
Corp Finance Investors

Bitcoin Fraud On the Rise

Proponents of the varied cryptocurrencies believe that buying these “coins” will make them millionaires. For some, it is hard to argue, given the spectacular gains in the currency over the past year. However, those of us who have been involved in the securities markets for more than a few years, […]

Investors

SEC Investor Publications

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission publishes a number of guides and alerts designed to advise and sometimes warn, investors. Here are the most recent publications, as well as a list of all of the earlier ones:               Dec. 19, 2016 Invest Wisely: […]