Investor Alerts
Investor Alert: Pre-IPO Investment Scams (Updated)
04/24/2012
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this updated Investor Alert to warn investors about investment scams that purport to offer investors the opportunity to buy pre-IPO shares of companies, including social media and technology companies such as Facebook and Twitter. SEC staff is aware of a number of complaints and inquiries about these types of frauds, which may be promoted on social media and internet sites, by telephone, email, in person, or by other means.Read moreUpdated Investor Alert: SEC Warns of Government Impersonators
02/22/2012
SEC staff is issuing this updated Investor Alert because they have seen a recent surge of complaints about a scheme where fraudsters posing as SEC employees call potential victims on the telephone and purport to offer them a large sum of money (in some cases, the amount of $450,000 is used) in return for depositing a smaller amount (for example, $1,500) into a specified account. Some of these solicitations may use the name of a legitimate company and refer prospective investors to an operating website. These solicitations, whether made by telephone, email, or other method, are fraudulent.Read moreView Document: English (pdf)
Investor Alert: Social Media and Investing - Avoiding Fraud
01/04/2012
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to help investors be better aware of fraudulent investment schemes that may involve social media. U.S. retail investors are increasingly turning to social media, including Facebook,YouTube,Twitter, LinkedIn and other online networks for information about investing. Whether it be for research on particular stocks, background information on a broker-dealer or investment adviser, guidance on an overall investing strategy, up-to-date news, or to simply discuss the markets with others, social media has become a key tool for U.S. investors....Read moreView Document: English (pdf)
Investor Alert: Investment Seminars – Trading Seminar Scams
10/25/2011
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to warn investors of potential scams they may encounter at investment seminars that purport to teach investors trading strategies that will allow them quickly and easily to make money trading securities.Read moreInvestor Alert: Self-Directed IRAs and the Risk of Fraud
09/23/2011
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) and the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) are issuing this Investor Alert to warn investors of the potential risks associated with investing through self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts (self-directed IRAs).Read moreView Document: English (pdf)