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Insider Trading Cartoons: Misappropriation Theory
Investor Alerts/Notices
Investor Bulletin: 10 Investment Tips for 2016
Whether you are a first-time investor or have been investing for years, here are ten tips from the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy to help you make more informed investing decisions and avoid common scams in 2016. Read more here.
Filed by: Securities and Exchange Commission, January 7, 2016
Investor Bulletin: Securities-Backed Lines of Credit
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) are issuing this investor alert to provide information about the basics of SBLOCs, how they may be marketed to you, and what risks you should consider before posting your investment portfolio as collateral. Read more here.
Filed by: Securities and Exchange Commission, December 22, 2015
Investor Bulletin: An Introduction to Short Sales
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin for investors to provide them with the basics, including some of the potential risks, of short sales. Read more here.
Filed by: Securities and Exchange Commission, October 29 2015
Invest Tennessee Exemption Rules Take Effect in December
Tennessee’s rules guiding business owners who may be seeking alternative ways of raising capital – a practice commonly known as intrastate “crowdfunding” – have gained final approval. Read more here.
Filed by: Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, October 22 2015
Be on the Lookout for Investment Scams Related to the Recent Historic Rain and Flooding
The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to help educate investors, including individuals who may receive lump sum payouts from insurance companies and others following the recent historic rainfall and flooding in and around South Carolina, about investment fraud. Read more here.
Filed by: Securities and Exchange Commission, October 9 2015
Investment-Related Radio Programs Used to Defraud
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to provide investors with an overview of fraudulent schemes that may be carried out through radio programs. Read more here.
Filed by: Securities and Exchange Commission, September 23 2015
Regulators: Seniors Remain Top Target for Fraud
A regulatory group reported this month that affinity fraud and unregistered securities scams disproportionately affect seniors. Read more here.
Filed by: Texas State Securities Board, September 4 2015
Scam Tries to Rip Off Consumers in False Solicitation About Signal Oil Fraud Settlement
A likely phony law firm is contacting people by phone and offering to send them a portion of funds recovered for investors in a securities fraud case against Signal Oil. Read more here.
Filed by: California Department of Business Oversight, August 14 2015
Latest Stories
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Scamming $4.5 Million from Elderly Friends
Paul Simoneachi, an insurance agent from Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to scamming 21 elderly consumers out of more than $4.5 million in savings.
Simoneachi preyed upon Italian immigrants and even close friends by telling them that they should end their insurance policies and invest the money with Simoneachi.
The New York Daily ...
Read More
Indiana Struggles to Handle Financial Exploitation Cases
Indiana’s Adult Protective Services is not equipped to handle most cases of financial exploitation, an investigation by IndyStar has found.
Financial exploitation of older adults is disturbingly common: Indiana saw 1,277 cases in 2010 alone, costing a total of $38 million, according to IndyStar. But the state’s Adult Protective Services system ...
Read More
Variable Annuities Area of Focus for SEC in 2016
The Securities and Exchange Commission have made variable annuities a point of interest in its examination priorities. The popular part of retirement plans are a focus for the SEC in 2016.
Variable annuities are tax-deferred retirement components that allows retirees to choose from a selection of investments, then pays a level of income ...
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Martin Shkreli Seeks New Lawyers in Securities Fraud Case
Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli is seeking new representation in his fight against securities fraud charges.
Shkreli’s attorneys filed a letter requesting new counsel and delayed a status conference scheduled for Wednesday, Bloomberg reports.
From Bloomberg:
The lawyers said issues arose over the holiday weekend. On Jan. 17, Shkreli allowed a reporter for ...
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Steven Cohen Banned From Managing Outside Money for 2 Years
After nearly a decade of investigations by securities regulators after accusations of insider trading, Steven A. Cohen will be able to manage outside money in two years.
Although federal prosecutors originally called for a rare lifetime ban, Cohen reached a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cohen was formally charged ...
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Britain’s Biggest Insider Trading Case Goes to Trial
Five defendants are posed to go to trial in one of UK's biggest insider-trading scandals ever.
The five, Martyn Dodgson, former managing director of Deutsche Bank, Andrew Hind, an accountant, Grant Harrison, former managing director at Altium Capital, Benjamin Anderson, a day trader, and Iraj Parvizi, former director of Aria Capital, ...
Read More
Victims of Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme to Receive Shares of $1.2 Billion
Although Bernard Madoff was convicted in 2008, victims of his $17.5 billion Ponzi scheme are still receiving recovered funds. With the upcoming distribution, retirees, charities, investment funds, and other victims have recovered 57 percent of lost funds.
According to a press release by trustee Irving Picard, over 1,300 victims will have ...
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SEC Investor Advocate Wants More Protection for Elderly Investors
Securities and Exchange Commission Investor Advocate Rick Fleming wants to protect elderly investors from fraud. Fleming wants the SEC to have a rule protecting elderly investors in case they are defrauded by registered investment advisors.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the North American Securities Administrators Association have called for rules to ...
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Texas Man to Repay $ 8 Million for Oil Scam
A Texas man must repay investors $8.8 million for his role in an oil and gas investment scam. Brian Polito was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the fraud.
Polito pled guilty to mail fraud that was part of deception of energy investors.
From CBS DFW:
Investigators say Polito did ...
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Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Scamming $4.5 Million from Elderly Friends
Read More

Indiana Struggles to Handle Financial Exploitation Cases
Read More

Variable Annuities Area of Focus for SEC in 2016
Read More

Martin Shkreli Seeks New Lawyers in Securities Fraud Case
Read More

Steven Cohen Banned From Managing Outside Money for 2 Years
Read More

Britain’s Biggest Insider Trading Case Goes to Trial
Read More

Victims of Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme to Receive Shares of $1.2 Billion
Read More

SEC Investor Advocate Wants More Protection for Elderly Investors
Read More

Texas Man to Repay $ 8 Million for Oil Scam
Read More
Enforcement Actions
October 21, 2015
Texas
In the Matter of the Application for Investment Adviser Representative Registration of Jetmir Ahemeti, Ahemeti Wealth Management, LLC.
October 1, 2015
Pennsylvania
A-1 United Auto Services, Inc., of Harrisburg, Pa., has entered into a Consent Agreement and Order, will pay a fine, and take corrective actions for violations of the Consumer Credit Code.
September 3, 2015
Texas
In the Matter of the Dealer Registration of WFG Investments, Inc.
June 2, 2015
New York
The Department of Financial Services Issues Consent Order to Alma Bank (PDF)