http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts.shtml The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy provides a variety of services and tools to address problems you may face as an investor. These Investor Alerts and Investor Bulletins, focused on topical issues including recent Commission actions, are provided as a service to investors. en-us Thu, 12 Jun 2013 9:00:00 EST Thu, 12 Jun 2013 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_pumpanddump.htm FINRA and the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy are issuing this Investor Alert to warn investors to be on the lookout for email spam promoting “pump-and-dump” stock scams. OIEA-067 Thu, 12 Jun 2013 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_binary.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Office of Consumer Outreach (CFTC) are issuing this Investor Alert to warn investors about fraudulent promotion schemes involving binary options and binary options trading platforms. These schemes allegedly involve, among other things, the refusal to credit customer accounts or reimburse funds to customers, identity theft, and manipulation of software to generate losing trades. OIEA-066 Thu, 6 Jun 2013 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_high-yield.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate individual investors about high-yield corporate bonds, also called "junk bonds." While they generally offer a higher yield than investment-grade bonds, high-yield bonds also carry a higher risk of default. OIEA-065 Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_corporatebonds.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to offer basic information about corporate bonds. OIEA-064 Tue, 4 Jun 2013 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_bogusregulators.htm Securities and Exchange Commission staff is issuing this Investor Alert in response to a number of fraudulent solicitations currently underway that purport to be affiliated with or sponsored by the federal government and legitimate securities regulators. If you are contacted by an organization calling itself the "Chicago Division of Securities," the "Division of Securities, Chicago Illinois," the "Federal Division of Securities, New York" or the "New York Securities Division," be aware that they are not affiliated with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not legitimate securities regulators. They are scams. OIEA-063 Thu, 30 May 2013 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_income_streams.pdf What You Need to Know Before Buying or Selling Them. OIEA-062 Thu, 9 May 2013 9:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_oilgas.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this alert to educate individual investors about certain risks and possible fraudulent activity involving private offerings of securities for oil and gas ventures. OIEA-061 Thu, 2 May 2013 9:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ia_impersonators.htm SEC staff is issuing this updated Investor Alert because we are aware of continuing fraudulent solicitations that purport to be affiliated with or sponsored by the Securities and Exchange Commission (including a recent bogus email scam using the name of Lori Schock, Director of the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy). OIEA-060 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_readmfreport.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate individual investors about mutual fund shareholder reports. OIEA-059 Tue, 2 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/bulletincustody.htm SEC-registered investment advisers who have custody of their clients' funds or securities must safeguard those funds as required by the SEC's "custody rule." The custody rule is designed to provide additional safeguards for investors against the possibility of theft or misappropriation by investment advisers who are registered with the SEC. Despite the protections offered by the custody rule, investors still need to be proactive in ensuring the safety of their investments. OIEA-058 Mon, 4 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/forms-3-4-5.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about SEC Forms 3, 4, and 5. OIEA-057 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ipo-investorbulletin.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors with information they should consider when investing in the shares of a new public company. Historically, an initial public offering, or IPO, has referred to the first time a company offers its shares of capital stock to the general public. Under the federal securities laws... OIEA-056 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/13thingstoknowaboutinvesting.pdf Whether you're a first-time investor or have been investing for many years, there is some basic information you should know about investing. Below is a list of thirteen pieces of investing-related information that may help you make informed financial decisions and avoid common scams. OIEA-055 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 8:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/municipalbondsbulletin.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about assessing credit risks they face when purchasing municipal bonds, which may also be called notes or certificates of participation. Credit risk—or default risk—is the risk that interest and/or principal on the securities will not be paid on time and in full. Investors need to know who is responsible for repayment of the securities and the financial condition of that entity to assess the credit risk and decide whether to purchase the securities. OIEA-054 Wed, 26 Dec 2012 8:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/yearendbulletin.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy andthe Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide individual investors with a few suggestions for year-end investment planning as the year draws to a close. OIEA-053 Thu, 6 Dec 2012 8:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/impersonator.htm SEC staff is issuing this updated Investor Alert because we are aware of continuing fraudulent solicitations that purport to be affiliated with or sponsored by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commission staff, as well as particular Commissioners (including a recent bogus email scam using the name of Commissioner Daniel Gallagher). OIEA-053 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 8:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/hurricanealert.htm 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 Hurricane Sandy, about investment fraud. OIEA-052 Thu, 1 Nov 2012 8:30:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_hedgefunds.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate individual investors about hedge funds. OIEA-051 Wed, 3 Oct 2012 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_confirmations.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide you with guidance on how to read confirmation statements. OIEA-050 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/affinityfraud.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to help educate investors about affinity fraud, a type of investment scam that preys upon members of identifiable groups, such as religious or ethnic communities or the elderly. OIEA-049 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/ib_top_tips.pdf Choosing a financial professional-whether a stockbroker, a financial planner, or an investment adviser-is an important decision. Consider the tips below as you make your choice.. OIEA-048 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 9:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/lss.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about lost and stolen securities and the Commission's Lost and Stolen Securities Program ("LSSP"), a database for securities certificates reported lost, stolen, missing, or counterfeit. OIEA-047 Fri, 7 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/10ways.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy designed Investor.gov with the individual investor in mind. Whether you are investing on your own, working with a financial professional, planning your retirement, or just interested in learning more about investing generally, Investor.gov can help you invest wisely and avoid fraud. Here are 10 specific ways you can use Investor.gov to become a more educated investor... OIEA-046 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/adr-bulletin.pdf The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate investors about American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). An ADR is a security that represents shares of non-U.S. companies that are held by a U.S. depositary bank outside the United States ("U.S."). OIEA-045 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/etfs.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to educate investors about exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). OIEA-044 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/internationalinvestingbulletin.pdf Individual investors in the United States have access to a wide selection of investment opportunities, including international investments. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about international investing. This Investor Bulletin describes ways individual investors may obtain information about international investments — including special factors to consider when investing internationally. OIEA-043 Mon, 24 Jul 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/circuitbreakersbulletin.htm The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to inform investors of recent safeguards approved by the SEC to address market volatility in U.S. equity markets. On May 31, 2012, the SEC approved a new “Limit Up-Limit Down” mechanism to address market volatility by preventing trades in listed equity securities when triggered by large, sudden price moves in an individual stock. Additionally, the SEC approved proposed rule changes that modify existing circuit breaker procedures related to market-wide trading halts. OIEA-042 Mon, 23 Jul 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/dtcfreezes.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about the effects of chills and freezes on an investor’s ability to hold and trade securities. OIEA-041 Thu, 31 May 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/readan8k.pdf A company has just released its quarterly earnings. Another company has auditor news that could raise a red flag, and a third company is filing for bankruptcy. Where can you find more facts? Information about these events and many more are found in a document called a current report on Form 8-K. OIEA-040 Tue, 22 May 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/social_media_seniors.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide seniors who use social media with a few tips to help them do so more safely and to help them avoid investment fraud. OIEA-039 Wed, 2 May 2012 9:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/pre_ipo_scams.htm 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, Twitter, and Groupon. OIEA-038 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/votinginannualshareholdersmeetings.pdf Over the next few months, investors can expect to receive proxy materials for annual shareholder meetings or a related notice advising shareholders how they can access these materials. Shareholder voting typically takes place at the annual shareholder meeting, which most U.S. public companies hold each year between March and June. There are three new or continuing developments this year... OIEA-037 Mon, 28 Mar 2012 13:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/municipalbonds.htm The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate individual investors about municipal bonds. OIEA-036 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/impersonator.pdf 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. OIEA-035 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/socialmediaandfraud.pdf 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. OIEA-034 Wed, 4 Jan 2012 09:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/socialmediaandinvesting.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to provide investors with tips they should consider when establishing an account on a social media website. OIEA-033 Wed, 4 Jan 2012 09:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/12tipsfor2012.htm Below are some suggestions on how to become a smarter investor in 2012. OIEA-032 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/transition-of-mid-sized-investment-advisers.pdf On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act amends certain provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by delegating generally to the states responsibility over certain mid-sized investment advisers – i.e., those that have between $25 million and $100 million of assets under management (“AUM”). OIEA-031 Mon, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/reits.pdf Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) have been around for more than fifty years. Congress established REITs in 1960 to allow individual investors to invest in large-scale, income-producing real estate. REITs provide a way for individual investors to earn a share of the income produced through commercial real estate ownership – without actually having to go out and buy commercial real estate. OIEA-030 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/tradingseminars.htm 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. OIEA-029 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/fcpa.pdf The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) generally prohibits the bribing of foreign officials. OIEA-028 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/sdira.pdf 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... OIEA-027 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/imperiaupdate.htm The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this update to alert investors, including deaf investors, about “Imperia Invest IBC” and similarly-named companies. In October of 2010, the SEC obtained a temporary restraining order and emergency asset freeze... OIEA-026 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/cobellalert.pdf Investor Alert: Cobell Indian Trust Settlement Payout Recipients - Be on the Lookout for Investment Scams OIEA-025 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/forextrading.pdf Individual investors who are considering participating in the off-exchange foreign currency (forex) market need to understand fully the market and its unique characteristics. Forex trading is very risky and is not appropriate for all investors... OIEA-024 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:00:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/reversemergers.pdf Many private companies, including some whose operations are located in foreign countries, seek to access the U.S. capital markets by merging with existing public companies... OIEA-023 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/tradingsuspensions.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about the SEC’s rules and regulations related to stock suspensions. OIEA-022 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/structurednotes.htm The retail market for structured notes with principal protection has been growing in recent years. While these products often have reassuring names that include some variant of “principal protection,” “capital guarantee,” “absolute return,” “minimum return” or similar terms, they are not risk-free.... OIEA-021 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/afterhourtrading.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about after-hours trading for stocks. OIEA-020 Tue, 24 May 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/secindexedannuities.pdf An indexed annuity is a type of contract between you and an insurance company. During the accumulation period, when you make either a lump sum payment or a series of payments, the insurance company credits you with a return that is based on changes in a securities index, such as the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. OIEA-019 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/sayonpay.pdf The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help investors understand new rules about shareholder votes on Say on-Pay and golden parachutes. The rules concern three separate non-binding shareholder votes on executive compensation: Say-on-Pay Votes, Frequency Votes and Golden Parachute Disclosures. OIEA-018 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/pre-ipo.htm The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to warn you about investment scams that purport to offer investors the opportunity to buy pre-IPO shares of Facebook, Twitter, Groupon, or other popular companies. OIEA-017 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:17:39 EST http://sec.gov/investor/alerts/daytrading.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about the different types of orders they can use to buy and sell stocks through a brokerage firm. The following are general descriptions of some of the common order types and trading instructions that investors may use to buy and sell stocks. Please note that some of the order types and trading instructions described below may not be avail-able through all brokerage firms. Furthermore, some brokerage firms may offer additional order types and trading instructions not described below. Investors should contact their brokerage firms to determine which types of orders and trading instructions are available for buying and selling as well the brokerage firms’ specific policies regarding such available orders and trading instructions. OIEA-016 Tue, 8 Mar 2011 10:17:39 EST http://sec.gov/investor/alerts/daytrading.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors regarding the margin rules that apply to day trading in a Regulation T margin account and to respond to a number of frequently asked questions we have received. OIEA-015 Tue, 8 Feb 2011 10:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/finraarb.htm Investor Bulletin:  New Rules Give Customers Option of All Public Arbitration Panels OIEA-014 Thu, 3 Feb 2011 10:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/guidance/formn-mfpqa-info.htm Money Market Funds: Staff Responses to Questions about Information Filed on Form N-MFP OIEA-013 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:17:39 EST http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/lifesettlements-bulletin.htm The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to highlight information about life settlements and some of the risks these types of transactions may pose for investors. Individual investors considering a life settlement transaction may wish to keep the following points in mind and seek guidance from an unbiased financial professional who will not receive a commission or any other financial benefit from the transaction. OIEA-012 Tue, 20 Jan 2011 10:17:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/cashaccounts.pdf The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors regarding the rules that apply to trading securities in cash accounts and to highlight the 90-day account freeze which may arise with certain trading activities in these type of accounts. OIEA-011 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/2011investortips.pdf It’s that time of year -- the time to ring out the old and ring in the new, to ditch bad habits and replace them with good ones. We can’t guarantee you’ll lose weight, or become a better human being, but we can give you some suggestions to help you whip your finances into shape. OIEA-010 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/bpinvestoralert.htm The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to help educate investors, including individuals and small businesses receiving lump sum payouts from BP related to the oil spill in the Gulf, about potential investment frauds that target recipients of lump sum payouts. OIEA-009 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/imperia.htm The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has charged an Internet-based investment company, Imperia Invest IBC ("Imperia"), with securities fraud for soliciting several million dollars from U.S. investors and promising guaranteed annual returns in excess of 300% while in reality siphoning the funds into foreign bank accounts and not paying any returns back to investors. OIEA-008 Wed, 6 Oct 2010 10:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/govimpersonatorsalert.htm The staff of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is issuing this Investor Alert about an individual who is falsely representing to be an employee of the SEC and offering to provide assistance with settling federal tax obligations with the United States Internal Revenue Service. OIEA-007 Tue, 5 Oct 2010 10:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/circuitbreakers.htm The Securities and Exchange Commission approved rules on Sept. 10, 2010, to expand the existing circuit breaker program that currently is triggered by large, sudden price moves in an individual stock. OIEA-006 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/municipal.htm The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help educate investors about municipal bonds. For additional assistance, investors can call the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy at 1-800-SEC-0330, or ask a question using ours online form. OIEA-005 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/tradingstock.htm Investors should be very cautious when considering trading in stock after the SEC has suspended trading in the shares.  An SEC trading suspension is a "red flag", often indicating the SEC has concerns about the information that the company has been providing to the public.  By law, an SEC suspension usually ends after ten business days, even if the company has not provided current, accurate information about itself.  However, when a company does not provide current, reliable information about itself and its finances, trading its shares can be very risky. OIEA-004 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/paytoplay.htm The Securities and Exchange Commission approved a new rule on June 30, 2010 to curb so-called "pay to play" practices in which investment advisers make campaign contributions to elected officials in order to influence the award of contracts to manage public pension plan assets and other government investment accounts. OIEA-003 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/lifesettlements-bulletin.htm We are issuing this Investor Bulletin to highlight information about life settlements and some of the risks these types of transactions may pose for investors. Individual investors considering a life settlement transaction may wish to keep the following points in mind and seek guidance from an unbiased financial professional who will not receive a commission or any other financial benefit from the transaction. OIEA-002 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:56:39 EDT http://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts/bulletin-formadv.htm Investment advisers provide a wide range of advisory services and play an important role in helping individuals and institutions make significant financial decisions. To allow clients and prospective clients to evaluate the risks associated with a particular investment adviser, its business practices, and its investment strategies, it is essential that clients and prospective clients have clear disclosure that they are likely to read and understand. That is why the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted amendments to Part 2 of Form ADV to require investment advisers to provide new and prospective clients with a brochure and brochure supplements written in plain English. These amendments are designed to provide new and prospective clients with clearly written, meaningful current disclosure of the business practices, conflicts of interest, and background of the investment adviser firm and the firm’s employees who provide advice. OIEA-001 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:56:39 EDT