The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Alert to warn investors about investment scams involving companies that claim their products or services relate to Ebola.

If you are considering investing in a company that purports to develop products or services relating to Ebola, be aware that fraudsters often attempt to take advantage of the news as a hook for investment schemes touting “the latest growth industry” whether it be oil and gas, virtual currency, or marijuana.  Similar to how natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy have given rise to investment scams (including promoters touting companies purportedly involved in cleanup efforts, trading programs with false guarantees of high returns, and classic Ponzi schemes), con artists may perpetrate investment scams related to Ebola prevention, protection, testing, or treatment.    

Although any company may make false statements relating to Ebola to lure investors, microcap stocks (low-priced stocks issued by the smallest of companies) such as penny stocks (the very lowest priced stocks) may be particularly vulnerable to fraudulent investment schemes, including Ebola-related investment scams.  There is often limited publicly-available information about microcap companies’ management, products, services, and finances, and this can make it easier for fraudsters to spread false information about the company and to profit at the expense of unsuspecting investors.

For example, in a “pump-and-dump” scheme, promoters “pump” up the stock price of a company by spreading positive rumors that incite a buying frenzy and then they quickly “dump” their own shares before the hype ends.  Typically, after the promoters profit from their sales, the stock price drops and the remaining investors lose money.

The SEC can suspend trading in any stock for up to 10 days when it believes that information about a company is inaccurate or unreliable.  Investors who own stock in a company subject to a trading suspension may be unable to sell their shares until the trading suspension is lifted, or even after.  The SEC issued temporary trading suspensions for the common stock of four microcap companies that claim their operations relate to the current Ebola outbreak: Bravo Enterprises Ltd.; Immunotech Laboratories, Inc.; Myriad Interactive Media, Inc.; and Wholehealth Products, Inc.

The SEC suspended trading in these companies based on a lack of current and accurate publicly-available information, including information about the relationship between the companies’ business prospects and the current Ebola crisis. 

Beware of Red Flags of Potential Fraud

As with any investment, be cautious if you spot any of these warning signs of potential fraud:

• Promises or guarantees of high investment returns with little or no risk.  Every investment carries some degree of risk, and the potential for greater returns often comes with greater risk.  Be skeptical of any investment that guarantees a high rate of return on your investment or does not disclose risk.
• Pressure to buy RIGHT NOW.  Fraudsters may try to create a false sense of urgency or pitch the investment as a “limited time only opportunity.”  Take your time researching the investment thoroughly and check out the truth of every statement you are told about the investment before you hand over your money.
• Unsolicited offers, including through social media.  A new post on your wall, a tweet mentioning you, a direct message, an e-mail, a text, a phone call, or any other unsolicited – meaning you didn’t ask for it and don’t know the sender – communication regarding an investment “opportunity” may be part of a scam.  Be especially suspicious if you are told that the promotion is based on “inside” information or if you are asked to keep the investment opportunity confidential.  
• Unregistered investment professionals.  Many fraudulent investment schemes involve unlicensed individuals or unregistered firms.  Use the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)’s BrokerCheck website to check the license/registration status of any individual or firm recommending or selling an investment.

If you are buying low-priced shares of a small company (e.g., buying a stock that trades in the “over-the-counter” (also called OTC market)), also beware of red flags of potential microcap fraud such as:

• SEC trading suspensions (the SEC has suspended public trading of the security)
• E-mail and fax spam recommending a stock
• False or exaggerated press releases
• Frequent or unexplained company name changes
• Business plan or ownership changes with no history of operational success
• Insiders own large amounts of stock

Even in the absence of fraud, microcap stocks are among the most risky.  For more information, read Microcap Stock: A Guide for Investors.

Research the Investment

You can research investments by checking the SEC’s EDGAR database or contacting your state securities regulator to find out whether the company has registered its securities offering with the SEC or a state securities regulator.  If a company has not registered its securities, read our Investor Alert, 10 Red Flags That an Unregistered Offering May Be a Scam, and our Investor Bulletin, Private Placements Under Regulation D.

Read recent reports that the company has filed with the SEC.  If there are no reports, ask your broker for the “Rule 15c2-11” file, which may contain information about the company (the federal securities laws may require your broker to collect certain information). 

When investing in a company that claims to focus on Ebola-related products and services, carefully review all information you receive about the investment and keep in mind that investment scam artists often exploit the latest crisis to line their own pockets.

Additional Resources

FINRA Investor Alert: Viral Disease Stock Scams: Don’t Let Them Infect Your Portfolio

SEC Investor Alert: Investment Newsletters Used as Tools for Fraud

SEC Investor Alert: Marijuana-Related Investments

Report possible securities fraud to the SEC.  Report a problem to the SEC.  Ask the SEC a question.  Visit Investor.gov, the SEC's website for individual investors.

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