FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: August 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: July 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: June 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

Philadelphia Woman Indicted in $68 Million Ponzi Scheme

The US Attorney’s office out of New Jersey recently announced the indictment of an investment fund manager who had allegedly orchestrated a $68 million securities fraud scheme. Fifty-nine year old Brenda Smith of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was indicted on six counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.

FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: May 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

Investments and Fraud Threats during Covid-19

The COVID-19 crisis has made an impact on every part of daily life. That includes the economy, of course; and the stock market. Unfortunately such incredible turmoil creates even greater than usual opportunities for fraud.

FINRA’s Name Used in New Attempts to Scam Investors

In Regulatory Notice 20-12, FINRA pointed out fraudulent emails purporting to be from FINRA officers, including Bill Wollman and Josh Drobnyk. These emails have a source domain name “@broker-finra.org” and request immediate attention to an attachment relating to your firm.

FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: April 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: March 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

Coronavirus May Compromise Broker Oversight

On Monday, The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) said that it would give firms greater flexibility in administering agents working remotely and in migrating staff to transitory areas. The regulator also said it would consider granting increases for firms that need more opportunity to react to requests and document cutoff times or examinations.

Financial Professionals Working Remotely Equals Compliance Risk

In reaction to the appearance of the pandemic coronavirus, some financial consulting corporations are telling their employees to work from home. Market unpredictability, working remotely -- and the greater cybersecurity openness introduced by doing so -- together take firms into a very high zone of vulnerability.

Market Volatility Will Expose Broker Misconduct

Arbitration experts warned that large market interruptions in the past had brought about incre investor claims against brokers. Recent extraordinary market volatility due to the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns that securities arbitration cases would rise sharply in the aftermath of the crisis.

Banned Broker Questions Right to Bar Him

Investment law specialists on Thursday raised concerns that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority will lose its capacity to exclude bad brokers because of a progressing case pitting the Securities and Exchange Commission against a broker that FINRA banned in 2008.

Non-Traditional ETFs Can Still Wreak Havoc in Investment Accounts

Non-traditional ETFs are complex financial products designed to achieve a specific performance result on a daily basis. It should be noted here that non-traditional ETFs are neither good nor bad — their value depends on how they are used and who they are used for.

Phony Certificate of Deposit Scam Costs Investors More Than $25 Million

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently announced that it had brought charges against major fraudster, Denis Georgiyevich Sotnikov for his role in a $26 million investment scam.

Banned Brokers Still Sell Insurance

The Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this week barred three salesmen who worked at firms with the homiest of monikers: Balanced Financial Inc., Live Abundant and Old Security Financial Group. The SEC accused all three of selling a Ponzi scheme.

FINRA Disciplinary Action Report: Feb 2020

Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.

Investors Lose Money in Non-Traditional ETFs

Financial oversight experts are scrutinizing non-traditional Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the midst of an outcry from investors who have lost millions of dollars in the alternative investments. Moreover, investment fraud lawyers have launched litigation on behalf of investors who may have lost cash due to brokers recommending the risky ETFs.

Massive Fraud Rocks Pennsylvania Mennonite Community

On Friday, Federal prosecutors announced that a Berks County accountant has been charged with one of the greatest Ponzi schemes in the history of the Pennsylvania.

U.S. Attorney William McSwain disclosed that Philip Elvin Riehl, 68, of Bethel Township, Berks County, PA was charged with conspiracy to convey securities fraud, wire fraud and similar offences. Investigators assert Riehl's scheme targeted hundreds of Mennonite and Amish religious people in and outside Pennsylvania over 10 years and profited $60 million.

PA EX-FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOUND GUILTY OF FRAUD

A former stockbroker, Anthony Diaz of Scotrun, PA has been charged on 11 counts of wire and mail fraud for running a scam on investors. Each of the counts carries a maximum 20-year jail penalty.