A Florida stock fraud lawyer is adept at aiding victims of what the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) calls–in its investor alert bulletins–“fraudulent stock promotions.” The SEC’s Office of Education and Advocacy recently issued a warning about “fraudsters who promote a stock to drive up the price, and then sell their own shares at the inflated price.” Therefore, these scam artists profit, but investors lose money. Explains the SEC, “promoters are often paid…or company insiders” who are experts at “creating buying frenzies” of stocks which may actually be worth little. A Florida stock fraud lawyer–as well as the SEC–know that these charlatans promote stocks through what appear to be “unbiased sources,” such as “Social Media”–where they can hide their true identities, or “Investment Newsletters”–through which they pay publishers to tout stocks for them. Having compensated third parties to collect the e-mail addresses of wealthy, older investors who reside in certain upscale areas, these fraudsters continue to shell out for “online ads” in the forms of “pop ups” or “banners.” Even though these ads represent scams, their masterminds find ways to troll them across accredited “financial pages of news organizations.” A Florida stock fraud lawyer would tell you to throw out “high-end glossy mailers” that glorify certain stocks, and that “internet chat rooms” are other sites favored by fraudsters. Through “anonymous” chats, promoters try to convince their prey to “buy stock in microcap companies.” They often claim, “We have the inside track on impending developments” within these organizations. The SEC warns that microcap stocks are particularly risky for unseasoned investors because they are “issued by the smallest of companies(i.e., penny stocks)” and are, therefore, “more susceptible to price manipulation.” And, there isn’t much public information circulating about these microcaps–which enables fraudsters to spread untruths about them. The “less liquid”(less quickly sold) the microcap, a Florida stock fraud lawyer will advise you, the easier it is to “manipulate its price.” Fraudulent activity in the microcap market could look like this.–

• The price–or the “trading volume”–goes up along with the strength of promotions,
• “Press releases” celebrate business contracts/mergers that never reach fruition,
• You research a microcap and discover that it has “little or no assets or revenues,”
• Your microcap “issues a lot of shares,” but the company’s assets don’t increase accordingly,
• Your microcap alters its name–or “type of business” often.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission frequently issues the names of publicly-traded companies which it has ordered to “stop trading.” If you find the company from which you’ve purchased shares on an SEC suspension list, contact us. We will work diligently to help you recover lost funds.

For many retirees, the idea of spending their leisure years in Florida is a goal for which they have striven for many years. According to U.S. News & World Report’s analysis of 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data, the “Sunshine State” has the greatest proportion of people who are at least 65 (17.3%). And that doesn’t necessarily include “snowbirds” who might spend a considerable amount of the winter months in Florida away from their normal array of trusted advisers such as lawyers, investment advisers and other financial professionals who remain behind in the snow. Whether they are new residents or snowbirds, and like many other Americans, some of Florida’s newest senior citizens probably are hoping to make some new investments to help them recover ground lost during the difficult economic times of the last five years, and that makes them extra-vulnerable to securities fraud schemes targeting the elderly. One such scheme involving the stock of two companies, Miami Beach-based Thought Development Inc. and Virgin Gaming, just resulted in two Boca Raton men being among eight defendants being charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit federal mail and wire fraud. PalmBeachCoast.com recently reported that Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office are prosecuting the Boca Raton pair on charges based on what Ferrer described as “exorbitant, undisclosed commissions” and misrepresentation of the technology involved, which allegedly projected a green laser line on a football field visible in the stadium to players and fans as well as to television viewers. Ferrer and Piro also took the position that the promoters also failed to mention a pretty significant defect, which was that use of the technology posed a risk of blindness to the players. U.S. Attorney Ferrer stressed that his office strives to prevent the “victimization” of Florida’s elderly residents. As effective as that assistance is, of course, it’s still only half of the answer. Florida’s seniors also need the tremendous resources that can be accessed through a relationship with a Florida stock fraud lawyer, who not only can fully explore options for recovery of investment-related losses but can advocate, with federal and state law enforcement officers, on behalf of Floridians who have suffered losses due to investment-related fraud where the promoters of the fraudulent scheme, like the defendants charged in the Thought Development Inc./Virgin Gaming scheme, are the target of state or federal civil or criminal prosecution. Contact us to learn more about the possibilities for pursuing recovery of losses that result from investment activities with unscrupulous promoters, brokers and other securities industry operators.