SEC Warns of Increasing Investment Fraud Threats

Posted on August 8th, 2024 at 11:15 AM
SEC Warns of Increasing Investment Fraud Threats

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The SEC’s Office of the Investor Advocate recently submitted its objectives report for fiscal year 2025 to Congress, highlighting the growing threat of investment fraud.

According to InvestmentNews, the SEC’s Investor Advocate emphasized the escalating complexity and scale of fraud, driven by technology and social media. The report notes a significant increase in fraud complaints received by the agency’s Office of the Ombuds over the past six months.

The report outlines several key priorities:

  1. Assisting investors victimized by fraud and monitoring the rise in investment fraud schemes.
    2. Enhancing services to address questions, complaints, and concerns about the SEC and self-regulatory organizations (SROs).
    3. Evaluating the impact of technological changes on broker and adviser standards of conduct.
    4. Exploring ways to increase transparency and maintain investor access to private markets.
    5. Encouraging innovative and effective disclosure through investor testing of current and proposed disclosures, particularly for complex products and private markets.
    6. Increasing investor engagement and input on significant matters for retail investors.

The SEC summarizes, “This report reaffirms our commitment to identify and address the unique challenges faced by retail investors, advocate for transparency, mitigate fraud schemes, and support the interests of all investors.”

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

We just wanted to say thanks for your work in helping us get back some of the money we lost. We are not by any means rich, but we have saved some money and we have done so through a tight-fisted approach to most everything we do. So losing a significant chunk of money hurt…especially at a time when everyone else was growing their accounts. We really appreciate the work you did.

Allan and Adele

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

June 27, 2025
FINRA Sanctions Advisor for Accepting $1 Million Inheritance from Client Without Firm Approval

FINRA has fined and suspended veteran advisor Kenneth J. Malm for accepting a $1 million inheritance from a client without receiving the necessary firm approval.

June 26, 2025
SEC Charges Marine Veteran in $2.5 Million Ponzi Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has charged Marine Corps veteran Christopher Aubin with fraud, accusing him of running a $2.5 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of investors, including several of his former military colleagues.

June 25, 2025
FINRA Fines and Suspends Advisor for Selling Away and Receiving Client Loans

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has sanctioned Jose Antonio “Tony” Navarro for selling unapproved investments and borrowing funds from clients.