Recent Blog Posts
Securities Fraud Suit Filed against Solazyme, Inc.
On June 29, 2015, the news media announced that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Solazyme, Inc. in the U.S. District Court covering the northern district of California. The suit was filed on behalf of investors who held shares in Solazyme between February 27, 2014, and November 5, 2014. This… Read More »
The Pump-and-Dump: How False Tips Move Money from Your Pocket to Someone Else’s
As investment waters grow murkier and financial planning more specialized in today’s economy, securities fraud is increasingly common and complicated. What is an example of a typical securities fraud setup? The pump-and-dump is a common example, a fraudulent method of manipulating the price of a stock. It’s often carried out through the internet, focuses… Read More »
What is FINRA?
With so many regulatory bodies, it can be easy to become confused about which organization is responsible for which tasks. FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers, is one of those regulatory bodies. What does FINRA do, and how does it compare to the Securities and Exchange Commission?… Read More »
Inflating Earnings is More than Just Questionable – It’s Illegal
If you’re an average employee in a business environment, you probably know that being involved in fraudulent securities transactions can get you in big trouble. And if you’re the proprietor of a business or are making investments yourself, you likely know that your securities transactions and financial records are being scrutinized, particularly as recent… Read More »
The Face of a Fraudster: How to Recognize a Fraudulent Investment Salesperson
Famous stories of investment fraud tend to start with the same thing: a suave, successful con man with a great plan, a Bernie Madoff type, or a Jordan Belfort. But is that really what investment fraudsters look like? Knowing what a fraudulent investment salesperson may look or act like is the first step in… Read More »
Do You Have an Intellectual Property Claim? Types of IP Infringements
In 1963, John F. Kennedy stated, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance without death.” Few would understate the power of an idea, especially those whose livelihoods rest on coming up with them. Businesses of all industries rely on the development of ideas and… Read More »
Don’t Be a Victim: Avoiding Investment Fraud
You may know that investment scammers are devious individuals who come in many shapes, sizes, ages, and genders. And you may know that scams come in many forms. Investment fraud can occur in purchases and sales of a variety of investment products. Fraud can involve common stocks, put and call options, hedge funds and… Read More »
Devon Still and Other Athletes Lose Millions in Investment
Cincinatti Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, Washington Wizards Drew Gooden, former Pro Bowl running back Thomas Jones, former nose tackle Brandon McKinney, and Chicago Bears cornerback Timothy Jennings are among the investors that lost money investing in promissory notes in a Virginia company, CFP Group, Inc. (“CFP Group”). CFP Group was described to the… Read More »
Several Brazilian ETFs Down Over 25% in 2014
The Brazilian Bovespa had a volatile year in 2014 due to commodity and currency fluctuations. The index was only down 2.9% in local currency, but the Brazilian Real declined over 10% versus the US Dollar, causing Brazil-based investments to decline in USD terms. Several Brazil-focused investment funds actively trade in the US in the… Read More »
Brazilian Leveraged ETFs Performed Poorly in 2014
The Brazilian Bovespa had a volatile year in 2014 due to commodity and currency fluctuations. The index was only down 2.9% in local currency, but the Brazilian Real declined over 10% versus the US Dollar, causing Brazil-based investments to decline in USD terms. Several leveraged Brazil-focused investment funds actively trade in the US in… Read More »
