Fake SEC?

In May of 2010, a fraud alert was sent out by the Securities and Exchange Commission to warn investors about a group of Internet con artists masquerading as the Securities and Exchange Commission and swindling investors.

In an Investor Alert, the SEC charged that the group, which has called itself the “U.S. Securities and Equities Administration,” the “U.S. Securities Administration” and the “U.S. Securities Bureau,” makes investors an enticing offer: It will remove supposed restrictions on shares of stock the investors own, or release funds being held by the government – all in return for a fee.

The group also appears to have a global division dubbed the “International Equity Regulation Department.”

The SEC-wannabe provided investors with the physical address of 225 Franklin Street in Boston, which is actually home to a Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management office, a Standard & Poor’s office location and an Equinox Fitness Club.

The con artists went so far as to establish a website: gov.ussea.us/ index.html, which includes its own investor alerts and warnings, such as “The Pitfalls of Ponzi Schemes,” “Investing and the Internet – Be Alert to Signs of Fraud” and “Be on the Alert for Boiler Room Tactics.”

“[Scammers] may be located in the financial district near reputable firms, but their address may be nothing more than a rented space tucked away from the public eye,” the site cautioned in its “Boiler Room” alert. “Why would a complete stranger call to offer you a no-risk, high-return investment? It is too good to be true?”

With extensive courtroom, arbitration and mediation experience and an in-depth understanding of securities law, our firm provides all of our clients with the personal service they deserve. Handling cases worth $25,000 or more, we represent clients throughout Florida and across the United States, as well as for foreign individuals that invested in U.S. banks or brokerage firms. Contact us to arrange your free initial consultation.

At the Fort Lauderdale Law Office of Russell L. Forkey, we represent clients throughout South and Centeral Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Sunrise, Plantation, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Delray, Boynton Beach, Hollywood, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Manalapan, Jupiter, Gulf Stream, Wellington, Fort Pierce, Stuart, Palm City, Jupiter, Miami, Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Heathrow, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, Deland, New Smyrna Beach, Ormand Beach, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Dade County, Orange County, Seminole County, Martin County, Brevard County, Indian River County, Volusia County and Monroe County, Florida. The law office of Russell L. Forkey also represents South American, Canadian and other foreign residents that do business with U.S. financial institutions, investment advisors, brokerage and precious metal firms.