The Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) list contains soliciting entities that have been the subject of investor complaints. The list allows investors to better inform themselves and avoid becoming victimized by fraud. The latest additions are firms that the SEC has found to be providing inaccurate information about their affiliation, location, or registration. US law stipulates that firms soliciting investors generally are required to register with the SEC and meet minimum financial standards and disclosure, reporting, and record-keeping requirements.

The PAUSE list, which is periodically updated by the SEC’s Office of Market Intelligence, flags investment firms who falsely claim to be registered, firms that impersonate genuine registered investment groups, and individuals and groups who falsely claim to be government regulators and agencies. Inclusion on the PAUSE list does not necessarily indicate these firms are guilty of securities violations of US federal securities laws, and the SEC has not made a judgment about the merits of any securities being offered.

The SEC reminds investors of ways to protect themselves:

• Be aware that fraudsters may impersonate government agencies to lure investors into scams.
• Impersonators may falsely claim to be affiliated with the SEC in an attempt to steal personal information and/or money. Federal agencies like the SEC do not endorse or sponsor any particular securities, issues, products, services, professional credentials, firms, or individuals.
• Visit Investor Alert: SEC Impersonators Pretend to Help Investors Buy Stock.
• Visit Investor.gov for more information on avoiding fraud.

Sources:

SEC Updates List of Firms Using Inaccurate Information to Solicit Investors (www.sec.gov)
Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) (www.sec.gov)
Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) Updates (www.sec.gov)