Securities Fraud Alerts
Below you will find alerts from the Division of Securities.
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SEC Warns of Government Impersonators
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning investors about ongoing investment scams in which con artists have used the names of real SEC employees to trick victims, including non-U.S. investors, into giving the fraudsters access to their brokerage accounts, revealing private information, and even sending the perpetrators money and other assets. Alert from the SEC. -
Public Alert: MIT Associates Inc.
MIT Associates Inc. appears to be providing investors with fabricated Government documents. Alert from DFI. -
Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE)
The Securities and Exchange Commission is maintaining a list of unregistered soliciting entities that have been the subject of investor complaints. View unregistered soliciting entities. -
Web Based "Brokerage Identity Theft" Scams Targeting Investors
Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) Issues Warning of web-based "Brokerage Identity Theft" Scams targeting investors. Read the warning here.
Companies That Claim To Be Located In Washington
The following is a list of companies that have come to the Securities Division’s attention as companies that claim to be located in Washington State, or associated with a company that claims to be located in Washington State, some of whom are reportedly offering securities products or related services. These companies may be involved in various securities-related frauds. None of the entities are licensed by the Securities Division as broker-dealers or investment advisors and there is no indication that they are authorized to do business in this state. Please note that these companies have names that are similar and sometimes identical to those of reputable companies that are licensed to conduct securities activities in Washington State. Some of the entities’ names imply that they are government agencies. None of these entities are federal or state government agencies, nor are they regulators of the securities markets. In the United States, the Securities & Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov) is the only governmental securities regulator and each of the states has a comparable regulatory agency. To contact a specific state regulator, go to: http://www.nasaa.org/about-us/contact-us/contact-your-regulator/
This list is not intended to be all-inclusive and should not be an indicator that you are dealing with a reputable company if the name of the company is not on the list.
AJ Wyman & Associates
1511 3rd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
www.ajwyman.com
206-452-3469
Allied Asset Management Inc.
2033 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 1-206-299-3560
Fax: 1-206-299-3487
www.allassmanagement.com
Note: The entity named above should not be confused with Allied Asset Management, Inc, a Washington State based securities broker-dealer, established in 1985, which is a FINRA member firm (CRD # 16403). The true Allied Asset Management, Inc. was a victim of corporate identity theft in the fall of 2007. Identity thieves, in their communications with potential scam victims, used the address (as listed above) of true Allied Asset Management Inc. but used phone and fax numbers (also as listed above) not affiliated with the true Allied Asset Management, Inc. The identity thieves set up a fraudulent web-site, at the web-address shown above, which was later shut down by authorities.
Alpha Management13 Camile Richardson Street
Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Netherlands
Antilles
599-543-1086
599-543-1097 (fax)
AMK Trust Ltd.
1001 4th Avenue Plaza
Seattle, WA 98154
206-445-0952
Anderson Tate
4107 Emerald Street
Boise, Idaho 83706
208-575-2890
208-575-2777
Atlantis Holdings Ltd.
Redmond, Washington 98052
206-965-9914
Balays Forex Investment
520 NE Northgate
Seattle, WA 98125
206-925-3723
balaysforexinvestment.com
Becker, Finch & Waldman
531 Western Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
206-781-4497
Blue Ridge Financial Group
5623 34th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98201
206-438-9677
Fax: 206-691-8383
blueridgefinancialgroup.com
Burnell Larkins, LLC.
100 Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98104
206-452-3558
Fax: 206-201-7209
www.burnellarkins.com
Central Registration Department
14720 56th
Avenue South, Suite 23
Seattle, Washington 98168
206-903-1399
206-903-1458 (fax)
And
Denver, Colorado
720-932-9420
Chartwell Asset Management
18 Camile Richardson
Street
St. Maarten, Netherlands
Antilles
599-542-1435
599-542-1417 (fax)
And
#2120 S. 72ndStreet
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
402-571-3034
402-571-3063 (fax)
Chicago
Board of Acquisitions Inc.
5801 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
312-616-9999
312-616-3575 (fax)
Crest International Investment, Inc.
First West Building
200 First Avenue West, Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98119
206-802-1023
Crest Trust Management LLC
721 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-237-0051
Fax: 206-299-9749
www.cresttm.com
Endeavour Mergers & Acquisitions
721 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
206-299-9307
Federal Securities Regulatory Agency
Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, 27th Floor
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 428-3961
fsra-protect.org
Federal Regulatory & Compliance
Department
900 Fourth
Avenue, #2888
Seattle,
Washington 98164
Federal Securities Registry
Seattle,
Washington
206-624-8899
206-621-8876
Foile, Sutton & Greene
P.O. Box 84646
Seattle, WA 98381
206-202-2635
206-309-0281 (fax)
foilesuttongreene.com
Garrett Hopkins Associated
P.O. Box 42861
Seattle, WA 98381
206-350-2845
206-337-7570 (fax)
garretthopkins.com
Gaylord & Finch
21200
Broadway East
Seattle,
Washington 98122
And
400
Broadway
Seattle,
Washington 98122
206-888-0329
206-339-2813 (fax)
Genuine Online Bank, Inc.
160 Shaw Rd
Long Beach, WA 98631
360-244-4331
360-244-8080 (fax)
genuineonlinebank.com
Goldberg Heche Associates
PO Box 31945
Seattle, Washington 97226-1618
(206) 984-4187
(206) 350-8992 (fax)
www.goldbergheche.com
Gordon, Tait & Co. LLC
818 Stewart Street
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 395-3058
Fax: (206) 201-7209
www.gordontait.com
E-mail: info@gordontait.com; admin@gordontait.com
Halyard Securities, LLC
1325 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2800 New York, NY 10019
Phone: 866-220-8961
Fax: 914-462-3529
www.halyardsecuritiesllc.com
Note: The entity named above should not be confused with Halyard Securities, LLC of the same New York, NY address (but different telephone and fax numbers). Halyard Securities, LLC is the apparent victim of identity theft.
Hammond Global Solutions LLC
1700 Seventh Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone (206) 452-3469
www.hammondglobal.com
Heckart Associates, LLC
1700 Seventh Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
718-577-2816
http://heckartassociates.net
trading@heckartassociates.net
Hobart & Roth, LLC
1420 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 452-3327
Fax: (206) 201-7209
www.hobartroth.com
HR Investment Group
407 2nd Ave. West
Seattle, WA 98119
201-221-9495
Innovative Consulting Inc.
13140 Coit
Road, #219
Dallas,
Texas 75240
888-237-4762
888-830-8004
InterGlobal Registry and Acquisitions
55 Park Plaza Drive - Daly City
San Francisco,
CA 94015
650-491-8756, 800-571-4453
650-491-8701(fax)
International Asset Registry
1122 3rd
Avenue, Room 318
Seattle,
WA 98101
206-624-8899
206-621-8876 (fax)
International Exchange Regulatory Commission
2690 Fairlawn Drive
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106
336-499-6186
336-499-6187 (fax)
International Fraud Assessment Agency
1001 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98154
206-274-0077
International Shareholder Protection Department
602 Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
319-341-9400
319-341-9401 (fax)
International Stock Commission
Seattle, Washington 98164
Isaac Paige Associates
P.O. Box 65345
Seattle, WA 98131
206-337-9960
206-426-0954 (fax)
isaacpaige.com
Jackson Bernstein Associates
PO Box 39762
Seattle WA 97126-1428
Maddisson Jardine Associates
P.O. Box 41953
Seattle, WA 98381
Phone: 206-337-1585
Fax: 206-337-5388
www.maddissonjardinegroup.com
(A former website used, www.maddissonjardine.com, is no longer accessible.)
Marlborough Acquisitions Inc.
4600 South
Ulster Street
Denver,
Colorado 80237
303-370-9056
303-370
9056 (fax)
Miller Winston
PO Box 8319
Seattle, WA 98381
206-984-4265
MKR Global Services, LLC
140 4th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 445-0825
Website: www.mkrglobal.com
E-mail: info@mkrglobal.com
Money Analysis, Inc.
160 Shaw Rd
Long Beach, WA 98631
360-244-4331
360-244-8080 (fax)
money-analysis.com
Oakmont Financial Mergers
130 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
401-608-2008
401-608-2009 (fax)
Otis KPO, LLC
1100 Olive Way
Seattle, WA 98101
www.otiskpo.com
Palmer Corporate Solutions, LLC
1420 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 445-0681
(206) 201-7209 (fax)
www.palmersolve.com
E-mail: admin@palmersolve.com
Pan Euro Financial SA
10, Cours
de Rive
CP 3237 –
CH 1211
Geneva,
Switzerland
41 22
747-7920
41 22
747-7923 (fax)
Paradigm Associates
601 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206-309-9033 (fax)
Parker & Cramer Asset Management, Inc.
First West Building
200 First Avenue West, Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98119
206-802-1024 (fax)
Pederson Brown Associates
P.O. Box 52918
Seattle, WA 98381
206-339-8591
206-337-4740 (fax)
pedersonbrown.com
Pitney Morrison
P.O. Box 41804
Seattle, WA 98131
206-337-8466
206-337-4855 (fax)
pitneymorrison.com
Portfolio Investment Co. Ltd.
800 5th Avenue, Suite 4100
Seattle, WA 98104
206-447-1452
Pratt International KPO LLC
500 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 462-5130
Website: www.prattintl.com
E-mail: admin@prattintl.com
Reed Mcpherson Associates
P.O. Box 29316
Seattle, WA 98131
206-337-9960
206-426-0954 (fax)
reedmcpherson.com
Robertson Ellis
PO Box 44011
Seattle, WA 98381
206-202-0698
(206) 202-1426
Email: info@robertsonellis.com
Website: www.robertsonellis.com
Ryan & Mahar, LLC
Columbia Center
701 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 453-0034
www.ryanmaharllc.com
Rutherford
Acquisitions
7400 Metro Boulevard
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439
Securities Administration
605 University Street
Seattle, WA 98101-4112
(206) 395-2023
(206) 299-9916 (fax)
www.stocktransfers.us
Securities and Financial Commission
735 3rd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-801-3381
www.secfc.com
Smith Fairchild
1050 Connecticut Avenue
NW, 10thFloor
Washington DC 20036
And
Zurich World Trade Centre
Leutschenbachstrasse 95
Zurich, Switzerland 8050
41 1 308
3910
41 1 308
3500
Redmond, Washington 98052
206-802-1022
Southwest Private Equity
3401 East
McDowell Road, Suite B
Phoenix,
Arizona 85008
602-220-1338
623-321-1593 (fax)
Stansell Corporate Services, LLC.
1617 Boylston Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-452-3237
www.stansellcs.com
Stillman Roth
1711
Broadway
Seattle,
Washington 98122
800-863-8908
206-984-1784
206-984-1785 (fax)
And
735 Pike
Street, 11-13
Seattle,
Washington 98101
Stuartt Reed Kammer
175 N Harbor #2212
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 312-896-5633
Fax: 312-896-5633
www.stuarttreedkammer.com
www.srkinternational.com
NOTE: The entity named
above should not be confused with
Stuartt Kammer of the same Chicago, Illinois address (but
different
telephone number). Mr. Kammer is the apparent victim of identity theft.
601 Union Street, 42nd Floor
Seattle, Washington 98101
206-652-3303
ThompsonADV
Redmond, Washington 98052
425-882-7555
Note: The entity named above should not be confused with Thompson Advisors of Southfield, Michigan.
Universal Mergers and Acquisitions
1501 Fourth Avenue
2600 Century Square
Seattle, Washington 98101
206-332-0550
206-332-0660 (fax)
Your Bank Co.
2937 E. Roseville Parkway, Suite 294
Selah, WA 98945
559-529-5400
yourbank.biz
Warning signs for certain foreign stock scams:
- If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true.
- Scammers may not be registered with the Washington State Securities Division and the Washington Secretary of State - Check it out!
- The Washington State or Seattle address given does not exist, is a false address or is a mailbox service.
- The Washington State or Seattle telephone number given is a phone message machine or answering service, so that investors can never call the scammers directly, but must always receive return calls from the scammer.
- The Washington State or Seattle telephone given is always an "unlisted" number.
- And it's worth repeating -- If it SOUNDS too good to be true, it IS too good to be true!
Beware of Reload or Recovery Room Scams:
- Investors who have purchased U.S. stock, whose price can be easily manipulated, often find themselves the victims of secondary scams based on scam artists’ representations that they will help the victim recover all or some of their losses.
- The scammers realize that many investors are desperate to recoup their losses and are vulnerable to yet another fraud. They tell the investor that they can help recover the losses by purchasing the stock or exchanging the stock for better quality securities, but only after the investor pays a fee (perhaps 30% of the investment) for taxes, deposits or a bond to facilitate the transaction.
- If an investor falls for the second scheme, he or she may be hit for yet a third time by scam artists posing as law enforcement officials or a legal firm that tells the victim that they are trying to apprehend or sue the crooks, but in order to do so will require the investor to advance additional funds (5 to 15% of the original investment) to a third party or the fictitious law firm.
- See the following website for how these types of scams operate:http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/fleecing.htm
Tips:
- Investigate before you invest.
- Before investing in a foreign company or with a foreign broker-dealer/investment advisor, contact the local and national securities regulatory authorities (such as the Securities and Exchange Commission) of the jurisdiction in which the company is located.
- Before investing in a foreign company or with a foreign broker-dealer/investment advisor, contact a reputable local broker to assist you in evaluating the merits and risks involved with a proposed transaction.
- Contact your own securities regulators for information about the company or the investment in question.
- Check with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau or the National Fraud Information Center.
