Home > Division of Securities > News Archive

Securities Division News Archive

2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

2004

Sammamish man pleads guilty to conspiracy and tax charges in Znetix Stock Fraud Scam, will receive up to 8 years in prison. (2004)

Time To File Znetix Claims - Go to Receiver's website. Ringleader of HMC/Znetix stock fraud scam pleads guilty. (2004)

Information about Metropolitan Mortgage & Security Co., Inc., Summit Securities, Inc., and Western United Holding Company, Inc. If you are an investor in one of these companies and have questions about what you should do, please read the information found here. (March 15, 2004)

ZNETIX stock salesmen convicted of fraud and conspiracy. (2004)

Seattle investment company facing loss of licenses, $50,000 fine. Read about it. (January 29, 2004)

"Wrong number" stock scams received by some Washington residents. Read more. (August 19, 2004)

Renton insurance agent charged with securities fraud. More here. (January 28, 2004)

Investors in Washington must be more aware of fraudulent activities. Read more here. (January 14, 2004)

DFI settles with Great Northern Financial Services over viatical investment charges. Read more here.

[Top]

2003

North American securities administrators have collaborated on a quiz to help you identify your vulnerability to fraud -- read about it and take the quiz. (May 7, 2003)

Settlements announced between securities regulators and Wall Street firms (April 28, 2003)

Warning about opportunistic scams related to war effort (March 18, 2003)

Warning issued about con artists pushing oil and gas schemes - read more (March 6, 2003)

FTC and U.S. Postal Service crack down on Envelope Stuffing Scams. (December 16, 2003)

Renewal of investment adviser and investment adviser representative registrations for 2003 will take place through the IARD system. The 2003 IARD Renewal Bulletin can be accessed at http://www.iard.com. An Adobe Acrobat PDF presentation that provides an overview of the process can be found on the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) website. (2003)

Charges filed in fraud case involving Resource Development International of Tacoma. Update 1/7/03 - Securities and Exchange Commission initiates proceedings in Resource Development International case. (January 7, 2003)

[Top]

2002

Former Controller of Znetix affiliate pleads guilty to conspiracy in HMC/Znetix case (2002)

Investment seminar promoter Wade Cook settles FTC charges

Wall Street scams break into Top 10 investment frauds, say securities regulators. (2002)
In-depth Interview with Securities Division Director spotlighted in Tacoma newspaper (2002)
A continuing education standard for Investment Adviser Representatives? The North American Securities Administrators Association has formed a group to examine the need for standards and wants your opinion. Find out more here. (2002)
Kevin L. Lawrence, founder of Health Maintenance Centers, Inc. and Znetix, Inc., indicted on federal criminal charges and arrested. (August 1, 2002)
Work-At-Home Scams Targeted in Fed/State 'Business Opportunity' crackdown. (June 20, 2002)
Securities Bill which became effective June 13, 2002 contains certain revisions to the Securities Act of Washington (Chapter RCW 21.20). (June 13, 2002)
Securities Division investigates Resource Development International in alleged "prime bank"/offshore investment scam. (July 29, 2002)
State's Case Against Pacific West Securities Settled: Firm Pays $120,000 In Fines And Costs. (June 3, 2002)
New Washington state law defines variable annuities as securities. (April 2, 2002)
Money transfer fraud known as 'Nigerian Letter Scam' resurfaces (2002)
Internet fraud, deceptive email targeted by Northwest law agencies. International Netforce Launches Law Enforcement Effort. Read the FTC news release. (April 2, 2002)
Warning from Securities Director Deborah Bortner of Investment Fraud in the Sale of Death. (February 26, 2002)
Two companies, 11 agents charged with selling millions in illegal payphone investments. (February 19, 2002)

Guaranteed profits with little risk? U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission issues new warning about overblown investment claims -- even when offered by friends and relatives (February 26, 2002).
Znetix/HMC in court on SEC suit (3/11/02) New information available at the site for the receiver (http://www.znetix.com) appointed in the Znetix/Health Maintenance Centers fraud case. (March 11, 2002)

Full text of the Znetix/HMC order and a letter to investors and creditors. Bainbridge Island firm's assets frozen, securities sales stopped by court order. Read the details (January 24, 2002). Also see Securities Division files order SDO-26-01 against Kevin L. Lawrence and Health Maintenance Centers, Inc. (February 14, 2002)
Prime bank scams on the rise state securities regulators warn (January 17, 2002)

[Top]

2001

Department issues final Cease and Desist Order against Viatical Funding, Inc., Viatical Marketing, Inc., Viatical Funding LLC-III and Viatical Funding LLC- GI-V (November 11, 2001).
Exemption Tables - Summaries of the exemptions from registration available for the offer and sale of securities to residents of the State of Washington go online (December 18, 2001)
Securities Director charges Canadian firm with fraud , Warns phone scammers (November 6, 2001)
Reminder that use of IARD by investment advisers became mandatory 10/24/2001 (October 15, 2001)
Securities Director urges consumers to use online sources of investing information (September 26, 2001)
Securities Director warns of investment scams in wake of World Trade Center tragedy (September 17, 2001)
The SEC and the North American Securities Administrators Association announce a new Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website giving investors access to information about money managers, financial planners and other investment advisers (September 2001)
Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud Scheme resurfaces (September 2001)
Investing Online Resource Center revised to give real investing experience (August 28, 2001)
Everett woman indicted in $5 million investment fraud scheme (August 3, 2001)
Securities director warns religion-related investment fraud rising (August 7, 2001)
Renton firm charged with 'failure to supervise' $2 million in securities sales (July 31, 2001)
Securities industry and regulators launch combined investor education initiative (April 4, 2001)
Washington joins investor education campaign (April 1, 2001)
Renton man sentenced to nine years for securities fraud (March 30, 2001)
Securities Firm agrees to refund $500,000 to investors (March 30, 2001)
Pay Telephone Schemes targeted by state Securities regulators; losses estimated at $76 million (March 13, 2001)
Securities Director warns about 'callable' long-term certificates of deposit (February 7, 2001)
Insurance Commissioner reminds insurance agents to double-check high-return, securities-type products before selling them (January 23, 2001)
Jerry King pleads guilty to bilking investors out of up to $10 million through securities fraud scheme (January 12, 2001)

[Top]

2000

International law enforcers target Top 10 Online Scams (Oct. 31, 2000)
Washington state settles case against Wade Cook financial (Oct. 5, 2000)
Washington state's Securities chief installed as new head of national securities regulatory group (Sept. 25, 2000)
Securities Division cracks down on internet scams in Washington state (March 6 ,2000)
Review the testimony of Securities Division Director Deborah Bortner
DFI cautions investors about on-line trading (Feb. 11, 2000)
Examine the Securities Division Report on Washington State Day Trading Practices. This report was prepared for the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Exhibits to the report can be accessed here. (Feb. 10, 2000)

In order to view PDF documents on this page, you will need to download Adobe's FREE Acrobat Reader (Be sure to get searchable version)

[Top]