Securities Fraud Lawyers Blog

Investing 101: Don’t Fall Victim to Fraudulent Stock Promotions

Published on: May 30, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

You know that stock investing comes with risks. Along with anticipated risks associated with the nature of stock trading, you also face risks associated with fraud. Some of the most widespread forms of stock fraud are carried out through fraudulent stock promotions.

What Are Fraudulent Stock Promotions?

In fraudulent stock promotion scams, fraudsters hype a certain stock to generate investor buzz. Once a buy frenzy occurs, fraudsters will quickly sell off their shares, leaving investors to take the hit.

5 Reasons Why a Stock Market Attorney Can Help You Deal With an Investment Loss

Published on: May 20, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

A whopping $30-trillion. That’s how much the stock market in the United States is now worth.

Who wouldn’t want to tap into that kind of money? After all, you can start investing in this market for as little as $1,000.

And the potential returns? Massive.

Senior Investor Alert: 5 Easy Ways to Spot Scams Targeting Your Nest Egg

Published on: May 15, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

If you’re a senior investor, you’ve likely been planning and saving for years to build your portfolio. You have rightfully earned everything you have accrued over the years and you deserve to realize the fruits of that labor in your golden years.

Unfortunately, your nest egg marks you as a target for investment fraud. Scammers like to prey on what they consider “easy targets” – those without the means to defend or protect themselves against investment fraud. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has regularly cited senior investor scams as a chronic fraud issue. Most recently, the SEC has pointed to Ponzi schemes as a major vehicle for perpetrating investment fraud against seniors.

Ponzi Schemes Targeting Seniors

What Would You Do If There Was a Stock Market Crash Today?

Published on: May 6, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Did you know that on February 5th, the stock market suffered the largest crash in years? The drop was of approximately 4.6 percent with the Dow Jones dropping almost 1,600 points. This was the largest crash since the 2011 European Debt Crisis.

If you’re here it means that you’ve investments in the stock market and, want to get ready for a stock market crash. Because we know that it’s better to be safe than sorry and, it can happen at any time.

Don’t know how? We have you covered!

5 Common Investment Rules You Should Be Following

Published on: April 30, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Investment advice comes from everywhere… even if you don’t ask for it.

Everybody thinks they’ve got “the answer” when it comes to investing and everybody wants to share their secret to success. That’s why you’ve likely been offered quite a few tidbits of investing advice from everyone from your cousin to your neighbor. The truth is (and you’ve probably realized) that most of these sources aren’t actually qualified to be giving investment advice.

While you should definitely take unsolicited investment advice with a grain of salt, there are some tried-and-true pillars of investment knowledge that you should keep in mind. These common investment rules can help you on your investment journey. Not only can they help you map out your investment goals, but they can help you plan and manage for the future. Keeping in mind these investment rules can help you maintain a focused investment strategy and avoid common pitfalls.

Can You Sue Your Broker for Investment Losses?

Published on: April 19, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Did you know that 32 percent of investors lost money investing in stocks?

You don’t invest to lose money. Unfortunately, it’s inevitable for investment loss to happen sooner or later.

Many times, investment losses might have been caused by recommendations from your broker. If this is the case, why should you get the short end of the deal?

Protecting Your Investments Against Affinity Fraud

Published on: April 15, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

In a recently filed complaint,The SEC charged a prominent pastor in a scheme to defraud investors out of millions of dollars. Using his religious clout and reputation, the pastor leveraged investments out of devoted followers, mainly elderly. Between 2013 and 2014, the SEC alleges that Kirbyjon Caldwell, Pastor of the Windsor Village Methodist Church and Gregory Alan Smith, a financial planner previously barred by FINRA managed to dupe investors out of nearly $3.5 million. Caldwell and Smith used most of the funds to cover personal expenses. They funneled the remaining funds to off-shore accounts.

The case represents a pervasive issue for financial and securities regulators: affinity fraud.

What is affinity fraud?

5 Largest Investment Fraud Cases in History

Published on: April 5, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Is your broker broke? Are you worried they’re going to break your bank? At Savage Villoch Law we’re determined, no, obsessed with keeping that from happening.

We will work with and for you to keep your money, business, and reputation safe in the financial/legal world. Financial investment fraud criminals are our worst enemies.

If we had our way, no one would have ever been swindled by the five infamous criminals below.

7 Tips for Smart Stock Investments

Published on: April 3, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

In the past 70 years, stocks have risen more than 1,000 fold.

No one can say for certain when stocks will collectively rise or fall. This means there’s never a better time than the present to get in the investment game.

But before you start putting your hard earned money into this risky game, there are a few tips for smart stock investments that you need to know. Keep reading to learn the tips and how they can help you succeed in the stock market.

SEC Publishes New Guidelines for Disclosing Cybersecurity Risks to Investors

Published on: March 30, 2018 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Understanding Cybersecurity Risks

In today’s digital age, the use of technology to facilitate investments has become largely commonplace. We can see many examples of how investing has moved to the cyber-realm from online investing platforms to robo-advisers. While this has greatly empowered investors to take more direct control over their investment strategy, it has also increased the potential vulnerability to cyber fraud and theft.

“In a digitally connected world, cybersecurity presents ongoing risks and threats to our capital markets and to companies operating in all industries, including public companies…”