Natural disasters can bring out the worst in some people, some of whom seek to exploit the situation to commit financial fraud. Learn how to spot and protect yourself from potential disaster-related investment scams.
The Member Firms' Nexus to Crypto topic of the 2025 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the Report) informs member firms’ compliance programs by providing annual insights from FINRA’s ongoing regulatory operations, including (1) regulatory obligations, (2) findings and effective practices, and (3) additional resources.
Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment system that uses its own currency, called bitcoin, to transact business around the world. Bitcoins are not issued by banks or governments—indeed, the bitcoin platform was designed to offer an alternative to national currencies, like the dollar, and commodity-based currencies such as gold or silver coins.
In this second episode of a three-part series covering FINRA's crypto asset-related regulatory work, we hear from FINRA's Crypto Asset Investigations Team. This dedicated group of investigators specialize in conducting complex crypto asset investigations and share more about the crucial role it plays in ensuring compliance with existing rules and regulations in the crypto asset space.
In a pump-and-dump scheme, fraudsters accumulate stock, spread positive—but false—information to “pump” up the price, then eventually “dump” their shares, often causing unsuspecting investors to lose money when the stock price then sharply declines. Learn how to recognize and protect yourself against pump-and-dump schemes.
Before investing in stocks, also referred to as equities, take time to gather the information necessary to make an informed investment decision, a process commonly known as due diligence.
The new Complex Investigations and Intelligence (CII) team and Cyber and Analytics Unit (CAU) are driving a shift in terms of how Member Supervision’s National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program comes at its work and leverages intelligence and analytics to drive decision making and operations. On this episode, we hear how these changes will help FINRA better deliver on its mission of investor protection, market integrity.
With a new year come new financial challenges, resolutions, and investment risks. On this episode, FINRA’s Head of Investor Education shares insights on leveraging market trends and tools to achieve your money goals in 2025.
Shell companies—companies that have no or nominal business operations or non-cash assets for an extended period of time—can be used for legitimate purposes. However, they can also be used by fraudsters as vehicles for stock manipulation. Learn the signs of this type of fraud and how to protect yourself.