FINRA

Join FINRA on our newest initiative: Get Your Head in the Trade—a campaign to help novice, self-directed investors conquer investing FOMO and be sure an investment is right for them. Go to finra.org/tradesmart to explore and share resources and tools to ignite investor understanding and confidence. Learn more here ?? https://bit.ly/4cUPKBI

There is an ongoing scam involving letters delivered in the mail from unidentified criminal actors to corporate executives, claiming to have come from a ransomware group. Stamped “Time Sensitive Read Immediately,” the letter claims the “BianLian Group” gained access to the organization’s network and stole thousands of sensitive data files. The letters are an attempt to scam organizations into paying a ransom. To learn more about this scam and the steps you can take to protect yourself, click here: https://bit.ly/41zWukG

Firms could be vulnerable to a newly discovered social engineering scheme in which bad actors trick customer support personnel into downloading and executing malware. This Alert describes the scheme and provides recommendations to help firms protect themselves from the threat. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/43rxcYu

FINRA's Board of Governors convened on February 25-26. The agenda included electing a new Board Chair, as well as discussions on our proposed Outside Business Activities rule, TRACE reporting timeframes, ongoing technology initiatives, and the proposed allocation of FINRA's 2024 fine monies. Learn more about what was covered here: https://bit.ly/3FiGRqg

Understanding your brokerage statement is key to catching mistakes or potential misconduct early. Your brokerage statement contains important information about your account that you'll want to review regularly. Some key things to look for include accurate account balances and holdings, authorized trades and account activity, and any suspicious or unfamiliar transactions. Taking the time to carefully review your statement can help you identify issues before they become bigger problems. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4i70ss5

It's #NationalConsumerProtectionWeek, and we’re shining a light on fraud awareness in our latest episode of #FINRAUnscripted. Join us in a conversation with Rob Mascio, Director of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, to discuss emerging fraud trends, the most common red flags to watch out for, and practical steps you can take to protect your investments. Listen here ?? https://bit.ly/41pwVCP

Crypto asset investment scams cost consumers billions of dollars, and a large part of that total is due to romance or relationship investment scams. Fraudsters will hide their true identities, gain the trust of unsuspecting targets (often online or through text messages), and then defraud them through fake investments. Learn how to spot the difference between #DatingOrDefrauding For more tips and resources, visit: https://bit.ly/3D0VaPN

Millions of dollars are stolen each year from hard-working individuals through relationship and romance scams. In this episode of #FINRAUnscripted, two victims bravely share the financial, mental and emotional toll they experienced at the hands of scammers. Learn how they worked to recover from their losses and discover the red flags so you can spot the difference between #DatingOrDefrauding. Listen here ?? https://bit.ly/3BGO01K

Relationship investment scams are on the rise. Your new “friend” might appear to be attractive and rich supposedly due to trading. Don’t fall for it. Learn about the latest scams here: https://lnkd.in/e4g-ahBi #DatingOrDefrauding

Money matters may not be the most romantic topic, but they're crucial when building a life together with your partner. Having open, honest conversations about budgeting, saving, and investing are important as you plan for your shared future. While you enjoy the chocolates and flowers this Valentine's Day, don't forget to also start having those meaningful money talks with your partner. Learn more: https://bit.ly/410aVyd