Edward J. Hershewe Business Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Do you need a Missouri securities or investment attorney?

Thursday, July 9, 2009 by Edward J. Hershewe

Individuals who have suffered significant financial loss in securities or investment related situations may wonder if there has been inappropriate or fraudulent practices engaged in by the securities or investment firms that have led to this loss. They may be wondering if there is cause for litigation or arbitration. They may wonder if they need a securities or investment attorney.

In general, individuals who have suffered significant securities losses may indeed find it a good idea to contact securities and investment attorneys. Many attorneys will charge little or nothing for a preliminary consultation. Further, in many cases, fees to attorneys are only applicable as a percentage of a winning case; thus the losses to the individual are minimal. It pays to find out more.

Warning Signs
In assessing whether your case involved fraud and warrants consulting a securities or investment attorney, it pays to ask yourself certain basic questions. Does it seem like the investment firm provided full disclosure to you? Were they available for your questions? Did they gain your agreement prior to proceeding with financial transactions? Did they act as previously described? Do you have a “gut” feeling that something is amiss? If those warning signs are evident to you, there may be cause for litigation. Contacting a securities or investment attorney is warranted.

Typical Schemes
Several fraudulent investment schemes and scenarios have become more and more prevalent. If you have encountered them and suffered from them, contacting a securities and investment attorney is certainly advisable. Some of the more typical recent schemes include:

Individuals calling themselves “senior specialists” – Often these individuals specialize only in fraudulent behavior toward seniors.
Lack of licensing – If the seller of securities lacks a valid securities license, they are likely a con artist. True securities dealers must have full licensing with fully registered products.
Free lunch – Many schemes begin with a free lunch, and an investment offer of low risk and high return. This frequently is a sure sign of a scam.
Real estate schemes – Offers of real estate investment with “sure thing” no risk terms are highly suspicious and usually too good to be true.
Internet schemes – Scam artists have been known to sell unregistered securities and fraudulent schemes on websites and in social networking sites. Further, the unregulated nature of web material can lead to strong hype and overvaluation of products.
Oil and gas – Scams involving oil and gas have risen significantly in proportion to rises in energy costs.
Foreign currency – Similarly, turbulence in the stock market and falling dollar values frequently lead to suspicious investment opportunities in gold, metals, or foreign currencies.
“Letting the little guy in” – Scam artists often use promises of high, tax free returns for “the little guy”, especially related to “elite overseas banks.” If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

When you have suffered from financial loss due to suspected securities fraud, utilize the services of a securities and investment attorney. They can indicate to you if you indeed have a legitimate case, and can help you recoup your losses to the fullest extent possible.

Brought to you as a service of The Hershewe Securities Law Firm, 1-877-382-9734, www.h-law.com.

Posted at 14:24 PM

Topic: Business Law