The SEC has updated its list of unregistered entities targeting non-U.S. investors, adding 96 soliciting entities, three impersonators, and five bogus regulators.
In October 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published updates to its list of unregistered entities engaging in solicitations, referred to as the Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) list.
This list provides investors with information to help them avoid becoming victims of fraud. The additions to the PAUSE list include 35 firms with inaccurate details about their affiliations, locations, or registrations. Per U.S. securities laws, firms that solicit investors must register with the SEC and meet minimum financial standards, as well as disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.
The list also includes impersonators of genuine firms and bogus regulators who falsely claim to be government agencies or affiliates. It is important to note that inclusion on the PAUSE list does not mean the SEC has found any violations of federal securities laws or made any judgments about the offered securities.
The PAUSE list updates are coordinated by the Office of Market Intelligence, together with the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the Office of International Affairs.
