AI and Fraudsters are Upending Indicia of Trust in Online Investments
The SEC recently brought an enforcement action against persons who created a fake trading platform for crypto, in which investors were contacted through messaging apps and encouraged to deposit funds in exchange for the crypto products being offered. See, https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025-144-sec-charges-three-purported-crypto-asset-trading-platforms-four-investment-clubs-scheme-targeted. While investment scams are not new, this scam brings together new elements that upend some […]
SEC Announces Examination Priorities.
On November 17, 2025, the SEC released its annual examination priorities covering all categories of entities under its supervision. These include broker-dealers, investment advisers, FINRA, as well as funding portals operating under Regulation Crowdfunding. Although the list of priorities specific to funding portals is shorter than those for other regulated entities, it still signals the […]
Lesson of the month: following the money
Here’s the latest instalment of the I’m-not-calling-it-fraud-of-the-month series. This lesson actually derives from two separate exempt offerings where financials that looked legit at the outset turned out to reflect a different reality. Company A presented financials that showed substantive revenues. However, those revenues were derived from related companies (a fact that was not disclosed) and […]
Beware of Overhyping AI: The SEC Is Watching
Powered by CrowdCheck human intelligence* Companies hyping their AI capabilities should tread carefully—especially when investors are involved. The SEC recently charged Presto Automation Inc. for misleading claims about its AI-powered drive-thru ordering system. The company touted fully automated voice ordering, but in reality, human intervention was often required. This kind of “AI washing” can lead […]
CrowdCheck’s New TradeCheck
While Regulation A and Regulation CF have been effective tools for early stage companies to raise funds from investors across the country, secondary trading in those securities can often be a challenge, in part due to state-by-state securities regulations – often referred to as “Blue Sky” laws – that restrict which stocks brokers can discuss […]