Category: Fraud

April 12, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Algointeractive Inc and owners Kevin Whylie and Matthew Zecchini charged with investment fraud

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that it has filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Defendants Kevin P. Whylie of Mamaroneck, New York; Matthew James Zecchini of East Islip, New York; and Algointeractive Inc, a New York corporation owned and controlled by Whylie and Zecchini.…

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April 03, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Michael Liberty statement: 'dismayed' at 'groundless' SEC fraud charges

We have received a formal statement from legal representatives of Michael Liberty, in response to SEC charges announced yesterday against Michael Liberty of a $48 million investor fraud. Jay Dubow, Esq. Pepper Hamilton LLP Philadelphia, PA 215-981-4713 [email protected] April 2, 2018 Reference: SEC Case 2:18-cv-00139-DBH Filed 3/30/2018 US District Court, District of Maine STATEMENT ON…

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April 02, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Mozido founder Michael Liberty charged with $48 million fraud

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that it has charged Michael Liberty, the founder of the fintech startup now known as Mozido Inc., with a scheme to trick hundreds of investors into investing in his shell companies instead of Mozido. According to the SEC, Michael Liberty and his accomplices allegedly stole most…

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pump and dump scheme
March 28, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Wedbush Securities hit with SEC charges for employee’s long-running pump-and-dump fraud

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges against Wedbush Securities Inc. for failing to supervise employee Timary Delorme after the broker-dealer ignored numerous red flags indicating that Delorme was involved in a long-running pump-and-dump scheme targeting retail investors. Delorme agreed to settle fraud charges stemming from the same scheme. This is the second SEC…

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Shtern Group warning
March 12, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

MFSA issues warning against fake Malta Forex broker Shtern Group

Malta financial regulator the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has issued a warning, stating that it has become aware of an entity operating under the name of Shtern Group which is known to have an internet presence at shterngroup.com. Although this entity purports to operate from an address in Malta, the MFSA does not believe…

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sec fraud
March 05, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Craigslist ad scammer Lon Friedrichsen (aka Kummer aka Richardson) charged with solicitation fraud

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced that it has filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charging Lon Olen Friedrichsen of Alton, Iowa, with fraud and failing to register with the CFTC as a Commodity Trading Advisor, as required. Friedrichsen, as alleged, also solicited…

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ICO fraud
March 05, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

$50 million securities fraud charges lead to insolvency for UK broker Beaufort Securities

UK FCA financial regulator the FCA has announced that following an urgent application by it, the High Court has appointed Russell Downs, Douglas Nigel Rackham and Dan Yoram Schwarzmann of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as joint administrators of Beaufort Securities Limited, and joint special administrators of Beaufort Asset Clearing Services Limited. The FCA took this action following an assessment…

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nfa office
March 05, 2018 BY LeapRate Staff

Introducing broker Fortune Trading Group and owner Jonathan Schuler banned for pumping commissions

National Futures Association (NFA), the self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry, has announced that it has permanently barred Chicago, Illinois guaranteed introducing broker (GIB) Fortune Trading Group, Inc. (FTG) from membership and from acting as a principal of an NFA Member. The NFA also barred FTG's sole principal and an associated person Jonathan Schuler from membership and from…

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