Secretary of State Starts Investor Protection PSAs

Dept.of the Secretary of State, May 05, 2005

RALEIGH. – Investors in North Carolina are getting an important reminder this holiday season to watch out for investment deals that sound too good to be true and to beware of unregistered stock brokers. The North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State is running radio and television public service announcements hitting those two themes through the holiday
season, when many families review investment portfolios and make investment decisions for the coming year.

“This effort is aimed at making two points,” Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said Thursday. “First that anyone pitching an opportunity that sounds too good to be true, is probably doing just that, or pushing something that is very risky to the investor at best.”

Secretary Marshall said the second point in the announcements reminds North Carolina investors they can call the Department’s North Carolina Division of Securities and actually find out, free of charge, if the person trying to sell them the investment is actually licensed as a broker or needs to be licensed. The Division can also check on the
investment opportunity that is being offered.

“The absolute best way to stop any scam in its tracks, before you lose a cent, is to check out the person and the offer first, and then think about making that investment second,” Marshall said. “We say it over and over: please check before you write one.”The public may call the Securities Division hotline to check on brokers, investment advisers and opportunities 
To see and hear the 2003 North Carolina Securities PSAs