A review of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s records reveals that the SEC is pursuing claims related to four oil and gas scams in the last two months alone. The SEC complaints carry common themes: high pressure sales tactics, misrepresentations regarding the use of investor funds and the likelihood of success in drilling operations, and sales of unregistered securities in violation of federal law. Many of the SEC complaints also alleged that the investor proceeds were used to pay the founders’ personal expenses or high commissions to sales personnel. None of the scams at issue were promoted by a major brokerage firm like UBS, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, or other household-names.
Oil and Gas Investment Warnings
Not every private transaction of an oil and gas security is fraudulent, but investors should be careful of these common red flags:
- high-pressure sales tactics;
- promises of high and quick returns;
- securities not traded on a major exchange like the New York Stock Exchange, and,
- securities not offered by a well-recognized brokerage firm.
Any of these red flags should, on its own, cause an investor to be exceptionally cautious about the promoted investment. The presence of more than one, or all four, red flags should result in an investor declining the opportunity to fall for the oil and gas scam of the day.
If you find that you have oil and gas investments that haven’t worked out as promised, call Hugh Berkson at (216) 696-1422 or toll free at (866) 932-1295 for a free evaluation of your recovery options. You can also email us at hdb@mccarthylebit.com.
Hugh Berkson is a Securities Attorney with McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman, Co. LPA. Hugh is rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®.
He obtained a business degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989, and is a 1994 graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Barristers and received both the American Jurisprudence Award, (National Mock Trial) in 1993 and the Jonathan M. Ault Mock Trial Prize for 1993-1994.