{"id":352690,"date":"2016-04-04T10:42:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/consumer\/securities-law\/proving-securities-fraud.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T10:28:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T15:28:04","slug":"proving-securities-fraud","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/proving-securities-fraud.html","title":{"rendered":"Proving Securities Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Proving Securities Fraud<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/oni-harton-j-d\/\">Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/melissa-bender-esq\/\">Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            May 22, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>As an investor, it is often difficult to determine whether you have been the victim of investment or&nbsp;securities fraud. Many instances of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/securities-fraud.html\">securities fraud<\/a>&nbsp;go undetected. The market&nbsp;fluctuates, so not every loss means you have been the victim of fraud. Significant losses should prompt further investigation, though.<\/p>\r\n<p>Sometimes, it&#8217;s difficult or almost&nbsp;impossible to detect fraud without professional help. This is even more true for proving fraud. When it comes to consumer protection, you&#8217;ll need assistance.<\/p>\r\n<p>This article discusses securities fraud and provides a high-level overview of how to prove fraud under&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law.html\">securities laws<\/a>. An&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/securities-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">experienced securities attorney<\/a>&nbsp;is your best resource if you believe you are a victim of securities fraud. They can assess your case and determine if you have a valid claim.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Securities Law<\/h2>\r\n<p>The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforces federal securities laws and regulations. The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaa.org\/contact-your-regulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">states also regulate<\/a>&nbsp;securities. Several state and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/about\/about-securities-laws\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">federal laws<\/a>&nbsp;govern the securities industry in the United States. For example, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/securities-act-of-1933.html#:~:text=The%201933%20act%20has%20two,in%20the%20sale%20of%20securities\">Securities Act of 1933<\/a>&nbsp;(15 U.S.C. 77 et. seq.) regulates the sale and offer of sale for securities in the United States. The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/securities-and-exchange-act-of-1934.html#:~:text=The%20Securities%20Exchange%20Act%20of%201934%20gives%20the%20SEC%20broad,Brokerage%20firms\">Securities Exchange Act of 1934<\/a>&nbsp;(15 U.S.C. 78 et. seq.) governs the trading, purchase, and sale of securities.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Common Violations of Securities Laws<\/h3>\r\n<p>Violations investigated under federal securities law include the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-finances\/do-s-and-don-ts-insider-trading.html\">Insider trading<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Accounting fraud<\/li>\r\n<li>False statements about financial information regarding the company in registration statements<\/li>\r\n<li>Fiduciaries stealing customer funds<\/li>\r\n<li>Fraudulent schemes, such as Ponzi or pyramid schemes<\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/what-is-illegal-churning-or-excessive-trading.html\">Illegal churning<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Market manipulation regarding an investment price<\/li>\r\n<li>False or misleading statements about a company in auditing or financial statements<\/li>\r\n<li>Selling unregistered securities<\/li>\r\n<li>Violating&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/responsibilities-of-investors-and-brokers.html\">broker-dealers&#8217; responsibility<\/a>&nbsp;to treat customers with fairness<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The SEC brings hundreds of civil and administrative enforcement actions against individuals and companies for federal securities violations.<\/p>\r\n<h3>SEC Investigations<\/h3>\r\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/page\/enforcement-section-landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Division of Enforcement<\/a>&nbsp;conducts investigations. This division also works&nbsp;with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other law enforcement agencies when necessary.<\/p>\r\n<p>If the SEC Commissioner authorizes a case to proceed following an investigation, the case may be brought in federal court. The federal government may bring an administrative action or refer the case to the DOJ for criminal prosecution. Many&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/the-abc-s-of-securities-litigation-claims.html\">securities fraud cases<\/a>&nbsp;are resolved by settlement involving sanctions without going through the full securities litigation process.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Common Signs of Securities Fraud<\/h2>\r\n<p>Listed below are&nbsp;a few of the warning signs for securities or investment fraud:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Your broker does not return your phone calls<\/li>\r\n<li>The transactions on your statements don&#8217;t make sense to you<\/li>\r\n<li>Your account statements include transactions you did not authorize<\/li>\r\n<li>You find unidentifiable debits or credits on monthly account statements<\/li>\r\n<li>You see a dramatic drop in the stock&#8217;s value in a short time<\/li>\r\n<li>It&#8217;s an &quot;up&quot; market, but you&#8217;re losing money<\/li>\r\n<li>The majority of investments recommended by the broker are declining in value<\/li>\r\n<li>Your broker tells you to view market news as entertainment<\/li>\r\n<li>Your broker fails to disclose important information regarding an investment purchase<\/li>\r\n<li>Your broker begins trading in high-risk and speculative investments<\/li>\r\n<li>You are paying capital gains taxes, even though your account value is decreasing<\/li>\r\n<li>Financial results are&nbsp;different from publicly announced expectations<\/li>\r\n<li>You begin to think your broker may have lied about certain derivatives<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>These warning signs don&#8217;t always&nbsp;mean you are a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/fraud.html\">victim of fraud<\/a>&nbsp;or have an actionable securities fraud claim. If you experience any of these, it is in your best interest to&nbsp;seek the advice of an attorney with experience handling investment and securities fraud matters.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Proving Fraud<\/h2>\r\n<p>Proving fraud in a securities case depends on the particular statute or common law theory the plaintiff uses to bring the case. For example,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/securities-law\/securities-and-exchange-act-rule-10b.html\">Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act<\/a>&nbsp;establishes civil liability for securities fraud. The Supreme Court has emphasized that Section 10(b) should be interpreted to effectuate its remedial purposes.<\/p>\r\n<p>To state a claim under Section 10(b), a plaintiff must allege that a defendant: (1) made a misstatement or omission of material fact, (2) with scienter, (3) in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, (4) upon which the plaintiff relief, and (5) that the plaintiff&#8217;s reliance was the proximate cause of the injury. A misstatement or omission is material if a reasonable investor would have considered the information relevant to the total mix of information available.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Scienter<\/h3>\r\n<p>When proving a claim for securities fraud, many consider the scienter element the most difficult to plead and prove. Concerning securities fraud, scienter refers to the mental state embracing the intent to deceive, manipulate, or defraud.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Requirements To Prove&nbsp;Fraud<\/h3>\r\n<p>To prove fraud, a customer must show that the broker or someone else in the industry&nbsp;misrepresented or omitted material facts in an intentional or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/recklessness.html\">reckless manner<\/a>. The customer must have&nbsp;relied upon the fact and then suffered damages.<\/p>\r\n<p>You must prove that you lost money because you relied on factual information from your broker or another securities industry member. The financial professional must have either known or should have known the information was false.<\/p>\r\n<p>For particular&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/fraud.html\">fraud claims<\/a>, an investor must show some reliance or action related to the misrepresentation. An investor can establish reliance by direct or indirect evidence. Direct evidence can be a statement in a prospectus claiming the existence of a lucrative contract that the issuer does not have. When investors can show they based their investment decision on that statement, they have provided direct evidence of reliance.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Fraud-on-the-Market Theory<\/h2>\r\n<p>Investors can use indirect evidence to prove reliance using a theory called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/fraud-on-the-market-theory.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fraud-on-the-market<\/a>. Courts use the fraud-on-the-market theory when a misrepresentation creates an artificial&nbsp;inflation of&nbsp;the stock&#8217;s price.<\/p>\r\n<p>Investors argue that the misrepresentation affected the stock price. They assert they bought the stock based on the inflated price. In such cases, it&#8217;s assumed that the investor&nbsp;relied on the misrepresentation that misled the market.<\/p>\r\n<p>Plaintiffs can file a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/class-action-cases.html\">class action<\/a>&nbsp;&quot;fraud-on-the-market&quot; claim. The private right of action under Rule 10b-5 is broadened to allow a class of securities purchasers to sue an issuer for making a public misrepresentation.<\/p>\r\n<p>In such cases, the defendant may try to show that the misrepresentation was not important or did not affect stock prices. The defendant may&nbsp;claim&nbsp;that the individual investor knew the statement was false or would have bought the stock even if they knew the statement&#8217;s falsity.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Fraud by Omission<\/h2>\r\n<p>When an investor claims fraud by omission, the investor does not have to prove reliance. For example, suppose a prospectus fails to disclose that the issuer&#8217;s patent on its primary product is being contested in court. In such a case, it would be difficult for the investor to prove that they&nbsp;relied on the missing information.<\/p>\r\n<p>The courts have decided that if the omitted information constitutes material facts that created&nbsp;reasonable expectations&nbsp;to influence an investor&#8217;s purchase decision, positive proof of reliance is not required. Rather, reliance is presumed to exist.<\/p>\r\n<p>The defendant can overcome this presumption by showing that the investor&#8217;s purchase decision would not have been affected even if the defendant had disclosed the omitted fact. For example, if the defendant proves that the plaintiff did not read the prospectus, it succeeded in overcoming the presumption.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Getting Legal Help<\/h2>\r\n<p>Companies dealing with securities must protect their clients. Among other misconduct, they must avoid self-dealing, misrepresentations, and negligent handing of clients&#8217; funds.<\/p>\r\n<p>Determining whether you are a victim of securities fraud can be challenging in some cases. A securities law attorney can help you in this situation in several ways. They can do the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Determine whether you have a valid claim to bring to an&nbsp;attorney general<\/li>\r\n<li>Gather the necessary information<\/li>\r\n<li>Conduct an investigation<\/li>\r\n<li>File a complaint with the SEC<\/li>\r\n<li>Navigate the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finra.org\/arbitration-mediation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FINRA dispute procedures<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Calculate damages<\/li>\r\n<li>Represent your best interests<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>You have rights as an investor. You may be entitled to recover the investment money lost by broker or company misconduct. If you note any suspicious activity and feel you have been wronged,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/securities-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney<\/a>&nbsp;with experience in securities and investment fraud.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Consumer legal issues typically need an attorney&#8217;s support\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You can hire an attorney to enforce your rights for safe products, fair transactions, and legal credit, banking and related financial matters\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Legal cases for identity theft, scams, or the Equal Credit Opportunity Act can be complicated and slow. An attorney can offer tailored advice and help prevent common mistakes.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/consumer-protection\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:0803\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/lemon-law.html\">\n                        Lemon Law\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/online-scams.html\">\n                        Online Scams\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/travel-rules-and-rights.html\">\n                        Rights to Travel\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/securities-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Securities Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/mergers-acquisitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/antitrust-trade-regulation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Antitrust Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/banking-finance-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Banking and Finance Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/business-commercial-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business and Commercial Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/taxation-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tax Law Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/consumer-protection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Consumer Protection Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an investor, it is often difficult to determine whether you have been victim of investment or securities fraud. Learn about illegal churning, FINRA, the Securities Act of 1933, and much more at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":352687,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2732],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-352690","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-consumer"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/352690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=352690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/352690\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/352687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=352690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=352690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=352690"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=352690"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=352690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}