Protecting Yourself From Regulator Imposter Scams
While FINRA will never ask you for money, there are scammers who might try to convince you otherwise. These financial fraudsters pose as regulators, requesting fees to transfer funds or offering bogus investment "guarantees" that are designed to steal your money.
Communications from these fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and can be compelling. Be aware: Neither FINRA, nor any of its employees, will ever provide a guarantee on an investment, offer to facilitate your participation in any sort of money-making scheme, or request access to your personal assets.
Fraudsters who impersonate FINRA or a current or former employee can look surprisingly real, sometimes even posing as the CEO or other senior executives. Correspondence might seem authentic, often including the regulator's name and logo and attachments of official-looking documents or supporting materials, which might even contain "signatures" from nonexistent regulators. Some even feature images of fake but realistic-looking FINRA employee badges.
Source Fool.com
