FILE A SECURITIES COMPLAINT OR REPORT FRAUD
The Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is a criminal justice agency that investigates and prosecutes insurance and securities fraud. Protecting consumers and rooting out fraud is our top priority.
Montana law requires agents, brokers, or anyone with reason to believe fraud has occurred to report the suspected fraud to our office.
INVESTMENT ISSUES
If you believe you may have been the victim of a scam or fraud, or feel that you may have grounds to file a complaint against a financial professional, please fill out the Online Complaint Form linked below. You may also contact us to discuss your issue using the contact information below.
Because we cannot give you legal advice, you may wish to contact a private attorney to determine what additional courses of action are available to you.
If you would rather fill out a paper complaint and mail it or fax it to our office, please download the form HERE.
CONTACT INFORMATION
MAIL
The Office of the Montana State Auditor,
Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance
840 Helena Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
FAX
406-444-5558
COMMON TYPES OF
SECURITIES FRAUD
INVESTMENT THEFT
Investment brokers who steal directly from their clients’ accounts for personal gain are guilty of investment theft. Investors may not immediately notice the missing money, and if they do, the broker may try to dodge the subject or blame the loss on a drop in the market.
PONZI SCHEMES
Investment fraud that involves the payment of returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often solicit new investors by promising to invest funds in opportunities claimed to generate high returns with little or no risk. In many Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters focus on attracting new money to make promised payments to earlier-stage investors to create the false appearance that investors are profiting from a legitimate business.
PYRAMID SCHEMES
Pyramid schemes are fraudulent because compensation is primarily derived from the fees paid by new recruits to the scheme. Participants have to recruit others to the plan to make money. As participants join, additional people must be recruited so that current participants can be paid. The pyramid eventually collapses because participants exhaust the pool of people available and willing to join. Often goods or services are offered in an attempt to appear legal.
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