Can You Trust Your Broker?
There are more and more cases of investors being led into bad investments by their brokers. Should they be accountable?

Caveat Emptor: Fraud on the Net
A look at some common pitfalls to using the Net as an investment resource.

Earmarks of a Swindle
Newsletter writer Pat McKeough analyses a Ponzi scheme in this article from The McKeough Report.

Has Your Broker Done You Wrong?
About's Stocks Guide Mike Griffis explains the options available to investors with a beef against their brokers. (American oriented but still useful).

Alberta Securities Commission
This provincial government agency regulates securities trading in Alberta.

Avoiding Cyberfraud
This is one of several pages from Mignolet Business Research Consultants, a Florida company that will research companies for investors. They also have a P.I. ticket.

Avoiding Online Fraud
Excellent article from Ameritrade.

B.C. Securities Commision
The B.C. Securities Commission is the provincial government agency regulating securities transactions in British Columbia.

B.C. Securities Commision Weekly Summary
Elements of the BCSC's weekly report included on on their website are Issuers in Default, Exempt Distributions and Insider/Other Disclosure Reports.

The Corporate Carnival Unveiled
Investigative reporter Adrian du Plessis, long a thorn in the side of Canadian stock exchanges and regulatory authorities, gives us these hard hitting exposés of scams and fraud.

Crimes of Persuasion
This superb resource exposes many scams, con jobs and rip-offs. Check it out!

Cybercop
Cybercop is an American non-profit consumer group not affiliated with any law enforcement agency.

Cyber-Investors and Cyber-Fraud
Douglas Gerlach of Invest-o-Rama penned this cautionary article.

Fraud & Online Business Practices
From the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Social Responsibility pages.

The Frugal Bugle
Former stock broker Joe Killoran has been crusading for industry reform and consumer protection for investors.

Goldhaven
As well as providing offshore investment services, Matt Blackman's Goldhaven Information Systems has lots of info on offshore scams and ripoffs.

How To Avoid Ponzi And Pyramid Schemes
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission gives us these pointers on how to avoid being ripped off by Ponzi schemes. (Such as government pension plans, he asked wryly?)

How to Spot a Con Artist
This is a reprint of an NASAA document at the B.C. Securities Commission website.

Internet Fraud Watch
This page is from an American consumer group called the National Fraud Information Center.

Internet Scambusters
Internet Scambusters offers a free emailed newsletter and focuses on the hype and misinformation fed to small businesses about the benefits of being online.

Investing & the Internet: Be Alert to Signs of Fraud
An excellent few pages of information and advice from the Canadian Securities Administrators.

Investment Dealers Association of Canada
The IDA is the national self-regulatory organization and trade association for the Canadian securities industry. They try and resolve complaints against member firms. Français

Investment Fraud and Abuse Travel to Cyberspace
The U.S. Securities Exchange Commission features this and several other pages on cyberfraud.

Jim Roache's Stock Broker Exposé
Investor Jim Roache details his financial and legal woes in a major dispute with his broker.

MacGold Direct Inc.
Robert Goldin, author of Investor Beware!, operates this Ontario company which specializes in resolving disputes about broker mis-conduct.

Mignolet Business Research Consultants
This Florida-based company will research companies for investors. They have a Private Investigators license as well.

Net Hype, scams can't replace hard work
Jim Carroll, co-author of The Canadian Internet Handbook warns that it's caveat emptor when it comes to hype promoting ways to get rich on the Internet!

Nigerian Scam
The ever-fascinating Urban Legends pages at www.snopes.com gives you the low-down on a scam that has bilked many unwary and gullible Canadians and Americans.

Offshore Business News and Research
Business journalist David Marchant operates this site which exposes dubious and shady offshore investment schemes. Some free stuff. Full access is pricey.

Ontario Securities Commision
The Ontario Securities Commission is the provincial government agency regulating securities transactions in Ontario. This link connects to Investor Information.

RCMP Scam List
The men in red serge are keeping tabs on the latest scams, especially on the Internet. Watch out for these cons.

Scam Alert Newsletter
Free newsletter from McIntosh Wealth Management alerts you to offshore investment scams.

Small Investor Protection Association
After encountering severe losses in his portfolio through mismanagement by his broker, Stan Buell founded this excellent organization.

The Stock Detective
This excellent website aims to expose dubious investments and the hype surrounding them. It also analyses newsletters for honesty in disclosing financial relationships.

Straits of Magellan
Feature article in a Phoenix newspaper tells of a real estate scam bilking Canadian investors.

The Stromberg Report
Here is a detailed summary of the report whose full name is Investment Funds in Canada and Consumer Protection Strategies for the Millennium.