Investment fraud costs innocent people millions of dollars every year, in some cases wiping out a lifetime of accumulated wealth and retirement savings. If this has happened to you, a Florida investment fraud lawyer can help you demand financial compensation and justice from those who defrauded you.
At Erez Law, PLLC, our nationally recognized investment loss attorneys have represented clients throughout Florida, across the United States, and around the world. Our firm focuses exclusively on representing people who have been victimized by investment and securities fraud. We have the experience and resources to take on even the largest and most powerful Wall Street firms and brokerages. With a 99% success rate, our financial fraud law firm has recovered more than $200 million in compensation on behalf of defrauded investors.
If you have experienced investment loss due to financial fraud, reach out to Erez Law, PLLC, for a free case review. A Florida investment fraud attorney from our firm can explain your legal options for pursuing financial recovery and answer all your questions. Our firm does not charge any fees upfront to work on your investor fraud case. In fact, we are only paid when we secure payment for you.
What Is Investment Fraud Litigation?
Investment fraud describes a broad range of misconduct that causes investors to suffer avoidable financial loss. Fraud can be committed by investment companies, stockbrokers and brokerage firms, financial/investment advisors, and financial institutions.
In many cases, fraud involves inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading disclosures of information regarding a prospective investment. It frequently results in an investor losing some or all of the value of their investment and can lead to criminal prosecution and civil liability for those financial losses.
Currently, we are investigating numerous brokers and companies who made fraudulent actions; including Alliance Bernstein. If you were the victim of a fraudulent broker, we are here to help you!
How to Recognize Signs of Investment Fraud
Every investment comes with a certain level of risk. However, you should be aware of signs of fraud, such as:
- An investment quickly suffers a steep drop in value.
- An investment continues to lose value despite a rise in the broader market.
- An investment’s financial results don’t make any sense or regularly fall well below publicly announced performance expectations.
- The company being invested in fails to disclose material information to the public.
- You have tax liability from an investment that appears to be losing value.
- The company you invested in or the broker you worked with on the investment has stopped taking your calls or responding to your emails or has deleted their internet presence.
These signs do not definitively mean that you have been the victim of investment fraud. However, they are concerning enough that you should consult with a Florida investment fraud attorney as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can investigate the situation to determine if fraud has occurred in your investment dispute.
How our Florida Investment Loss Recovery Group Can Help You
A Florida investment loss attorney from Erez Law, PLLC, can help you by:
- Reviewing the facts and circumstances of your case to determine if you were the victim of investment or securities fraud
- Determining the full extent of the losses that you have sustained, including both the loss of your investment money and any consequential expenses and losses
- Identifying potentially liable parties and financial resources that can compensate you for the losses that you have suffered from investment fraud.
- Filing formal complaints with federal, state, and regulatory agencies
- Fighting for the maximum financial recovery you deserve
Common Types of Investment Fraud Cases Our Lawyers Handle
The legal team of Erez Law, PLLC, has a long track record of helping investors in cases involving:
- Hedge fund fraud, or fraud involving managed private funds that pursue an investment strategy using money pooled from individual investors
- Junk bond fraud, which refers to fraud involving corporate bonds issued by companies at high risk of default or fraud involving funds that invest in junk bonds
- Oil and energy investment fraud, including when firms fail to make disclosures of material information regarding the volatility and risk of the investment
- Ponzi scheme fraud, perpetrated by illegal investment funds that may or may not engage in investment activity but instead primarily pay existing investors with money obtained from new investments, usually obtained through fraudulent representations regarding the fund’s performance
- Preferred shares of stock fraud, which may not be suitable for an investor or which may carry a risk that is not disclosed to the investor
Private placement fraud, or fraud committed by startups, emerging companies, and non-public companies raising money, usually by failing to make full and accurate disclosures - Variable annuity investment fraud, which involves funds that pay investors an income that is based on the performance of the investments made by the fund
- Stockbroker fraud and misconduct, including failing to undertake actions that serve a client’s investment goals and strategies, or taking actions that benefit the broker to the detriment of the client
- Elder financial fraud, or fraud that is specifically directed toward the elderly, who may have a significant vulnerability to fraud due to diminished capacity or a desire to put money in a highly profitable investment to get income for their retirement
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program fraud, which involves the program that offers visas to foreign nationals who make qualifying investments in U.S. businesses that facilitate job creation and economic growth
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Investment Fraud?
Both federal and Florida securities laws place time limits on how long you have to pursue financial compensation for investment fraud losses. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) also has its time limits that apply to securities fraud claims. Due to the complex nature of the laws and regulations, the time limit to take legal action will depend on your particular circumstances. So you should consult a Florida investment fraud lawyer as soon as possible to protect your right to seek compensation.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Investment Fraud Attorney in Florida?
The financial fraud lawyers at Erez Law, PLLC, work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will not pay any money upfront to hire our firm. Instead, we are paid fees only when we secure compensation on your behalf. In limited circumstances, you may also be entitled to request fee shifting after winning a securities fraud lawsuit, which could obligate the defendants in the suit to cover your legal fees and costs.
Resources for Florida Investors
Florida investors who believe they have been the victims of financial fraud may turn to resources such as:
- Florida Consumer Protection Division – This state agency can help individual investors who may have consumer protection claims arising from investment or securities fraud.
- Florida Division of Securities – This state agency oversees the securities industry in Florida.
- Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act – This is Florida law governing securities within the state.
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) – FINRA is a nationwide private self-regulatory organization that governs member market exchanges, brokerage firms, and financial institutions.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – The SEC is the federal agency that regulates the issuance and transaction of securities across the U.S. and enforces federal securities laws and regulations.
Government and private regulators often have limited ability to help victims of investment fraud in Florida recover compensation for their financial losses. For that reason, you should also speak to a Florida financial fraud attorney about your legal options for pursuing a claim for financial recovery.
Talk to Our Florida Investment Fraud Attorneys Today
If you have been the victim of investment fraud, time is of the essence for pursuing the financial compensation you deserve. Contact Erez Law, PLLC, today for a free and confidential consultation with a Florida financial fraud attorney. Our investment law group will fight fiercely for the financial recovery and justice you are entitled to.
We work with clients in Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and throughout the state. Our nationally recognized financial fraud law firm also represents international investors who have been defrauded.