We trust investment professionals to look out for our best interests as they work to grow our wealth. Unfortunately, misconduct and investment fraud cost innocent people millions of dollars every single year. If you suspect you have been the victim of investment fraud, you should understand your legal rights. Let a Texas investment fraud lawyer from Erez Law, PLLC, help you demand the financial recovery and justice you deserve.
With over 20 years of legal experience, our nationally recognized securities fraud attorneys have a proven track record of success. We have recovered over $200 million in compensation from clients throughout Texas, across the United States, and around the world. Our firm focuses exclusively on representing victims of securities fraud, including fraudulent behavior of companies, investment advisors, stockbrokers, and brokerage firms. This has given us the experience and resources needed to help you level the playing field against even the most powerful Wall Street firms.
Reach out to Erez Law, PLLC, now for a free initial consultation. A knowledgeable Texas investment fraud attorney from our firm can assess your case and explain your options for pursuing compensation, justice, and accountability from those responsible for your losses. We do not charge any fees to start work on your investor fraud case, and you only pay us if we recover payment for you.
What Is Securities Fraud?
Securities fraud typically involves intentionally or recklessly inducing an investor to buy, sell, or hold securities based on false, inaccurate, or misleading information or representation. Usually, a victim of securities fraud will suffer financial losses that may include the loss of the money put into an investment or the loss of more profitable investment opportunities. Securities fraud may be committed by the companies that issue the securities and the company’s representatives. Fraud may also be committed by stockbrokers, investment advisors, or other financial institutions.
Securities fraud may constitute a crime under state and federal law. It can also lead to civil liability for financial losses sustained by the victims.
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!
Signs That You May Have Been the Victim of Securities Fraud
The loss of value in an investment does not necessarily mean that fraud has occurred. All investment comes with a risk of loss.
Potential warning signs of securities fraud include:
- Financial statements from an investment don’t make any sense to you.
- An investment experiences a dramatic drop in value in a short period of time.
- Material information about an investment is not disclosed in a timely fashion or is not disclosed at all.
- You have tax liabilities from an investment that purportedly has declined in value.
- An investment’s reported financial results regularly fail to meet publicly announced expectations.
- Your broker or the company you invested with stops returning your calls or emails, or their web presence goes dark.
A Texas fraud investment lawyer can investigate further to determine whether you might be the victim of securities fraud. Contact Erez Law, PLLC, today to learn more.
How a Texas Investment Fraud Attorney Can Help You
If you believe you may have suffered a financial loss due to securities fraud, a Texas investment fraud attorney from Erez Law, PLLC, can help by:
- Investigating your case to secure evidence of fraud, such as financial records, email communications, corporate documents, and expert market analysis
- Calculating the financial losses and other related expenses that you incurred due to the securities fraud
- Identifying the perpetrators of the fraud who can be held liable
- Filing formal complaints with government and industry regulators
- Pursuing maximum financial recovery of your investment losses
Common Types of Cases Our Securities Lawyer Help With
At Erez Law, PLLC, our investment loss attorneys have a long track record of success handling complex claims involving:
- Hedge fund fraud – Hedge funds refer to private funds in which managers oversee an investment strategy that uses a money pool together from individual investors. Hedge fund manager misconduct and fraud can lead to significant losses for investors.
- Junk bond fraud – Junk bonds are corporate debt securities issued by companies at high risk of default. Junk bond fraud may also involve investment funds that specialize in investing in junk bonds.
- Ponzi scheme fraud – Ponzi schemes refer to criminal enterprises in which the organizers of the scheme siphon money for themselves and pay prior investors dividends and distributions using new incoming investment money. Ponzi schemes may or may not engage in actual investment activity.
- Oil and energy investment fraud – Oil and energy investment fraud typically arises from the failure to properly disclose the risks of investment inherent to the volatility of the industry.
- Preferred shares of stock fraud – Preferred stock can carry high risk and may be unsuitable for investors.
- Private placement fraud – This fraud involves fundraising by startups and emerging companies.
- Variable annuity investment fraud – Variable annuity funds pay regular income to participants based on the performance of the fund’s investments. These funds may be unsuitable for some investors or maybe unnecessarily traded to rack up broker commissions.
- Stockbroker fraud and misconduct – Stockbroker fraud includes misuse of funds or misrepresentation of services by a broker.
- Elder financial fraud – Elder fraud can involve misusing a senior’s money without permission or making unsuitable investments.
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program fraud – The EB-5 visa program allows foreign nationals to enter the U.S. after making qualifying investments in U.S. companies that facilitate job creation and economic growth. Fraud typically involves misappropriating a foreign national’s investment funds, potentially jeopardizing their eligibility under the visa program.
What Is the Securities Fraud Statute of Limitations in Texas?
You have a limited amount of time to pursue a legal claim to recover compensation for financial losses due to securities fraud. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations under state and federal law, and it can differ depending on the circumstances of your case. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) also has time limits for filing a securities fraud claim.
You should talk to a lawyer who represents FINRA arbitration claims from Erez Law, PLLC, to discuss the specifics of your case and what time limits apply.
How Much Do Securities Fraud Attorneys Charge?
At Erez Law, PLLC, we understand the financial burdens that our clients face when they have been burned by securities fraud. For that reason, we represent clients in securities fraud cases on a contingency basis. That means you do not have to pay any money upfront to hire our firm for your case. We only get paid securities fraud attorneys’ fees when we win financial compensation for you.
Resources for Texas Investors
If you believe you may have been the victim of investment fraud in Texas, state and national resources that can help you include:
- Texas State Securities Board – This state agency oversees the issuance and transaction of securities within Texas, including the registration of securities offerings and enforcing state securities laws.
- Texas Consumer Protection Division – This division conducts investigations and provides enforcement of state consumer protection laws.
- Texas Securities Act – This statute governs all securities issued or transacted in the state of Texas.
FINRA – The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is a private, non-governmental association that provides self-regulation for the financial industry, enforcing a code of conduct and overseeing its member financial institutions and investment brokerages.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission – This federal agency is tasked with overseeing the securities industry in the U.S., enforcing federal securities law and drafting and enforcing regulations to implement federal securities law.
Talk to Our Texas Investment Fraud Attorneys Now
If you have been the victim of fraud, contact Erez Law, PLLC, for a free and confidential case review on your investment dispute. Our lawyers can help you fight for compensation and justice from those responsible for defrauding you. We assist clients in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and throughout the state of Texas.