News Releases

Christopher Anthony Zaal of McKinney was arrested Sept. 8 after having been indicted in Collin County on charges of securities fraud and money laundering for obtaining at least $2.27 million in fraudulent investment schemes.

Zaal allegedly committed fraud when he sold promissory notes...

Texas Securities Commissioner John Morgan entered an Emergency Cease and Desist Order March 10 against a Texas oil and gas exploration company that claims it is the first company in the industry to accept Bitcoin from investors.

Balanced Energy LLC of Southlake, a Dallas-Fort Worth...

In the wake of recent turmoil in the market for Bitcoins, Texas Securities Commissioner John Morgan today urged investors to consider investment risks associated with digital currencies.

“Although digital currencies such as Bitcoin are often touted as a sophisticated, online alternative...

At a recent State Securities Board investor education presentation, the first question from a member of the audience was, “What do you think of the Iraqi dinar?” The woman and her husband had purchased some dinar notes after a salesman assured them the dinar would skyrocket in value once the...

Texas Securities Commissioner John Morgan on July 18 entered an Emergency Cease and Desist Order against Bruce A. Craig, an Austin "private money lender" who is touting his real estate-based investments as no-risk products that will "safely and securely yield 15-20 times what you can get in...

If you contribute to a 401(k) or other workplace retirement account, the balance you've built up is a tempting source of readily available cash. You can borrow from your account with favorable repayment terms. Under certain circumstances you can qualify for a hardship withdrawal. And when you...

Karen P. Bowie, a Maine resident who participated in a North Texas-based foreign notes scam, was sentenced to 80 years in state prison on Friday after being convicted of theft of property.

The Collin County District Attorney's Office prosecuted the case, and Dale Barron a Texas State...

The surest sign of the new year for investors? It’s the seemingly endless recommendations by financial experts on the best places to put your money in 2013.

You know the drill: the personal finance magazines touting the best stocks or funds for ’13; mutual fund managers touting, well,...

Securities Commissioner John Morgan today urged small businesses and entrepreneurs to be aware of the potential regulatory pitfalls in "crowdfunding," an online money-raising strategy sanctioned by the federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

Through crowdfunding, individuals...

The Texas State Securities Board today warned investors to consider the potential fraud in crowdfunding, an online money-raising strategy given new emphasis by the recent Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

Crowdfunding began as a way for the public to donate small amounts of...

The Texas State Securities Commissioner today entered Disciplinary Orders that suspended and fined two Corpus Christi investment adviser representatives for their unauthorized sale of life settlement notes.

Jimmy Wayne Freeman Jr. was ordered to pay $453,186 to reimburse investors who...

Following the Federal Reserve's announcement that interest rates are expected to remain at exceptionally low levels until at least late 2014, the Texas State Securities Board cautions investors to beware of risky or outright fraudulent investments promising higher yield or returns.

"...