Press Release: SEC Seniors Summit To Tackle Identifying, Stopping Investment Scams Against Senior Citizens
The SEC, NASAA, FINRA, and AARP hosted the 2007 Seniors Summit to combat investment fraud targeting older Americans, highlighting over 40 enforcement actions in two years against scams using psychological tactics like phantom fixation and reciprocity, with no specific individuals named but a focus on education and industry reform.
The SEC brought more than 40 enforcement actions in the two years prior to the 2007 Seniors Summit against investment scams targeting senior citizens, with the event co-hosted by NASAA, FINRA, and AARP to expose deceptive sales practices. Panelists revealed findings from an examination of 'free lunch' investment seminars and detailed fraud tactics such as phantom fixation, social consensus, scarcity, and reciprocity. While no specific cases, fines, or settlements were disclosed, the summit emphasized coordinated regulatory efforts, improved industry sales practices, and enhanced investor education to protect older Americans.
The SEC, NASAA, FINRA, and AARP jointly hosted the 2007 Seniors Summit on September 10 to address the growing threat of investment fraud targeting senior citizens, highlighting over 40 enforcement actions taken by the SEC in the prior two years against scams exploiting retirees. The event featured panel discussions on deceptive sales tactics commonly used in 'free lunch' investment seminars, including phantom fixation (dangling false prizes), social consensus (falsely implying peer approval), scarcity (pressuring quick decisions), and reciprocity (leveraging free meals to induce purchases). Regulators presented findings from an examination of securities firms conducting these seminars and discussed reforms to improve sales practices and investor education. Although no specific individuals, companies, fines, or legal resolutions were named in the release, the summit underscored a coordinated, multi-agency strategy to combat fraud through awareness and systemic change. AARP led a lunch-and-learn session on the psychology of financial scams, empowering seniors with tools to recognize manipulation. The summit also included video testimonials from fraud victims and concluded with closing remarks from SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, who stressed the need for both information and common sense to safeguard older investors. Public registration and live webcasting were offered to maximize outreach, reinforcing the event’s mission to educate and protect rather than announce new charges.
Extracted insights
- agency event live on the sec web site at www.sec.gov
- agency panelists and agenda for an upcoming seniors summit at the sec
- agency sec christopher cox
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- agency to attend the sec's seniors summit
- Securities And Exchange Commission Announce Panelists And Agenda For An Upcoming Seniors Summit At The Sec
- Securities And Exchange Commission Host Event On Sept. 10 With The North American Securities Administrators Association (Nasaa), The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra), And Aarp
- Securities And Exchange Commission Bring More Than 40 Enforcement Actions In The Past Two Years Against Frauds Targeting Retirees And Other Older Investors
- Sec Christopher Cox Say We Need To Do Everything We Can To Ensure That Seniors Are Well-Educated About Investment Choices, And That They're Treated Fairly And Appropriately By Brokers, Investment Advisers, And Others In The Securities Industry
- Sec Christopher Cox Say Avoiding Scams Requires A Combination Of Information And Common Sense
- Sec Christopher Cox Say Being Aware Of The Latest Fraud Tactics And Understanding How Common Investment Products Work Can Help Seniors And Investors Of All Ages Keep Their Money Safe
- Securities And Exchange Commission Include Release Of Findings From An Examination Of Securities Firms Offering 'Free Lunch' Investment Seminars Aimed At Senior Citizens
- Securities And Exchange Commission Focus On Investor Education And The Need For Securities Firms To Improve Their Sales Practices For Older Investors
- Aarp Lead Lunch And Learn Program For Seniors On The Devious Social Persuasion Tactics Used By Con-Artists Against Senior Citizens
- Fraudster Dangle A Prize, Such As A Sum Of Money Or A Vacation, To Tantalize The Victim
- Con-Artist Convince A Victim That Peers, Neighbors, And Other Respected Members Of A Community Are All Making This Particular Investment
- Fraudster Exaggerate A False Time-Sensitive Situation, Pressuring Victims To Act Fast On An Investment Before It's Too Late
- Con-Artist Involve A Small Favor For The Victim (Such As A Free Lunch) And Relies On Human Nature To Induce The Victim To Return The Favor In Kind By Buying The Investment
- Senior Investors And Other Members Of The Public Be Invited To Attend The Sec's Seniors Summit
- Securities And Exchange Commission Make Available Registration Information And Other Information Materials At Http://Www.sec.gov/spotlight/seniors/seniors_summit.htm Or By Calling (800) 732-0330
- Securities And Exchange Commission Webcast Event Live On The Sec Web Site At Www.sec.gov
SEC Seniors Summit To Tackle Identifying, Stopping Investment Scams Against Senior Citizens FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2007-175 Washington, D.C., Sept. 6, 2007 - The Securities and Exchange Commission and three other organizations today announced the panelists and agenda for an upcoming Seniors Summit at the SEC to combat investment fraud and abusive sales practices against older Americans. The second annual Seniors Summit will help older Americans identify and avoid common scams, better assess "free lunch" investment seminar invitations and other sales practices, and better protect themselves from the social persuasion tactics used by fraudsters. The SEC will host the event on Sept. 10 with the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and AARP. A panel led by the SEC's Division of Enforcement at this year's summit will highlight cooperation among regulators and law enforcement to identify and stop investment scams against seniors. Already, the SEC has brought more than 40 enforcement actions in the past two years against frauds targeting retirees and other older investors. "We need to do everything we can to ensure that seniors are well-educated about investment choices, and that they're treated fairly and appropriately by brokers, investment advisers, and others in the securities industry," said SEC Chairman Christopher Cox. "Avoiding scams requires a combination of information and common sense. Being aware of the latest fraud tactics and understanding how common investment products work can help seniors and investors of all ages keep their money safe." The Seniors Summit also will include the release of findings from an examination of securities firms offering "free lunch" investment seminars aimed at senior citizens. Other panel discussions will focus on investor education and the need for securities firms to improve their sales practices for older investors. Finally, AARP will lead a lunch and learn program for seniors on the devious social persuasion tactics used by con-artists against senior citizens. Among the most common is "phantom fixation," where the fraudster dangles a prize, such as a sum of money or a vacation, to tantalize the victim. Another is "social consensus," in which the con-artist convinces a victim that peers, neighbors, and other respected members of a community are all making this particular investment. The "scarcity" tactic exaggerates a false time-sensitive situation, pressuring victims to act fast on an investment before it's too late. The "reciprocity" principle of social interaction involves a small favor for the victim (such as a free lunch) and relies on human nature to induce the victim to return the favor in kind by buying the investment. Senior investors and other members of the public are invited to attend the SEC's Seniors Summit. Registration information and other information materials are available at: http://www.sec.gov/spotlight/seniors/seniors_summit.htm or by calling (800) 732-0330. The event also will be webcast live on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. # # # SENIORS SUMMIT AGENDA 9:00-10:00 Registration 10:00-10:10 Opening Remarks: SEC Chairman Christopher Cox 10:10-10:25 Overview Joseph Borg President, North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) Chris Hansen Group Executive Officer for State and National Initiatives, AARP Mary Schapiro CEO, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) 10:25-10:50 Panel 1 "Free Lunch" Investment Seminars: Examination Sweep Findings, Implications Moderator: Lori Richards, Director, SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations Panelists: SEC Commissioner Kathleen Casey Bob Errico, Executive Vice President, Office of Member Regulation, FINRA David Massey, Deputy Securities Administrator North Carolina Securities Division; Chair, NASAA Enforcement Section 10:50-10:55 Fraud victim video 10:55-11:20 Panel 2 Investor Education: Innovations in Reaching Seniors Moderator: Kristin Kaepplein, Director, SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy Panelists: SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins John Gannon, Senior Vice President, Office of Investor Education, FINRA Jean Setzfand, Director, Financial Security Outreach & Service, AARP Karen Tyler, North Dakota Securities Commissioner, NASAA President-Elect 11:20-11:35 Break 11:35-11:55 Panel 3 Identifying and Stopping Common Scams Moderator: Linda Thomsen, Director, SEC Division of Enforcement Panelists: SEC Commissioner Roel Campos Steve Luparello, Senior Executive Vice President, Regulation, FINRA Patricia D. Struck, Administrator, Division of Securities, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, NASAA Past President George Gaberlavage, Director, Policy Research & Development, Consumer Issues, AARP 11:55-12:00 Fraud victim video 12:00-12:20 Panel 4 Improving Sales Practices Moderator: Erik Sirri, Director, SEC Division of Market Regulation Panelists: SEC Commissioner Annette Nazareth Bryan Lantagne, Director, Massachusetts Securities Division Elisse Walter, Senior Executive Vice President, Office of Regulatory Policy and Programs, FINRA Ryan Wilson, Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute - Consumer Issues, AARP 12:20-12:25 Closing Remarks: SEC Chairman Christopher Cox 12:30-1:30 Box Lunch and Learn for Senior Citizens (pre-registration required) "The Weapons of Fraud: The Psychology Behind the Scams" Doug Shadel, State Director, AARP Washington http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-175.htm Home | Previous Page Modified: 09/10/2007