Warning Signs of a Penny Stock Scam (2024)

disb

Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

Warning Signs of a Penny Stock Scam (1)

The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) wants District of Columbia residents to be aware of the warning signs of penny stock scams. Penny stocks are generally stocks that trade at less than five dollars a share. This relatively low price per share can make them attractive to many investors with limited resources. Penny stock promoters often reach out to victims by cold calling them. Use this information to recognize and protect yourself. Many calls come from overseas using technology to mask their true location and identity.

Examples: There are several types of penny stock investor fraud:

  1. Pump and dump schemes involve the use of false, misleading or exaggerated statements to sale and therefore boost the price of a stock over time. Such schemes involve telemarketing and internet fraud.
  2. Chop stocks are stocks purchased for pennies and sold for dollars, providing both brokers and stock promoters massive profits. Brokers are often paid "under the table" or with undisclosed payoffs to sell such stocks.
  3. Dump and dilute schemes involve companies that repeatedly issue shares for no reason other than taking investors' money. Companies using this kind of scheme tend to reverse split the stock periodically. A reverse split is where the corporation consolidates stocks (more shares become less) to give the appearance of a higher value for your stock.

Action: Use this information to recognize penny scams and protect yourself:

  1. Beware of unregistered financial advisers who guarantee returns. These are the two most common signs of a fraudulent investment scheme. Few legitimate investments offer a guaranteed profit. To find out if the caller is licensed, ask her/him whether the U.S Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) or DISB issued them a license.
  2. Be wary of promises of quick, high returns that are "a sure thing" because the initial investment is low.
  3. Be skeptical about "hot industry" pitches. Scammers take advantage of the latest trends, news stories, and claims to dupe victims, i.e., a pitch suggesting you invest in cannabis because of claims that it kills the coronavirus.
  4. Watch out for the suspicious soft sell. Brokers who don't push you to buy right away might still be scammers. Many penny "stockbrokers," registered or not, may spend weeks or months trying to win your trust. Do not drop your guard just because the broker isn't pushing you to buy immediately.
  5. Listings aren't a guarantee. Though most penny stock scams involve companies not included on a legitimate exchange, those listed on NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange can still be part of a scheme.
  6. Phone calls are not the only method that shady brokers use. Pitches come via spam emails, direct mail, newsletters and even radio or TV ads.

If you believe you have been a victim of a penny stock scam, please contact the DISB Enforcement and Consumer Protection Division at (202) 727-8000.

DISB Mission
Our mission is three-fold: (1) cultivate a regulatory environment that protects consumers and attracts and retains financial services firms to the District; (2) empower and educate residents on financial matters; and (3) provide financing for District small businesses.

Attachment(s):

Warning Signs of a Penny Stock Scam (2024)

FAQs

Warning Signs of a Penny Stock Scam? ›

Beware of unregistered brokers and guaranteed returns. These are the two most common tip-offs of a fraudulent investment scheme. Few legitimate investments offer a guaranteed profit. And brokers or firms not registered with FINRA are waving a red flag.

What are the red flags for penny stocks? ›

aggressive social media, email or press release campaigns, particularly of information that can't be reliably confirmed; unsolicited social media messages, emails, texts or phone calls promoting specific stocks; a lack of current publicly available financial information in SEC filings; and.

What are the indicators of penny stocks? ›

Penny stock trading indicators convey to you what direction these equities may be heading. These could include using technical signals, like the relative strength index (RSI), the moving average, and Bollinger Bands, or taking advantage of fundamentals like trading volumes or the news.

What is the best indicator for penny stocks? ›

3 Top Technical Indicators to Use for Trading Penny Stocks
  • Relative Strength Index (RSI)
  • Fibonacci Retracement Levels.
  • Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)
Apr 10, 2024

How do you know when a penny stock will spike? ›

Pay attention to high trading volumes, positive news releases, and a company's overall financial health. And remember, trends are your friends. Stick with them, not against them. Successful day trading also involves an understanding of price movements, market trends, and company fundamentals.

How do you tell if a stock is a penny stock? ›

Penny stocks are generally stocks that trade at less than five dollars a share. This relatively low price per share can make them attractive to many investors with limited resources. Penny stock promoters often reach out to victims by cold calling them. Use this information to recognize and protect yourself.

How are penny stocks manipulated? ›

Penny stock scammers short-sell a stock and then make sure its price falls by spreading false and damaging rumors about the company. Investors hold a losing stock, while the short-sellers make money.

What is the most successful penny stock ever? ›

Top 10 Most Successful Penny Stocks in History
  • AAPL-1.05% AAPL - NYSEApple Inc. ...
  • F-2.00% F - NYSEFord Motor Company. ...
  • HEAR-4.04% HEAR - NYSETurtle Beach Corporation. ...
  • MNST+1.01% MNST - NYSEMonster Beverage Corporation. ...
  • PLUG-5.56% PLUG - NASDAQPlug Power Inc. ...
  • AMD-4.60% AMD - NYSEAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. ...
  • MED-3.13% ...
  • NVAX-3.35%

How do you judge penny stocks? ›

How to Analyze Penny Stocks: Key Metrics to Explore
  1. Trading Volume: The Market's Pulse. ...
  2. Company Fundamentals: A Deep Dive into Financial Health. ...
  3. Price Movements and Chart Patterns: Visualizing Market Behavior. ...
  4. Price Movements and Chart Patterns: Visualizing Market Behavior. ...
  5. Bid-Ask Spread: A Measure of Liquidity.
Dec 22, 2023

What are the 10 best penny stocks to buy? ›

Penny Stocks
Company NameLTPMarket Cap (in Cr)
GTL Infrastructure₹2.56₹3,278.59
Sarveshwar Foods₹10.02₹980.76
Vikas Lifecare₹4.68₹796.61
Davangere Sugar Company₹6.66₹626.60
1 more row
3 days ago

What is the best scanner for penny stocks? ›

Try them all and see which one works best for you!
  1. StocksToTrade — Best Overall Penny Stock Screener. ...
  2. Benzinga Pro — Best Penny Stock Screener for News Scanning. ...
  3. TD Ameritrade — Best Penny Stock Screener for New and Advanced Traders. ...
  4. MarketWatch Stock Screener — Best Web-Based Penny Stock Screener.
May 15, 2024

How do people find good penny stocks? ›

Finding a website that lists penny stocks is only a starting point. A good place to start is Wall Street Survivor's Investing Ideas page which lists various penny stocks. Another option is to use MSN's Stock Screener which allows you to filter stocks based on desired criteria like price per share.

How do you win big with penny stocks? ›

9 Things To Know When Trading Penny Stocks
  1. Pick your own stocks. ...
  2. Know your numbers. ...
  3. Don't get greedy. ...
  4. Don't look back. ...
  5. Second-guess what you hear. ...
  6. Keep a long position. ...
  7. Follow the volume. ...
  8. Study the underlying company.

Has anyone gotten rich off penny stocks? ›

Yes, you can make money with penny stocks, but you can also make money playing the lottery, though you probably won't. To make money in penny stocks, you have to be able to separate the good companies from the bad, and that means you have to be able to analyze companies.

How to tell when a stock is going to skyrocket? ›

If you see a stock price movement that could indicate a surge, the volume of trades for that stock can tell you that there's significant interest in the stock and allow you to confirm that it's not a false rally. At the same time, trading volume can be a great sign if the surging price is about to come to an end.

How do you spot pump-and-dump penny stocks? ›

The company might be in the red or have minimal revenue, but the stock price suddenly shoots up. If you can't explain why the price is rising, it might be a sign that the price is too high or that you're looking at a pump-and-dump scheme.

What are the risks of penny stocks? ›

Potential risks of penny stocks

Lack of liquidity: Penny stocks are often illiquid, meaning it can be difficult to buy or sell your shares quickly without impacting the price. Unprofitable: Many penny stocks represent a stake in a company that has not and will not generate earnings for its shareholders.

What are the criteria for penny stocks? ›

Penny stocks are stocks that are priced very low, mostly under Rs 20 per share, and such companies have low market capitalization as well.

What is illegal about penny stocks? ›

Less stringent disclosure requirements can make penny stocks particularly susceptible to illegal "pump-and-dump" schemes where unscrupulous investors buy the stock, actively promote only its virtues (e.g., "pump it up"), and then, if the stock price appreciates, sell it (e.g., "dump") at an artificially inflated price.

What are red flags in a stock? ›

A red flag is a warning or indicator, suggesting that there is a potential problem or threat with a company's stock, financial statements, or news reports. Red flags may be any undesirable characteristic that stands out to an analyst or investor.

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