The SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission, and FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. warned investors yesterday that e-mail spam designed to dupe investors into “pump-and-dump” stock offerings is increasing. "Pump-and-dump" is defined as "an illegal practice in which investors attempt to artificially inflate the price of a stock by disseminating inaccurate or misleading information. […]

It's not just the rich or famous anymore. Many scam artists prey on people from all ages and walks of life, often targeting those they already know - perhaps they attend the same church or knitting club - in so-called "affinity fraud," writes Carolyn Said of the Houston Chronicle in a recent article. Victim advocacy […]