Boiler Room
Candlefocus EditorBoiler rooms are a major problem for small and inexperienced investors as they often target people with limited financial resources. Boiler room personnel prey on the naivete of their victims and use a variety of tactics to persuade them to invest. These salesmen often guarantee returns that are too good to be true and make false claims of insider information on certain stocks. They also use various forms of manipulation such as offering large quantities of stock in order to push up the price, pressuring investors to buy stock quickly before the price rises again, and encouraging investors to invest in unregistered, high-risk investments.
The tactics used by boiler rooms are often illegal, and victims of these tactics can end up losing large sums of money. In some cases, people have been victims of fraud and illegal activity. In order to protect the public from these scams, the U.S. government has put in place a variety of laws to prohibit and punish fraudulent activities.
The NASD has created the Boiler Room Task Force to investigate and pursue investors' complaints against presumed boiler rooms as well as teach investors about avoiding these scams. The agency has an free, anonymous hotline, which can be called in order to report activity suspected to be perpetrated by a boiler room. If any activity has already occurred and investors have been scammed, the agency can help recover a portion of their money lost. The SEC also has strict investment rules that can often stop a boiler room before it starts due to their regulation of the markets.
Be cautious of any offers that sound too good to be true and always investigate any investments or offers before making a decision. Boiler room schemes can leave unsuspecting victims with severe financial losses, so be vigilant and always use due diligence when considering any investment opportunity.