2016 Securities Fraud: By the Numbers
Securities fraud is the all-encompassing term used to describe any kind of deceit, from churning to embezzlement, “pump-and-dump” to Ponzi schemes and everything in between. As technology and the types of communication continue to evolve, the definition of securities fraud is constantly expanding. This past year was one for the record books, with an incredible 868 enforcement cases filed in FY2016 exposing financial misconduct by companies and their executives alone.
In order to encourage employees to report financial misconduct, the federal government has expanded its whistleblower program, offering protection (and in some cases money) to employees whose original information leads to the successful prosecution and payout of an enforcement action.
This past year, approximately $4 billion in regulatory penalties and fines was paid by companies accused of wrongdoing, of which $57 million went to various whistleblowers for providing critical information in prosecuting fraud at the corporate/company level. Take a look at the 2016 Securities Fraud by the numbers.
Types of Securities Fraud in 2016
This chart describes the types of fraud that occurred during Fiscal Year 2016.
$4 Billion | Paid in disgorgement and penalties from judgments and orders to remedy corporate wrongdoing
$57 million | Amount in awards distributed to whistleblowers in a single year
868 | Number of enforcement actions filed in Fiscal Year 2016 exposing financial misconduct by companies and their executives
160 | Number of record high cases involving investment advisers or investment companies in a single year
Are You in Need of a Securities Fraud Attorney?
With offices in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and West Palm Beach, our securities lawyers have helped investment fraud victims throughout the U.S. recover more than $100 million from banks and brokerages firms for their wrongful actions.
Call a DKR Securities Fraud Attorney Today
Contact a securities fraud attorney at Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A. today to schedule an appointment or consultation to review your rights and options.
