Alleged Houston, Texas Affinity Fraud Scam Targeting Druze and Lebanese Communities Leads to SEC Charges Against Day Trader

The SEC has filed securities charges against day trader Firas Hamdan for allegedly running a德克萨斯州证bob200体育券计划在休斯敦地区，欺骗了德鲁兹和黎巴嫩社区的投资者。曾经是美国德鲁兹协会休斯顿分公司的财务主管的哈姆丹在两个团体的成员中都闻名。他被指控在五年内从30多年的投资者中筹集了超过600万美元。据称，他声称运行了应用专有交易算法的高频交易计划。

According to the Commission, Hamdan promised investors 30% in yearly returns, while misrepresenting his trading program as being safe, when, in fact, it had suffered $1.5 million in losses. He also allegedly falsified brokerage records to hide huge trading losses and overstate assets.

据说，当承诺向投资者提供的利润没有进来时，Hamdan告诉客户，这笔钱陷入了MF全球崩溃和希腊的债务危机中。他还被指控撒谎，不存在现金储备帐户，并被认为是500万美元的“钥匙人”保险单，使客户的投资安全。

Affinity Fraud
Texas affinity fraudis typical an investment scheme that targets members of a group that usually consists of people belonging to the same race, religion, age, ethnicity, community or or some other affiliation. Often, the fraudster is someone who belongs to the group, is a friend/associate of one or more members, or has has some other “in” that causes them to feel like they can trust this person with their money.

For example, Hamdan was an ex-officer of the American Druze Society. He solicited investors by talking to family and friends in the Druze and Lebanese communities. He also asked those that signed with him to talk to their friends about investing.

SEC有关避免亲和力欺诈的提示：
•即使您认识/信任为您带来投资机会的人，也要确保您进行尽职调查以确保这不是骗局。试图将您带入交易的人甚至可能都不知道他/她也被愚弄了。

• Don’t invest in anything that promises “guaranteed” returns or massive profits. “Too good to be true” investments are exactly just that: too good to be true.

• Make sure the investment opportunity is spelled out in writing.

• Don’t feel pressured into investing in an “opportunity” out of fear that it won’t be there if you don’t join up now.

•当心陌生人的电子邮件吹捧投资机会。

SEC Charges Trader in Houston-Area Investment Scheme Targeting Lebanese and Druze Communities, SEC, January 29, 2013

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