Securities
Act of 1933, Public Law 73-22, 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.; Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, Public Law 73-291, 15 U.S.C. 78a to 78jj,
as amended, Public Laws 92-29 and 94-29; Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, Public Law 74-333, 15 U.S.C. 79 to 79z-6; Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, Public Law 76-253, 15 U.S.C. 77aaa to 77bbbb;
Investment Company Act of 1940, Public Law 76-768, 15 U.S.C. 80a-1
to 80a-52; Investment Advisers Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. 80b-1 to 80b-21;
National Bankruptcy Act, Chapter X, Public Law 75-696, 11 U.S.C.
501-676; Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, Public Law
91-598, 15 U.S.C. 78aaa, as amended, Public Law 95-283.
To
serve investors who complain about investment fraud or the mishandling
of their investments by securities professionals. To respond to
a wide range of investor inquiries, produce and distribute educational
materials, and organize investor education events. To advise the
SEC and its staff about problems frequently encountered by investors
and possible solutions. To represent the interests of individual
investors in connection with SEC rule-making proceedings.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Investigation of Complaints. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Investor
complaints provide an important source of information about possible
securities laws violations and can assist the SEC in its law enforcement
and regulatory functions. Investors who believe that possible securities
laws violations have occurred should advise the SEC so that it may
take appropriate regulatory action. However, the SEC is not a collection
agency. It does not advise investors whether particular transactions
about which they may have complained violate the federal securities
laws, nor does it seek recovery on behalf of investors through court
action or otherwise. These laws do provide important remedies to
investors, and investors should consider seeking the advice of an
attorney as to any recourse available to them if they believe they
have been defrauded.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Anyone may seek information from
or file a complaint with the SEC.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: The SEC's actions are designed
to protect not only those who seek its help directly, but also
all other similarly situated investors and the general public.
Moreover, the SEC's public files contain financial and other information
about several thousand companies, broker-dealers, investment companies,
investment advisers, transfer agents, and banks. Members of the
public may examine such material at the SEC's headquarters office
in Washington, DC, or they may order copies of the material by
contacting the SEC at: Public Reference Branch, Mail Stop 1-2,
450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Telephone: (202)
942-8090. Fax: (202) 628-9001. Email: publicinfo@sec.gov. The
SEC also maintains a web site on the internet at www.sec.gov where
the public can read or download public files on public companies
whose securities are registered with the SEC, educational information,
and investor alerts. Also, investors who believe they have been
defrauded, or believe that another party has violated the federal
securities laws are urged to present their complaint and/or information
to the SEC for use in its enforcement and regulatory activities.
SEC public actions do not necessarily result in any monetary benefits
to investors. However, aggrieved investors may find the information
the SEC discloses in its actions helpful in any private action
they may bring to recover their losses.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Contact any regional office Investor
Assistance Specialist or the Office of Investor Education and
Assistance in Washington, DC.
Award
Procedure: Not applicable.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Not applicable.
Audits:
Not applicable.
Records:
Not applicable.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 50-0100-0-1-376.
Obligations:
(Salaries and expenses) FY 01 $412,617,500; FY 02 est $458,605,000;
and FY 03 est $466,900,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
Investor Assistance Specialists at headquarters and in our regional
and district offices handled a total of 70,187 complaints, questions,
and other investor contacts during fiscal year 2001.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
The SEC publishes and distributes free brochures that describe in
plain English how the securities industry works, how to invest wisely
and avoid fraud, and where to turn for help. Recent brochures include
"Variable Annuities: What You Should Know," "Certificates of Deposit:
Tips for Investors," "Microcap Stock: A Guide for Investors," "Internet
Fraud," "Get the Facts on Saving and Investing." All of our publications
are available for free on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov/investor/pubs.shtml,
through our toll-free publications line at 1-800-732-0330, or from
the SEC's Publications Unit, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC
20549- 0011.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Regional Offices: Joanne Morris,
S. Junai Lewis, and Janis A. Leyden, 5670 Wilshire Boulevard, 11th
Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036-3648, (213) 965-3998; Rhonda Erickson
and Lucille V. Casias, Suite 4800, 1801 California Street, Denver,
CO 80202-2648, (303) 391-6821; Vivian Stephens, 175 West Jackson
Blvd., Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 353-7390; Doreen K. Mosaphir,
Suite 200, 1401 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131, (305) 982- 6301;
Robert L. Anthony, Sandy Sadwin, and Donna Smith, The Woolworth
Building, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279, (646) 428-1500. District
Offices: June Zaloumis and Cheryl M. Lawson, 44 Montgomery Street,
Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104, (415) 705-2500; Vellamaray
Graham, Suite 1000, 3475 Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326-1232,
(404) 842-7600; Lynne M. Carreiro, 73 Tremont Street, Boston, MA
02108-3912, (617) 424-5900; Barbara Ray, Suite 800, 801 Cherry Street,
Fort Worth, TX 76102, (817) 978-6465; Nancy Depasquale, The Curtis
Center, Suite 1005-E, Independence Square West, 601 Walnut Streets,
Philadelphia, PA 19106, (215) 597-2278; Key BankTower, Suite 500,
50 South Main Street, Box 79, Salt Lake City, UT 84144-0402, (801)
524-5796.
Headquarters
Office: Office of Investor Education and Assistance,
Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20549-0213. Telephone: (202) 942-7040; Facsimile: (202) 942-9634.
The e-mail address is help@sec.gov.
