Box 3.5 SEC violations
Common violations that may lead to SEC investigations include:
• misrepresentation or omission of important information about securities;
• manipulating the market prices of securities;
• stealing customers’ funds or securities;
• violating broker-dealers’ responsibility to treat customers fairly;
• insider trading (violating a trust relationship by trading on material, non-public information
about a security); and
• selling unregistered securities.
• The Division of Risk, Strategy and Financial Innovation supports the identification of
developing risks and trends in the financial markets and provides analysis that integrates
economic, financial and legal disciplines (reflecting the changes in capital markets
and corporate governance and the emergence of derivatives, hedge funds and new
technology).
• The Division of Enforcement executes the Commission’s law enforcement function by
recommending civil actions be brought before federal courts (or before an administrative
law judge as appropriate), prosecuting these cases on behalf of the Commission, and
working closely with law enforcement agencies both in the US and internationally to
bring criminal cases when required.