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The SEC and Fake Investment Sites

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the save-a-buck-or-two dept.

An anonymous reader sent in: "Our web-based challenge for the day: find the SEC's fake investment sites! The SEC claims to have seeded the web with fake investment sites in order to teach naive web users and investors about the dangers of believing all you read and investing without research. These sites have telltale signs of online investment fraud, and if people manage to overlook or ignore those issues and attempt to invest money, informs them that they have made an unwise decision. The SEC says that these sites are intended to encourage wise investing decisions, or in more casual terms, to attempt to slap fools upside the head with a cluestick before they lose their money in a real scam. It's an interesting use of the web by a government-related agency."

12 of 453 comments (clear)

  1. Rock on SEC!!! by Em+Emalb · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sweet.

    What a cool way to teach the less-informed among us not to trust everything just because it's on the web. Now, if we could get websites out there that ask for personal info to do the same, ie:

    Enter your credit card info here:

    XXXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXXX

    No Idiot, this site is about my dog skippy, there is no need for you to hand this over. Now get off the web and find a clue. (Hint: your 10 year old child is more web-savvy than you)

    --
    Sent from your iPad.
  2. Here's one! by daeley · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://www.enron.com/corp/

    --
    I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
    1. Re:Here's one! by WillSeattle · · Score: 5, Funny

      http://www.enron.com/corp/

      Nah, that's the one the White House put up.

      We're looking for the SEC ones.

      --
      --- Will in Seattle - What are you doing to fight the War?
  3. whois mcwhortle.com by molo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Shouldn't be too hard to find.


    Registrant:
    SEC (MCWHORTLE-DOM)
    6432 GENERAL GREEN WAY
    ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312
    US

    Domain Name: MCWHORTLE.COM

    Administrative Contact, Billing Contact:
    SEC (VMGSFHPWCO) webmaster@mcwhortle.com
    SEC
    6432 GENERAL GREEN WAY
    ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312
    US
    202 824 5151 fax: 202 504 2477

    --
    Using your sig line to advertise for friends is lame.
  4. Ya know by wiredog · · Score: 5, Funny
    Slashdotting the SEC's just gotta violate some law...

    SEC Computers Catch Fire After During Hacker Attack

    By Joe Snuffy

    Associated Press Writer

    Wednesday, January 30, 2002; 2:45 P.M.

    The SEC headquarters was evacuated today after a form of the denial of service hacking attack, commonly known as "slashdotting" caused their servers to halt and catch fire. The FBI refuses to confirm that it may be seeking one Rob "Commander Taco" Malda for questioning in this terrorist attack on America's financial structure.

    --

    Best Slashdot Co
  5. Over Subscribed by Brownstar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pre-IPO Investment Oversubscribed!

    McWhortle Enterprises has had to stop accepting investors for Stage 1 of its Pre-IPO investment after the program was over-subscribed by nearly 200%. Because of the enormous demand, we will, for a very limited time, accept new investors into this program.

    Darn it, I was all ready to sign up, but I guess the rest of the slashdot community got to it before me.

  6. The war by Syberghost · · Score: 5, Funny

    Funny, Bush didn't mention the increased funding for the War on Stupidity last night...

    1. Re:The war by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny

      Because Bush is fighting for, rather than against, perhaps?

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  7. I want in! by (void*) · · Score: 4, Funny

    Imagine getting paid by the SEC to make up stuff about a non-existent company. Where do I sign up?

  8. This is perfect by guttentag · · Score: 4, Funny
    Now I can set up a fake investment site, and if anyone actually calls my bluff, I can avoid prosecution by sending them the following email:
    Congratulations! You've beaten the SEC Internet Trust Challenge! This is actually a fake investment site set up by the SEC to teach consumers about trust on the Internet. We'll refund your money within 30 days AND send you your Winner's Bonus. Thanks for playing, and remember: it pays to be Safe on the Internet!

    Bob Johnson
    Ass't Director of Consumer Protection, F Section
    Securities and Exchange Commission
    Washington, DC 20006

  9. Re:Money by HerringFlavoredFowl · · Score: 3, Funny

    I smell cover-up, we are running a deficit, the SEC is putting up fraudulent web sites. I suspect they will take the users money and balance the budget.

    TastesLikeHerringFlavoredChicken

    --
    TastesLikeHerringFlavoredChicken
  10. Re:Who pays for these websites? by _ph1ux_ · · Score: 3, Funny

    :) actually it would seem that the SEC is the gullible one in this. I bet some young MLM super marketdroid made a mint on selling this idea to the SEC and telling them that they need to pay himto help them setup this system...

    scam of the century for whomever came up with this idea and got paid for it!
    .