Consumer Advisories English Español Search for: Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Scams Alert (2019) Loan Modification and Foreclosure Scams Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of these common scams: … read more Tax Preparation Consumer Advisory (2016) Tax Season is in full swing. Taxpayers should take steps to protect themselves against a variety of hazards as they prepare and file their tax returns. Tax Preparation Fees: Avoid Hidden Fees and Overcharges The fees charged by tax preparation firms often are poorly... read more Payday Lending Consumer Advisory (2016) CALIFORNIA PAYDAY LOANS: WHAT CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW … read more Small Business Advisory: Crowdfunding (2016) The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, a series of legislative provisions intended to facilitate capital formation in the United States, was signed into law in 2012. This legislation included the CROWDFUND Act, which made significant changes to current... read more Crowdfunding – Investors (2016) The Internet has become an inexpensive and easy way for individuals and businesses to raise money. In 2012, Congress passed the JOBS Act, which directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to formulate rules to exempt equity crowdfunding from the securities... read more Know your Lender (2016) To protect themselves against scam artists and abusive, illegal fees, it’s important for consumers to ensure they’re dealing with reputable and licensed lenders. When they come across loan solicitations in the mailbox, email or on the Web, they should study them with... read more Understanding Broker-Dealer Fees (2015) Savvy consumers know it is important to compare prices on similar products to get the best value for their money. Wouldn't it be nice if the same were true when shopping for a broker-dealer firm to handle your investments? New research from the North American... read more “Asset Recovery” Companies Consumer Advisory (2015) Be Careful before hiring companies that promise to recover lost investments for an up-front fee.“Asset recovery” companies contact consumers, tell them they’ve been victimized by investment fraud and promise to recover their money – for a payment of thousands of... read more Spotlight on Marijuana-related Investments, Binary Options, and Digital Currency (2015) At first glance, marijuana, binary options, and digital currency appear to have no real connection to one another. But what they all have in common is their recent emergence as three investments that both sellers and buyers hope will become the “next big thing.”... read more What You Should Know About Virtual Currencies (2014) Virtual currencies have been around almost as long as the Internet and in the last few years they have evolved rapidly towards a product suitable for the financial mainstream. With that rapid evolution has come many questions—legal, practical, technological and... read more « Older Entries Key Consumer Links Consumer Alerts Consumer Advisories Search for DBO Licensees Licensees and Industries Regulated by the DBO Actions, Orders and Administrative Hearing Decisions File a complaint Submit a Public Records Request News & Info LinksNews Newsroom Press Releases Monthly Bulletins Important Notices Information DBO Forms Resources Last updated: Dec 11, 2019 @ 5:39 pm
Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Scams Alert (2019) Loan Modification and Foreclosure Scams Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of these common scams: … read more
Tax Preparation Consumer Advisory (2016) Tax Season is in full swing. Taxpayers should take steps to protect themselves against a variety of hazards as they prepare and file their tax returns. Tax Preparation Fees: Avoid Hidden Fees and Overcharges The fees charged by tax preparation firms often are poorly... read more
Payday Lending Consumer Advisory (2016) CALIFORNIA PAYDAY LOANS: WHAT CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW … read more
Small Business Advisory: Crowdfunding (2016) The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, a series of legislative provisions intended to facilitate capital formation in the United States, was signed into law in 2012. This legislation included the CROWDFUND Act, which made significant changes to current... read more
Crowdfunding – Investors (2016) The Internet has become an inexpensive and easy way for individuals and businesses to raise money. In 2012, Congress passed the JOBS Act, which directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to formulate rules to exempt equity crowdfunding from the securities... read more
Know your Lender (2016) To protect themselves against scam artists and abusive, illegal fees, it’s important for consumers to ensure they’re dealing with reputable and licensed lenders. When they come across loan solicitations in the mailbox, email or on the Web, they should study them with... read more
Understanding Broker-Dealer Fees (2015) Savvy consumers know it is important to compare prices on similar products to get the best value for their money. Wouldn't it be nice if the same were true when shopping for a broker-dealer firm to handle your investments? New research from the North American... read more
“Asset Recovery” Companies Consumer Advisory (2015) Be Careful before hiring companies that promise to recover lost investments for an up-front fee.“Asset recovery” companies contact consumers, tell them they’ve been victimized by investment fraud and promise to recover their money – for a payment of thousands of... read more
Spotlight on Marijuana-related Investments, Binary Options, and Digital Currency (2015) At first glance, marijuana, binary options, and digital currency appear to have no real connection to one another. But what they all have in common is their recent emergence as three investments that both sellers and buyers hope will become the “next big thing.”... read more
What You Should Know About Virtual Currencies (2014) Virtual currencies have been around almost as long as the Internet and in the last few years they have evolved rapidly towards a product suitable for the financial mainstream. With that rapid evolution has come many questions—legal, practical, technological and... read more
