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Bitcoin: it’s the virtual currency based on blockchain technology. It’s rising, falling, trading, and the “wave of the future,” depending on who you talk to. Started in 2009 as an international alternative currency, a growing number of businesses are accepting bitcoin as a standard method of payment. PayPal has also begun allowing customers of their cash accounts to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin and three other cryptocurrencies in their own accounts. One of the many ways people buy and use use Bitcoin is as an investment vehicle. This includes the purchase of a futures contract strictly for Bitcoin. These contracts are considered commodities, and fall under both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The SEC and the CFTC recently issued an investor alert to inform the public about funds trading in bitcoin futures. Some investors may decide to invest in bitcoin futures as a way getting into cryptocurrency in a small way. In this press release, both agencies emphasize that any cryptocurrency investment is speculative, and could rise or fall quickly. It’s important to consider your risk tolerance before investing in any investment, due to the potential for losing the entire amount. Bitcoin is particularly volatile, because of the up-and-down nature of its price. The underlying “spot” or cash Bitcoin market also adds the possibility of fraud and manipulation.  Bitcoin: it’s the virtual currency based on blockchain technology. It’s rising, falling, trading, and the “wave of the future,” depending on who you talk to. Started in 2009 as an international alternative currency, a growing number of businesses are accepting bitcoin as a standard method of payment. PayPal has also begun allowing customers of their cash accounts to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin and three other cryptocurrencies in their own accounts. Continue reading ›

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The recent case of Beverly Schottenstein Vs. JP Morgan and the Schottenstein Brothers was a very strong reminder of the problem of elder abuse. Specifically, financial abuse among elderly people who, in some cases, may not understand they’ve been defrauded. While Ms. Schottenstein knew her grandsons were defrauding her, she was able to get justice (and a financial settlement) in her case. Other elders that don’t have as much money or realize they are being defrauded may not be as fortunate. Financial institutions now have the opportunity to stop a case of elder financial fraud before it happens. Elder Financial Fraud By The Numbers The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) in their Elder Fraud Report for 2020, reports that more than 105,000 victims over the age of 60 lost $1 billion dollars through various schemes just last year. These scams can include: Extortion Non-payment/non-delivery (more prevalent since the increase of online ordering during the pandemic) Tech support (i.e., “I’m calling from Microsoft about the virus on your computer”) Identity TheftThe recent case of Beverly Schottenstein Vs. JP Morgan and the Schottenstein Brothers was a very strong reminder of the problem of elder abuse. Specifically, financial abuse among elderly people who, in some cases, may not understand they’ve been defrauded.

While Ms. Schottenstein knew her grandsons were defrauding her, she was able to get justice (and a financial settlement) in her case. Other elders that don’t have as much money or realize they are being defrauded may not be as fortunate. Continue reading ›

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Jimmie Summers (Jimmie Darrel Summers CRD#: 1467286, aka, Jim Summers, Jimmy Daryl Summers, Jimmy Summers) is a former registered broker and investment advisor. His last known employer was Waddell & Reed (CRD#:866) of Tulsa, OK. Previous employers include Cetera Investment Services LLC (CRD#:15340), also of Tulsa, Bok Financial Securities, Inc. (CRD#:17530) of Sand Springs, OK, and Invest Financial Corporation (CRD#:12984) of Appleton, WI.  He has been in the industry since 1986. FINRA began an investigation after it received a telephone call to its Securities Helpline for Seniors. While employed with Cetera Investment Services, Summers accepted “multiple appointments and designations from one of the firm’s elderly clients.” The client, age 82, made Summers a: Successor trustee of his living trust, allowing Summers to receive 90% of the assets upon this customer’s death Personal representative of the customer’s estate in the will Sole beneficiary for an annuity Agent with power of attorney and medical power of attorney (Summers never used these POAs, and is no longer an agent) Cetera’s firm policies prohibited brokers and investment advisors from being named as a trustee, co-trustee, successor trustee, or executor for a firm customer, or from having power of attorney for a firm customer, or beneficiary in any capacity, unless the customer was also an immediate family member.Jimmie Summers (Jimmie Darrel Summers CRD#: 1467286, aka, Jim Summers, Jimmy Daryl Summers, Jimmy Summers) is a former registered broker and investment advisor. His last known employer was Waddell & Reed (CRD#:866) of Tulsa, OK. Previous employers include Cetera Investment Services LLC (CRD#:15340), also of Tulsa, Bok Financial Securities, Inc. (CRD#:17530) of Sand Springs, OK, and Invest Financial Corporation (CRD#:12984) of Appleton, WI.  He has been in the industry since 1986. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is representing clients who invested in Seeman Holtz promissory notes, which were sold primarily to senior investors. The company has not paid the insurance-policy backed notes when they matured. On Friday, June 11, 2021, partner and co-founder Eric Holtz died by suicide in California. In a press release, the company announced Holtz’s death, but denied that it was related to the pending lawsuits. The suits were filed on June 7th, and company was notified of the lawsuits on June 14th. The company had previously claimed it could not repay investors due to “financial problems.” Seeman Holtz has recently auctioned its property and casualty insurance business, Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty. Additionally, public records state that Seeman Holtz received $4,269,400 in PPP funds on April 7th, 2020. "Our clients were told to invest every dollar they had in the world with these investments. I've spoken to investors who had from $100,000 to $10 million invested with Seeman Holtz and they are panicking," said Scott Silver, Silver Law Group’s managing partner.Silver Law Group is representing clients who invested in Seeman Holtz promissory notes, which were sold primarily to senior investors. The company has not paid the insurance-policy backed notes when they matured.

On Friday, June 11, 2021, partner and co-founder Eric Holtz died by suicide in California. In a press release, the company announced Holtz’s death, but denied that it was related to the pending lawsuits. The suits were filed on June 7th, and company was notified of the lawsuits on June 14th. Continue reading ›

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Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) is being investigated by Silver Law Group regarding possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you purchased shares of Live Ventures (LIVE) between December 28, 2016 and August 3, 2021 (class period), contact Silver Law Group for a no-cost consultation at (800) 975-4345 or at ssilver@silverlaw.com. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff (class representative) is October 12, 2021. Live Ventures is a US-based publicly-traded holding company that, with its subsidiaries, operates in the flooring manufacturing, retail, and steel manufacturing business. Class Action Lawsuit Filed On Friday, August 13, 2021 a class action lawsuit was filed against Live Ventures in federal court in Nevada. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of investors who have losses from owning shares of the company during the class period.Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) is being investigated by Silver Law Group regarding possible violations of the federal securities laws.

If you purchased shares of Live Ventures (LIVE) between December 28, 2016 and August 3, 2021 (class period), contact Silver Law Group for a no-cost consultation at (800) 975-4345 or at ssilver@silverlaw.com. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff (class representative) is October 12, 2021. Continue reading ›

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MJ Capital Funding, a business based in Pompano Beach, FL that claimed it used investor money to make merchant cash advance loans, has been accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of operating as a Ponzi scheme. Silver Law Group is investigating a potential class action lawsuit to help investors recover their losses. If you are an MJ Capital investor, contact Silver Law Group at 855-755-4799. On Friday, August 13, 2021 the SEC announced in a press release that it had filed “an emergency action and obtained a temporary restraining order, an asset freeze, and the appointment of a receiver to stop an alleged Ponzi scheme and misappropriation of investor proceeds perpetrated by Coral Springs, Florida resident Johanna M. Garcia and two entities she controls.” MJ Capital Funding And Johanna Garcia Allegedly Raised Over $70 Million According to the SEC’s complaint, Garcia and her companies, MJ Capital Funding, LLC and MJ Taxes and More, Inc., used fraudulent securities offerings to raise at lease $70 million from over 2,150 investors.MJ Capital Funding, a business based in Pompano Beach, FL that claimed it used investor money to make merchant cash advance loans, has been accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of operating as a Ponzi scheme.

Silver Law Group is investigating a potential class action lawsuit to help investors recover their losses. If you are an MJ Capital investor, contact Silver Law Group at 855-755-4799. Continue reading ›

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If you purchased investor “units” in a conservation easement offered by EcoVest or otherwise, you may face potential tax penalties and repayment of tax deductions to the IRS as a result of a government crackdown on what the IRS categorizes as an abusive tax scheme. To discuss your legal rights and how you may be able to recover your losses, contact Silver Law Group for a no-cost consultation at (800) 975-4345 to discuss potential options. Conservation easement investments involve bundling investors’ funds and in turn purchasing conservation easements on private land. The easements are then donated, but at an appraised value that is substantially higher than what EcoVest and similar companies paid for them. Because the land in question was appraised well above fair market value, investors are able to reduce their own tax burdens by several multiples of their principal investment. IRS Targeting Investors for Improper Write-Offs As discussed in Silver Law Group’s blog about conservation easements, the United States Department of Justice filed a Complaint against EcoVest alleging that these conservation easements are “nothing more than a thinly veiled sale of grossly overvalued federal tax deductions under the guise of investing in a partnership.”If you purchased investor “units” in a conservation easement offered by EcoVest or otherwise, you may face potential tax penalties and repayment of tax deductions to the IRS as a result of a government crackdown on what the IRS categorizes as an abusive tax scheme. To discuss your legal rights and how you may be able to recover your losses, contact Silver Law Group for a no-cost consultation at (800) 975-4345 to discuss potential options. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group is investigating claims on behalf of investors who invested in conservation easement syndicates such as EcoVest Capital. The EcoVest investments were recommended by investors’ financial advisors as investments that could substantially lessen their tax liability. Unfortunately, investors may face lawsuits from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a massive tax penalty. Conservation Easements Labeled Tax Scams By IRS Conservation easement syndicates landed on the IRS’ 2021 “Dirty Dozen” tax scam list. This demonstrates the attention the IRS is paying to these investments and the IRS’ increased efforts to crack down on investors who benefitted from EcoVest’s and other conservation easements’ tax deductions. Conservation easement investments involve bundling investors’ funds into “syndicates” that in turn purchase conservation easements on private land. The easements are then donated at an appraised value that is substantially higher than what the syndicates paid for them. Because the land in question was appraised well above fair market value, investors are able to reduce their own tax burdens by several multiples of their principal investment.Silver Law Group is investigating claims on behalf of investors who invested in conservation easement syndicates such as EcoVest Capital. The EcoVest investments were recommended by investors’ financial advisors as investments that could substantially lessen their tax liability. Unfortunately, investors may face lawsuits from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a massive tax penalty. Continue reading ›

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Earlier this year, Silver Law Group wrote an article about the serious issues posed by Robinhood’s founder not being a registered FINRA member and published an Expert Analysis on law360.com addressing the same issue. FINRA is investigating Robinhood over its CEO, Vlad Tenev’s, failure to register as a broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a self-regulatory organization responsible for overseeing the­­ brokerage industry. Congress has authorized FINRA to protect investors by ensuring fair and honest dealing in the brokerage industry. One of the key ways FINRA accomplishes this is by overseeing more than 600,000 individual brokers across the country, who each must maintain a FINRA broker’s license by undergoing strenuous application and continuing education requirements. However, Vlad Tenev, Robinhood’s CEO, has never obtained FINRA registration. Requiring heads of firms like Robinhood to register with FINRA would increase accountability on Wall Street. This is especially important in light of Robinhood’s recent initial public offering (NASDAQ: HOOD). The company currently has a market cap of just under $30 billion.Earlier this year, Silver Law Group wrote an article about the serious issues posed by Robinhood’s founder not being a registered FINRA member and published an Expert Analysis on law360.com addressing the same issue.

FINRA is investigating Robinhood over its CEO, Vlad Tenev’s, failure to register as a broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a self-regulatory organization responsible for overseeing the­­ brokerage industry. Continue reading ›

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Trusts can be a significant part of your estate plan. Some investors may decide to transfer securities into a trust, or leave them as part of their estate to their beneficiaries. Assets that are transferred into a trust is taken out of the estate for the probate process. The expectation is that the beneficiaries will later have the benefit of the investments after the original owner passes in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. Occasionally, a person will also select a stockbroker or other financial services person to serve as a trustee. A trustee and/or executor are supposed to act in the best interest of the beneficiaries. However, this isn’t always the case. The Trustee A fund’s trustee has the job of overseeing the funds in the trust, and keeping extensive records of all funds coming in and payments going out. This is in addition to preparing tax returns for the trust.Trusts can be a significant part of your estate plan. Some investors may decide to transfer securities into a trust, or leave them as part of their estate to their beneficiaries.

Assets that are transferred into a trust are taken out of the estate for the probate process. The expectation is that the beneficiaries will later have the benefit of the investments after the original owner passes in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. Continue reading ›

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