Red flags for false information

Someone is touting a stock instead of a product.

The number of posts an author has written is small, or just about one stock.

The author "guarantees" returns or a high price in a stock, particularly if readers are pressured to buy "immediately" so as not to "miss out."

You've received an email about a stock, and there's a sudden spike in the price after a solicitation. That may be an indication of manipulation.

Disclosures or fine print that's vague.

Simple misspellings. "Often, we see companies try to look like someone else, especially an established household name. For example, Morgan Stanley is misspelled or inverted as Stanley Morgan," said Melissa Hodgman, associate director of the SEC's Enforcement Division.

To file a complaint

If you suspect false information or manipulation of a stock, visit the real SEC website (the real one) at https://www.sec.gov/complaint/tipscomplaint.shtml .

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