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Investor Newsletter

May 15, 2025

Investor Education

Financial Literacy Month: Protect Yourself (and Your Money) from Scammers

April is Financial Literacy Month, which is a nationwide, collaborative endeavor aimed at highlighting the importance of financial literacy and understanding how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. As part of this initiative, the Federal Trade Commission provides free educational tools for the public to spot, avoid, and report scams and help those they care about protecting their bottom line.

Investor Protection

Learn More about the Derivatives Markets

Want to expand your knowledge of the derivatives markets? Futures Fundamentals is a one-stop educational resource designed to simplify and explain complex market topics. Through interactive features and rich content, the website explains the role of futures markets in everyday life and provides information on the derivatives industry. Futures Fundamentals is a collective effort that is made possible by several contributing organizations across the futures industry, including NFA, CME Group, FIA and the Institute for Financial Markets.

FINRA Investor Insights: Be Alert to Investor Risks from SMS Phishing Scams

Scammers are trying to steal data and wealth from investors through smishing, a tactic in which scammers send unsolicited messages to targets over short message service (SMS), or text messages. These messages often urge the target to act quickly to avoid an adverse action or secure a desirable outcome. In a recent Investor Insights post, FINRA describes how smishing attempts work and offers the public tips to protect themselves against these scams.

Information courtesy of FINRA

CFTC: Criminals Increasing Use of Generative AI to Commit Fraud

The availability of generative artificial intelligence technology makes it easier than ever to create false images, voices, videos, live-streaming video chats, social media profiles and malicious websites designed to look like financial trading platforms. The CFTC's recent article raises awareness about how AI technology is increasingly being used in relationship investment scams and provides helpful information to spot AI fraud.