The SEC recently issued an investor alert warning about crypto advisory and trading websites.  The alert cautions investors to be especially wary of web-based cryptocurrency sites with any of these red flags:

• Outsized “guaranteed” investment returns.
• Complicated jargon or difficult-to-understand technologies.
• Unlicensed sellers.
• Sounds too good to be true.
• Unsolicited offers.
• Urgency to act.

…in short, the usual hallmarks of many scams.

The advisory comes on the heels of an indictment against two Nigerian citizens for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money-laundering through bitcoin-based investment websites that also required “processing fees” in order to access bogus investment returns: wealthcurrency.com; boomcurrency.com; merrycurrency.com.  DOJ’s announcement of the indictment is here.

The SEC’s alert is here.