Financial Misconduct Help & Resources
This directory provides a range of resources for anyone in need of assistance or information concerning financial misconduct, fraud, or manipulation. It includes agencies and organizations across the globe that ensure the integrity of financial markets and protect consumers.
- United States Senate
- United States House of Representatives
- Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
- National Futures Association (NFA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): White Collar Crime Division
- United States Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
- Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA)
- Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)
- European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
- European Union Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA)
- Financial Ombudsman Service (UK)
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
- Securities and Futures Commission (SFC, Hong Kong)
- Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA)
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- People’s Bank of China (PBOC)
- South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
- Your Broker’s Compliance Department
- DRS Transfer Issues and an Escalation Resource
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
If you need to address public policy, legislation, or require personal assistance, you can contact your state’s senators. Please note that most senators only respond to messages from their constituents.
Similar to the Senate, you can contact your representative to address public policy, legislation, or personal assistance. Most representatives will only respond to messages from people living in the district they represent.
The SEC is committed to protecting investors and ensuring the fairness of markets. They encourage the reporting of any suspected securities fraud or violations, which may trigger an investigation.
FINRA promotes investor protection and market integrity, contributing to vibrant capital markets. It handles complaints against brokerage firms and their employees, enforcing disciplinary actions including fines, suspensions, and other sanctions.
The CFPB aims to ensure that banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat consumers fairly, providing protection from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and taking actions against companies that violate the law.
The FTC protects consumers and ensures competition in various sectors of the economy, preventing deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education.
The CFTC fosters the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through regulation. Its Whistleblower program incentivizes individuals who report potential violations of the Commodity Exchange Act.
As an industry-wide self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives industry, NFA ensures the integrity of the derivatives markets and enforces members' regulatory responsibilities.
The FBI’s White Collar Crime Division investigates cases of deceit, concealment, or violation of trust primarily motivated by financial gains. Whistleblower complaints submitted to the SEC or CFTC can also be submitted to the FBI’s Financial Crimes Section.
The DOJ upholds justice by ensuring fairness and equal treatment. It provides resources for reporting general fraud and other criminal matters.
The BBB facilitates communication between consumers and businesses. As a consumer, you can file a complaint against a business. BBB requests a response from the business within 14 days.
NASAA represents state and provincial securities regulators in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It strives to protect investors from fraud and abuse, providing regulatory guidance and ensuring the integrity of the financial markets.
Part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, FinCEN strives to safeguard the financial system from illicit use, combat money laundering, and promote national security through strategic use of financial intelligence.
The CSA serves as an umbrella organization for Canada’s provincial and territorial securities regulators. It aims to improve, coordinate, and harmonize the regulation of Canadian capital markets.
IIROC oversees all investment dealers in Canada. It enforces rules regarding the proficiency, business, and financial conduct of Canadian investment firms and registered individuals.
ESMA is an independent EU Authority that plays a critical role in preserving the stability of the EU’s financial system by ensuring investor protection and promoting stable and orderly financial markets.
The FCA oversees around 51,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK. It is committed to preventing, detecting and punishing market abuse by working closely with the financial services industry, law enforcement agencies, and other regulators.
ASIC is Australia’s integrated corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit regulator. It seeks to enhance the performance of the financial system and entities within it through rigorous regulation.
AFCA consolidates complaints that previously would have been handled by different bodies. They serve as the dispute resolution scheme for financial services in Australia.
The Financial Ombudsman Service provides a free service to settle complaints between consumers and businesses that provide financial services.
MAS oversees all monetary and financial activities in Singapore, including the regulation of financial services and securities trading.
The SFC is an independent statutory body set up to regulate Hong Kong’s securities and futures markets.
The JFSA is the governmental body responsible for overseeing banking, securities and exchange, and insurance sectors in Japan.
The RBI is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issue and supply of the Indian rupee and manages the country’s main payment systems.
The PBOC is the central bank of the People’s Republic of China, responsible for carrying out monetary policy and regulation of financial institutions in mainland China.
The SARB is the central bank of South Africa, which oversees monetary policy and ensures stability in the country’s financial system.
If you encounter any issues with your broker, initiating an official complaint with your broker’s compliance department is a suitable first step. If the problem persists, consider escalating the issue to FINRA, the SEC, and the Ombudsman.
Should you encounter any DRS transfer issues, FINRA Rule 11870 (2) provides you with the leverage to hold your broker accountable. You can do this by lodging an official complaint and escalating to the Ombudsman if necessary.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) grants the right to request access to Federal agency records or information. This transparency act is essential to ensure that governments are acting responsibly on behalf of the public.