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Checked with E-Trade on the 4th of February as to the Status of FFGO and the Alphanumeric codes listed in my account. If Fortress Financial intended to pay a dividend, E-Trade would know several weeks in advance. Rcvd the following reply:
Sent: 02/05/2012 12:45 AM
Subject: Portfolio
Topic: Dividends
Message:
Dear Mr. Hill,
Thank you for your message regarding your portfolio inquiry for your E*TRADE Brokerage Account.
After checking your account, I can see that 34958T107 and 71710P106 are the CUSIP symbols for Fortress Financial Group and Phantom Entertainment respectively. It seems that both companies have not traded for quite some time, and I cannot locate a current ticker symbol for either one.
One of our Corporate Actions Representatives will be able to inform you if both companies are still trading, or if they are currently undergoing any reorganization. Please call 1800-3872331 M-F from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET so that we can assist you further.
Sincerely,
Rose Marie B. Quiambao
Saturday - Wednesday, 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET
1-800-ETRADE-1 (1-800-387-2331)
Financial Services Representative II
E*TRADE Securities, LLC
Sent: 02/04/2012 03:29 PM
Subject: Portfolio
Topic: Dividends
Message:
What is the status of the following two positions in my brokerage account?
34958T107
71710P106
Fortress Financial Group
Phantom Entertainment
Why haven't the dividends for Fortress Financial Group(FFGO) posted to my account? And what is the status of Phantom Entertainment. Its a successful company marketing computer peripheral devices. What is the status of my stock in these companies?
Yes the Fortress Financial Group website is the critical evidence of a "Pump." Extraordinary promises to innocent stock holders. And then ultimately a suspension, a revocation, and a delisting of the stock. Effectively dumped. Classic Pump n Dump. Can a dividend be paid after the dump? After the crime? Yes it can and as I stated before, I think we have to take another avenue to secure the rights and goals of FFGO Investors. Everyone a millionaire before the end of year 2012. It appears that Fortress does not want to play fair and simply pay the investors for their sacrifice. So I have recommended the legal course of action with the intent to energize the Securities and Exchange Commission to file suite on behalf of the stock holders. The SEC has done just that in the past and can also do it now. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also worked tirelessly in the arena of returning investors funds in these type scenarios and can file suite on behalf of the investors. With that said, my complaints to the SEC and FBI have been for reparations after Fortress Financials crime of Pump n Dump. SEC and FBI have the power to seize assets of FFGO and pay stock holders. Thus everyone a millionaire before the end of 2012. Less we wait another 1,2,3,or 4 years suffering under the same FFGO hype. Two documents are key to Fortress Financials fall. Their website pumping the stock, and SEC documentation revoking/dumping the stock due to Fortress Financials negligence. Pump n Dump. Hopefully FFGO investors will join in the effort to get FFGOer's paid for their individual scrifices.
A simple seizing of the owners of Fortress Financial Group bank accounts can be done in less than 30 minutes thru previous international agreements against such crime regardless of Fortress Financials offshore situation. Funds seized can be utilized to pay FFGO investors through proper litigation. That is why it is important to report them immediately thru the websites outlined earlier.
FFGO It may be revoked and dead but that does not mean you cant get your money back. You can. Complain in the right place. Fortress Financial Group continued as a profitable company and posses millions of dollars of investors money regardless of the stock symbol. They are still liable to pay you your money back regardless of their standing in the stock market. Just because the stock listing is gone does not mean you cant get your money back. Fortress Financial Group not in bankruptcy and has continued as a profitable company in profitable business. As a matter of fact, the FBI, the SEC, and the NWCC have been known to launch a liability law suite on the behalf of investors. Simply report your losses in mass and complain via the web sites I have outlined. A simple E-mail from you can get a law suite launched on your behalf.
From the Federal Bureau of Investigations:
Investors Beware
Stock Fraud Case Offers Lessons
01/29/10
If you're not familiar with “pump-and-dump” fraud schemes, it might be a good time to get educated.
That's because the FBI and its partners are now wrapping up an investigation of such a scam that was so massive it took the better part of a decade to unravel.
So far, our joint investigation has uncovered more than 40 schemes, convicted 40 perpetrators, identified thousands of victims in nearly every state and several foreign countries, and discovered hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
In Operation “Shore Shells,” so-named because it involved fake (or shell) companies and began in the coastal area of southern New Jersey, a group of co-conspirators—CEOs, stock brokers, CPAs, financial advisors, attorneys, etc.—had been engaging in pump-and-dump and other schemes for years.
How 'Pump and Dump' Works
First, there’s the glowing press release about a company, usually on its financial health or some new product or innovation.
Then, newsletters that purport to offer unbiased recommendations may suddenly tout the company as the latest "hot" stock. Messages in chat rooms and bulletin board postings may urge you to buy the stock quickly or to sell before the price goes down. Or you may even hear the company mentioned by a radio or TV analyst.
Unsuspecting investors then purchase the stock in droves, pumping up the price. But when the fraudsters behind the scheme sell their shares at the peak and stop hyping the stock, the price plummets, and innocent investors lose their money.
Fraudsters frequently use this ploy with small, thinly traded companies because it's easier to manipulate a stock when there's little or no information available about the company. To steer clear of potential scams, always investigate before you invest.
Steps You Can Take
- Don't believe the hype.
- Find out where the stock trades.
- Independently verify claims.
- Research the opportunity.
- Beware of high-pressure pitches.
- Always be skeptical.
- Learn more about "pump and dump" schemes at SEC.gov.
How do these scams work? In this case, the ringleaders created shell companies whose penny stock (worth less than $5 a share) was traded on the OTC Bulletin Board (not on the more widely known New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ). They secretly issued most of the shares for themselves in fictitious names, then touted their companies’ stock through false statements in press releases, electronic bulletin board postings, online newsletters, and the like.
Often using their retirement funds, unsuspecting investors purchased the highly-touted stock—or their unscrupulous financial advisors did so without their knowledge—driving or “pumping” up the price. Then, the fraudsters “dumped,” or sold, their stock for thousands or millions of dollars, causing the stock to plummet and innocent investors to lose their shirts.
In many cases, the losses were significant. And while running an undercover operation and gathering enough evidence to put the criminals behind bars, our focus has been on helping victims get some of their hard-earned money back. We spent years interviewing more than 600 mainly elderly victims, painstakingly documenting their sometimes heartbreaking losses. For example:
We assisted a doctor from a prestigious hospital who began suffering from severe depression after learning of the scam and became unable to work. To help a husband and wife who had both developed dementia during the investigation, our agents traveled to their nursing home and spent hours with them, their family members, and their accountants to substantiate their financial losses.
We worked with a man suffering from multiple sclerosis whose stockbroker had liquidated his pension and IRA and left him nearly penniless.
We learned of another victim who not only invested her savings and her pension, but also took out a second mortgage to invest more. Needless to say, she lost everything.
It was worth the effort. So far, more than 100 seizures and forfeitures totaling over $70 million in cash, artwork, jewelry, homes, cars, and other valuables have been made, and criminals have been ordered to pay more than $130 million in restitution. We expect millions more to be forfeited and repaid to the victims.
More directly from the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Investors Beware
Stock Fraud Case Offers Lessons
01/29/10
"If you're not familiar with “pump-and-dump” fraud schemes, it might be a good time to get educated.
That's because the FBI and its partners are now wrapping up an investigation of such a scam that was so massive it took the better part of a decade to unravel.
So far, our joint investigation has uncovered more than 40 schemes, convicted 40 perpetrators, identified thousands of victims in nearly every state and several foreign countries, and discovered hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
In Operation “Shore Shells,” so-named because it involved fake (or shell) companies and began in the coastal area of southern New Jersey, a group of co-conspirators—CEOs, stock brokers, CPAs, financial advisors, attorneys, etc.—had been engaging in pump-and-dump and other schemes for years.
How 'Pump and Dump' Works
First, there’s the glowing press release about a company, usually on its financial health or some new product or innovation.
Then, newsletters that purport to offer unbiased recommendations may suddenly tout the company as the latest "hot" stock. Messages in chat rooms and bulletin board postings may urge you to buy the stock quickly or to sell before the price goes down. Or you may even hear the company mentioned by a radio or TV analyst.
Unsuspecting investors then purchase the stock in droves, pumping up the price. But when the fraudsters behind the scheme sell their shares at the peak and stop hyping the stock, the price plummets, and innocent investors lose their money.
Fraudsters frequently use this ploy with small, thinly traded companies because it's easier to manipulate a stock when there's little or no information available about the company. To steer clear of potential scams, always investigate before you invest.
Steps You Can Take
- Don't believe the hype.
- Find out where the stock trades.
- Independently verify claims.
- Research the opportunity.
- Beware of high-pressure pitches.
- Always be skeptical.
- Learn more about "pump and dump" schemes at SEC.gov.
How do these scams work? In this case, the ringleaders created shell companies whose penny stock (worth less than $5 a share) was traded on the OTC Bulletin Board (not on the more widely known New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ). They secretly issued most of the shares for themselves in fictitious names, then touted their companies’ stock through false statements in press releases, electronic bulletin board postings, online newsletters, and the like.
Often using their retirement funds, unsuspecting investors purchased the highly-touted stock—or their unscrupulous financial advisors did so without their knowledge—driving or “pumping” up the price. Then, the fraudsters “dumped,” or sold, their stock for thousands or millions of dollars, causing the stock to plummet and innocent investors to lose their shirts.
In many cases, the losses were significant. And while running an undercover operation and gathering enough evidence to put the criminals behind bars, our focus has been on helping victims get some of their hard-earned money back. We spent years interviewing more than 600 mainly elderly victims, painstakingly documenting their sometimes heartbreaking losses. For example:
We assisted a doctor from a prestigious hospital who began suffering from severe depression after learning of the scam and became unable to work. To help a husband and wife who had both developed dementia during the investigation, our agents traveled to their nursing home and spent hours with them, their family members, and their accountants to substantiate their financial losses.
We worked with a man suffering from multiple sclerosis whose stockbroker had liquidated his pension and IRA and left him nearly penniless.
We learned of another victim who not only invested her savings and her pension, but also took out a second mortgage to invest more. Needless to say, she lost everything.
It was worth the effort. So far, more than 100 seizures and forfeitures totaling over $70 million in cash, artwork, jewelry, homes, cars, and other valuables have been made, and criminals have been ordered to pay more than $130 million in restitution. We expect millions more to be forfeited and repaid to the victims."
Thats directly from Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters. Unfortunately sometimes agents in the field are already bought so its best to deal directly with the headquarters.
Well actually it is not a dummy reply from the SEC. It is one of many communiques with the Securities and Exchange Commission over a period of 16 to 18 months. Unfortunately the United States Securities and Exchange Commission does not share privileged information due to ongoing investigative activities across several databases and organizations. And no, stocks just don't disappear and investors lose all of their hard earned money with the perpetrators getting away with all the cash. Investors have several legal recourses that can be utilized to recover losses and to pursue prosecution of offending parties. There are stiff penalties if Fortress Financial Group committed the crime of "Stock Fraud." Further categorized as "Pump and Dump." Primary evidence includes the Fortress Financial Group website located:
http://www.fortfinancegroup.com/faq.html
All of the statements and hype on this website is what we call "Pump." The owners pump up the stock with a lot of "too good to be true" hype. Extraordinary promises. After making their fortune they dump the stock. Primary evidence of a "dump" includes the following SEC website link located:
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2011/34-65674.pdf
Here Fortress Financial Group is not only suspended from trading but security revoked. That is the dump. The Crime,"Pump n Dump." A more formal term is Stock fraud.
Can a Dividend be paid although the owners of Fortress Financial Group conducted Stock Fraud (Pump n Dump)? Yes, but Fortress Financial is probably not going to pay it voluntarily. It would take investors complaining to the Securities and Exchange Commission, The National White Collar Crime center, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to gain justice. Each maintain an online complaint form for investors:
Securities and Exchange Commission:
https://tts.sec.gov/oiea/Complaint.html
National White collar Crime Center:
http://www.nw3c.org/contact_us.cfm
Federal Bureau of Investigation:
https://tips.fbi.gov/
Three 5 minute online complaint forms. Takes no longer than fifteen minutes to complete the three. Three simple E-mails to gain 3449% in Dividends owed to you.
The evidence of stock fraud (pump and dump) continues to exist. The fortress financial web site alone is enough evidence. There you clearly see the owners pumping up the stock. And as we all know, the stock was dumped, suspended, and revoked due to the negligence of the owners of Fortress Financial Group. Negligence because the owners failed to report as required. So regardless of any agreements or loopholes in agreements made between Fortress and the buyer of the properties, Federal law supercedes all. The law simply states that the owners must report periodically or be found negligent. And if found negligent resulting in the loss of investors funds, the investors must be compensated. Fortress is liable for the loss of the funds of its investors funds due to negligence. If Fortress had reported periodically, abided by federal law, and subsequently filed bankruptcy, it would have chapter-7 protection from the loss of investors funds and further investor complaints. That would be an ideal situation for Fortress Financial and a different situation.
Fortress is negligent and liable in the sense that it did not abide by federal law, it failed to report periodically, and subsequently because of its negligence to report, was suspended, delisted, and revoked making the owners liable to return investors funds with associated dividends and interest.
Investors must take action in order to get their money back with associated dividend. Reason being, Fortress Financial did not file for Chapter 7 protection and is subject to the return of investors money. Not only did Fortress not file for chapter-7 bankruptcy protection, it further continued as a profitable company opening for new business under the same business name marketing a different product. Fortress Financial Group continues to be a profitable company and does posses the funds to pay its investors but will not willingly do so until investors apply the law.
From: "\"Help\" <help@sec.gov>" <help... [&contactid=1751003341&x=-452996048">Edit Address Book]
Subject: SEC Response - File HO::~00189319~::HO [ ref:_00D30JxQy._50030IXrTb:ref ]
Date: Feb 13, 2012 10:23 AM
Dear Mr. Hill:
Thank you for your recent correspondence to the SEC in further regard to your investment in Fortress Financial Group.
The SEC?s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) processes many comments from individual investors and others. We keep records of the correspondence we receive in a searchable database that SEC staff may make use of in inspections, examinations, and investigations. In addition, some correspondence received by OIEA is referred directly to other SEC offices and divisions for their review. If they have any questions or wish to respond directly to your comments, they will contact you.
Once again, thank you for contacting the SEC.
Sincerely,
Amy Rosenthal
Investor Assistance Specialist
Office of Investor Education and Advocacy
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(800) 732-0330
www.sec.gov
Correspondence from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subject: SEC Response - File HO::~00189319~::HO [ ref:_00D30JxQy._50030IXrTb:ref ]
Date: Feb 13, 2012 10:23 AM
Dear Mr. Hill:
Thank you for your recent correspondence to the SEC in further regard to your investment in Fortress Financial Group.
The SEC?s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) processes many comments from individual investors and others. We keep records of the correspondence we receive in a searchable database that SEC staff may make use of in inspections, examinations, and investigations. In addition, some correspondence received by OIEA is referred directly to other SEC offices and divisions for their review. If they have any questions or wish to respond directly to your comments, they will contact you.
Once again, thank you for contacting the SEC.
Sincerely,
Amy Rosenthal
Investor Assistance Specialist
Office of Investor Education and Advocacy
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(800) 732-0330
www.sec.gov
The Securities and Exchange Commission welcomes the complaints of FFGO Investors. FFGO Investors are to go to the following website, and submit information to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission reference their investment in Fortress Financial Group.
https://tts.sec.gov/oiea/Complaint.html
The penalties for investment fraud are stiff. 20 year prison Term.
Stock holders must understand that Sears and JcPennys cannot simply change their company name and start up again as profitable business entities without having paid their stock holders. Those that provided the capital for their success. Well, they can, but the ramifications are prison. And the FBI does not talk until sufficient evidence has been gathered. Maybe 5 years of detailed evidence? Via FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C.? The robbery of stock holders is not worth the prison time. No matter the offshore status.
Per Securities and Exchange Commission, FFGO Data
http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000802206&owner=exclude&count=40
Good day gentlemen.
Fortress Financial As registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission:
Business Address 1903 60TH PLACE E. SUITE M2240 BRADENTON FL 34203 (954) 840-6961
Fortress Financial Group, Inc. / WY CIK#: 0000802206 (see all company filings)
Mailing Address 1903 60TH PLACE E. SUITE M2240 BRADENTON FL 34203
SIC: 6770 - BLANK CHECKS
State location: FL | State of Inc.: WY | Fiscal Year End: 1231
formerly: ADVEN INC (filings through 2004-09-15)
formerly: GREAT WEST GOLD, INC. (filings through 2007-12-10)
formerly: WEST AFRICA GOLD INC (filings through 2005-06-16)
(Assistant Director Office: All)
Good day.
That is under investigation
Each FFGO Investor must immediately report their loss to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime center. Visit the following two websites and complete the short online report forms immediately:
National White Collar Crime Center online at http://www.ic3.gov/
Federal Bureau of Investigation online form at https://tips.fbi.gov/
Report your losses immediately.
Investors in Great West Gold Inc. which is now calling itself Fortress Financial are to go immediately to White Collar Crime Center to report their situations. You can file your complaint to the White Collar Crime Center online at http://www.ic3.gov/ Online form.
This is the National White Collar Crime Center in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You are to also file an online complaint with the federal Bureau of Investigation at https://tips.fbi.gov/
Include your contact information. They are very short forms.
Report your exact monetary loss and the online broker that you may have used. Ex(E-Trade, TD-Ameri-trade, Etc..) You may also report your loss and Fortress Financial disappearance to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Apparently, an Investigation was requested already reference E-Trade, GWGD, and Insiders.
This is Fortress Financial Group 1903 60th Place East, Bradenton, FL, United States. The warehouse is for sale.
http://www.showcase.com/jon@jamesbuchananrealty.com#&&/wEXAQURV29ya2Zsb3dIaXN0b3J5SUQFJDQzNzgzNjFhLWIwYWUtNDIwNS05NDA5LTBiNjgwNmNlNzdhNENbgWWbnRW1+CpYBGn+YUa4yrnb
These are a few Photos of the warehouse where Fortress Financial Group resides. The warehouse contains several suites. Suite numbers 1899 thru 1903. Fortress Financial Group is occupying Suite number 1903 in the warehouse. Complete company address is 1903 60th Place East, Bradenton, FL, United States. The telephone number of the warehouse broker that holds Fortress Financial Groups lease is 1-941-556-5600. Kleiber Eastman Ware house brokers at http://www.warehousebroker.com The name of the Realtor handling the sale of warehouse space on 60th Place East is James Buchanan Realty.
Load the below url images into your web browser with a cut and paste, and view with windows photo viewer, Fortress Financial Groups place of operations.
http://ahprdcdn4.costar.com/attachments/get.ishx?x=F33C74A8AF1E0C2A62FE957C4167426B8E91AF74D4125F34BEF22B93C3E47FC146E9563A7DB340D2BB2A271D8B58204B43D863CD5D45689047FEE531F6285DD6A07F7CC2E783210D227EA752D5084D47F275C8616D1A9A05C6AD8457CCEE3A181E0A52807C45D50476D565C65D82EEAFC2D0B2E966A19DC3273CBA01ACA4BCF64D79325EC57AE49EC668F71BDFE837427986B0844C4122BE6C032A7C8C24F596D5598D2D76B9F26549D98B467DF8345029D8A64AE7F706695CE5573F70CAB697C4ADFABCD8C52C23A74BD9E461C15F926B3AECCC3075EB8B635B01CBF91A0903
http://ahprdcdn2.costar.com/attachments/get.ishx?x=F33C74A8AF1E0C2A62FE957C4167426B46F6B6677D09C56E0915C4CE1AE27DB46528E35861B5F484DF96F65361AAA23B9A475BE5AEBEF07BF34A836DDA3331AFA5FFE960CAEDD9E253AC5E8998BECB83C2D331492D0DA3F9BEB3C9E5D3C564E287568097E8CE36B1E94A90D65D509B5C0BDBAC986FE044CAD99EEEF7D5A567B2118CC825F70FC96CEBFF7B59A7F78469F23136A09AC3A7893D0A1AAEDC15E7DFF402CAD2D330EE9B2D4BBD1E682077AB2A596DF01F4752B408B09D803DF1D0698DF688844191B4C27136F885509D307CFC3E24D03B4EA1B7EE1BB65AEAC29D95
http://ahprdcdn2.costar.com/attachments/get.ishx?x=F33C74A8AF1E0C2A62FE957C4167426BCA0A1AF03DAC7811DAD2C45905114ACB9C1A02383F1A72E2275FB5A57D658A131D56E18A0D53F5F91B34EF35CC41F89C527C1AC802B170242401785EB2DCBF66B9108AFDAD95C0BE60CB5D39BE97051ABFD8AACE609EDBE9B4CE8A3FFA569B5C07FAB7FC89DEB9E796479D39DB54C20DE8FCDF8FBE0B1F9B6B93984AD3833921816DDB297D8E15ED3DDE3A69D5ED75150B5E009BE2A71C3135533F8F82E9589FEC3CF99112D51EE6E9FDBFD0E0BE2078FF2400F2AFDCF7C8720548DA6EF292F76FCC313C73D691768CAAC7E20A6BD63E
Investors in Great West Gold Inc. which is now calling itself Fortress Financial are to go immediately to White Collar Crime Center to report their situations. You can file your complaint to the White Collar Crime Center online at http://www.ic3.gov/ Online form.
This is the National White Collar Crime Center in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You are to also file an online complaint with the federal Bureau of Investigation at https://tips.fbi.gov/
Include your contact information. They are very short forms.
Report your exact monetary loss and the online broker that you may have used. Ex(E-Trade, TD-Ameri-trade, Etc..) You may also report your loss and Fortress Financial disappearance to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Apparently, an Investigation was requested already reference E-Trade, GWGD, and Insiders.