Accel Energy AG

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Red Flag Warnings

ISH: SO AAPU BOMBARDS US WITH MANY HYPED PRs..I THINK THE OPPOSITE..LOL

If you are considering an oil and gas investment, look for these “red flag” warnings of fraud:

Sales Pitches Focused on Highly Publicized News. Scam artists read the headlines, too. Often, they’ll use a highly publicized news item, like volatile gas prices, to lure potential investors and make their “opportunity” sound more legitimate.
“Can’t Miss” Wells. Every investment carries some degree of risk so you should be skeptical of any oil and gas investment opportunity pitched as completely safe. Fraudsters often spend a lot of time trying to convince you that extremely high returns are "guaranteed" or "can't miss." Don't believe it.
Unsolicited Materials. Be especially careful if you receive unsolicited materials about an investment. Simply ignoring investment-related “junk” faxes, emails, voice mail messages, and regular mail may be your best strategy. And don’t let a package full of colorful marketing materials impress you, even if it’s sent by certified or overnight mail. If you’re not going to research an opportunity fully, do yourself a favor and put any unsolicited materials in the recycle bin immediately. If someone calls to follow up regarding the materials, tell him or her “thanks, but no thanks” and hang up. [Hanging up is critical because scam artists often use scripted sale pitches to keep you on the phone.]
Limited Opportunities. Scam artists often try to give you the impression that the “ opportunity” they are promoting is scarce, hoping you will hand over your money hastily before doing any due diligence. Resist the pressure to invest quickly, and take the time you need to investigate before sending money.
High Rates of Return. Compare promised yields with current returns on well-known stock indexes. Any investment opportunity that claims you'll get substantially more could be highly risky. And that means you might lose money.
Tips or Secrets. A promoter may discourage you from talking about the opportunity with someone you trust, like a loved one, attorney or financial professional. If that happens, stop listening, and leave or hang up. Then, be sure to contact us.
Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself

Here are some steps you can take to avoid being scammed:

Ask questions and check out the answers. Fraudsters rely on the sad truth that many people simply don't bother to investigate before they invest. It's not enough to ask a promoter for more information or for references - fraudsters have no incentive to set you straight. Savvy investors take the time to do their own independent research.
Contact state oil and gas regulatory agencies. You may be able to verify information provided in offering materials by contacting the oil and gas regulatory agency in which the wells are allegedly being drilled. For example, these agencies generally have information about a company’s drilling history that could confirm claims of prior success.

Investor Tidbit:
You might be surprised to learn that the Railroad Commission of Texas oversees the Texas oil and gas industry. Unfortunately, state oil and gas regulatory agencies don’t have uniform names. If you’re having trouble finding the agency that regulates oil and gas in a particular state, enter the State’s name - followed by “oil and gas” - into your favorite Internet search engine. The appropriate agency should be listed near the top of your search results. If you are still having trouble, call us at [phone].


Research the company before you invest. You can contact the secretary of state where the company is incorporated to find out whether the company is a corporation in good standing. You also will want to understand the company's business and its products or services before investing. Before buying any stock, check out the company's financial statements on the SEC's website, or contact your state securities regulator. All but the smallest public companies have to file financial statements with us. If the company doesn't file with us, you'll have to do a great deal of work on your own to make sure the company is legitimate and the investment appropriate for you. That's because the lack of reliable, readily available information about company finances can open the door to fraud. Remember that unsolicited materials should never be used as the sole basis for an investment decision.
Know the salesperson. Spend some time checking out the person touting the investment before you invest - even if you already know the person socially. Always find out whether the securities salespeople who contact you are licensed to sell securities in your state and whether they or their firms have had run-ins with regulators or other investors. You can check out the disciplinary history of brokers and advisers quickly - and for free - using the SEC's and NASD's online databases. Your state securities regulator may have additional information.
If you encounter a problem with an oil and gas investment, you can send us your complaint using our online complaint form at www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml. You can also reach us by regular mail at:

Securities and Exchange Commission
Office of Investor Education and Advocacy
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549-0213

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Remember - an educated investor is our best defense against fraud! For more information on how to invest wisely and avoid fraud, please visit the Investor Information section of our website.


http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/oilgasscams.htm




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