Preservation of Market Integrity and Protection of Market Users
Manipulation, Attempted Manipulation, and False Reporting
The CFTC utilizes every tool at its disposal to detect and deter illegitimate market forces. Through enforcement action, the Commission preserves market integrity and protects market users, demonstrating that the Commission has significant authority and intends to use it. Below is a highlight of the CFTC enforcement efforts in this area over the last five fiscal years (FY 2006 through FY 2010).
| Number of Cases Filed or Enforcement Actions | 19 |
|---|---|
| Number of Entities/Persons Charged | 41 |
| Number of Dollars in Civil Monetary Penalties Assessed | $197,562,500 |
Commodity Pools, Hedge Funds, Commodity Pool Operators, and Commodity Trading Advisors
Investors continue to fall prey to unscrupulous commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs), including CPOs and CTAs operating hedge funds. The majority of the Commission’s pool/hedge fund fraud cases are brought against unregistered CPOs and/or CTAs. These cases tend to involve Ponzi schemes or outright misappropriation, rather than legitimate hedge fund operations.
| Number of Cases Filed or Enforcement Actions | 106 |
|---|---|
| Cases/Actions Charging Commission Registrants | 36 |
| Number of Dollars in Penalties Assessed | $637,383,906 |
Forex Fraud
The Commission vigorously uses its enforcement authority to combat forex fraud.
| Number of Cases Filed or Enforcement Actions | 126 |
|---|---|
| Number of Entities/Persons Charged | 467 |
| Number of Customers Affected | 27,110 |
| Number of Dollars in Civil Monetary Penalties Assessed | $577,549,521 |
| Number of Dollars in Restitution Assessed | $477,473,424 |