What is the difference between a registered and unregistered security?

The difference between a registered and unregistered security in California is an important concept when it comes to investment fraud law. Registered securities are those which have been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in order to provide protection to investors. In order to be registered, a security must be declared to the SEC and the company that is offering the security must provide information to the SEC about the offering such as a prospectus. Unregistered securities, on the other hand, are those which have not been approved by the SEC. These securities are often issued by start-ups or other companies which cannot go through the process of registering their securities with the SEC. Because these securities are not registered, they often come with a higher risk of fraud as there is limited disclosure of information from the issuer and investors could be in the dark about the company’s financial state. It is important for investors to always research a security before investing and to check for any warnings or red flags that may have been issued by the SEC or other regulatory bodies about the company or security. Additionally, investors should always be aware of the potential for fraud when dealing with an unregistered security.

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