Investor Complaints Data Archive
The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy annually releases data relating to complaints, questions, and other contacts received from investors. (Current Data: FY 2023)
FY 2022 Annual Complaint Data
During FY 2022, the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy closed 31,071 files relating to complaints, questions, and other contacts received from investors.
Ten Most Common Complaints
| Rank | Complaint Type | FY 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cryptocurrency | 5040 |
| 2 | Manipulation of securities/prices | 2364 |
| 3 | Advance fee fraud | 1906 |
| 4 | Account administration and processing (matters relating to daily activity in an account) | 1822 |
| 5 | Account administration and processing (maintenance, including account closing and redemption issues) | 1816 |
| 6 | Transfer of account | 809 |
| 7 | Theft/forgery | 678 |
| 8 | Short selling | 652 |
| 9 | Delivery of funds/proceeds | 630 |
| 10 | High-yield investment scheme | 571 |
FY 2021 Annual Complaint Data
During FY 2021, the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy closed 31,373 files relating to complaints, questions, and other contacts received from investors.
Ten Most Common Complaints
| Rank | Complaint Type | FY 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cryptocurrency | 4599 |
| 2 | Manipulation of securities/prices | 3809 |
| 3 | Account administration and processing (matters relating to daily activity in an account) | 2355 |
| 4 | Account administration and processing (maintenance, including account closing and redemption issues) | 1945 |
| 5 | Advance fee fraud | 1436 |
| 6 | High-yield investment scheme | 1033 |
| 7 | Short selling | 990 |
| 8 | Online issues (trading system operating slowly or inaccessible) | 792 |
| 9 | Transfer of account | 787 |
| 10 | Trade execution | 739 |
FY 2020 Annual Complaint Data
During FY 2020, the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy closed 21,040 files relating to complaints, questions, and other contacts received from investors.
Ten Most Common Complaints
| Rank | Complaint Type | FY 2020 | FY2019 | Rank in FY 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manipulation of securities/prices | 1550 | 1008 | 1 |
| 2 | Cryptocurrency | 1075 | 820 | 2 |
| 3 | Account administration and processing (matters relating to daily activity in an account) | 1034 | 546 | 5 |
| 4 | Account administration and processing (account closing and redemption issues) | 950 | 704 | 4 |
| 5 | Advance fee fraud | 867 | 805 | 3 |
| 6 | Online issues (trading system operating slowly or inaccessible) | 850 | 145 | n/a |
| 7 | Trade execution | 544 | 307 | n/a |
| 8 | Failure to notify shareholders of corporate events | 486 | 89 | n/a |
| 9 | Fraud (general allegations) | 486 | 293 | n/a |
| 10 | Delivery of funds/proceeds | 477 | 354 | 8 |
FY 2019 Annual Complaint Data
During FY 2019, the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy closed 17,910 files relating to complaints, questions, and other contacts received from investors.
Ten Most Common Complaints
| Rank | Complaint Type | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | Rank in FY 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manipulation of securities/prices | 1008 | 901 | 1 |
| 2 | Cryptocurrency | 820 | n/a | n/a |
| 3 | Advance fee fraud | 805 | 848 | 2 |
| 4 | Account administration and processing (maintenance, including account closing and redemption issues) | 704 | 805 | 3 |
| 5 | Account administration and processing (matters relating to daily activity in an account) | 546 | 518 | 4 |
| 6 | Transfer of accounts | 404 | 461 | 5 |
| 7 | Theft/forgery (matters not involving registered representatives or investment advisers) | 365 | 451 | 6 |
| 8 | Delivery of funds/proceeds | 354 | 450 | 7 |
| 9 | Retirement of 401(k) plans | 353 | 342 | 9 |
| 10 | High-yield investment schemes | 340 | 382 | 8 |
Last Reviewed or Updated: Feb. 22, 2024