WASHINGTON, May 1, 2000 -- In a coordinated crackdown on deceptive day trading promotions, the Federal Trade Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Securities and Exchange Commission have halted the claims of 14 online firms that promised to share the secrets of making easy money with little risk, using their day trading strategies. Day traders attempt to make money buying and selling stocks or other investments over a very short time period - usually in the same day.

"People who push day trading systems or services as a sure way to make money are peddling pipe-dreams," said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Day trading is a high risk venture that's likely to leave investors high and dry. The bottom line? If you're considering becoming a day trader, don't give up your day job."

The FTC targeted Internet operators who sold combinations of online, 'real time' training; software programs; trading manuals; e-mail newsletters and mentoring services for prices ranging from $79 to $4995. Using advertising claims such as ". . . Make money regardless of the market going up or down," ". . . return on account of 2041%," ". . . this service has returned an average of 167% annually," and phony testimonials, the operators promoted their systems with exaggerated claims about earnings or profits and little or no mention of the risks associated with day trading. They also claimed that their systems minimize those risks.

State securities regulators in Massachusetts and Washington analyzed accounts at several day trading firms and found that very few day traders actually make money. "Seven in 10 day traders lose money," said Bradley Skolnik, Indiana's securities commissioner and president of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). "Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise isn't being straight with you. Always ask yourself: if this person really has figured out a fool-proof way to make money day trading, why are they selling it to total strangers? Why aren't they day trading themselves?"

Skolnik praised today's actions, noting that day trading schools and seminars often fall outside the usual jurisdiction of securities regulators, who focus on registered brokerage and investment advisory firms and the sale of investments.

The FTC charged CompuTrade LLC and Bernard Lewis of Dana Point, California; Ellery Coleman, d/b/a/ Granite Investments in Warner Robins, Georgia; and Michael and Michelle Chrisman, d/b/a/ Day Trading International of Kirksville, Missouri with making unsubstantiated, false and misleading statements in violation of federal law.

The FTC alleged that CompuTrade and Lewis made unsubstantiated claims that consumers can expect to earn as much as six or seven figure incomes annually; earn huge profits even with no previous experience in currency trading, and earn profits of $500 to $750 or more a day. The FTC also alleged that CompuTrade and Lewis misrepresented testimonials and falsely claimed that consumers can reasonably expect to trade with little financial risk.

The FTC alleged that Ellery Coleman and Granite Investments made unsubstantiated claims that users of their programs can expect to achieve substantial profits consistently and that trades recommended by their trading programs were actually made and resulted in substantial profits. The agency also charged that Coleman misrepresented that he used his own program to trade profitably on his own behalf, that testimonials in his ads reflect the actual experiences of consumers who use his program, and that consumers can reasonably expect to trade profitably with little financial risk.

The FTC charged the Chrismans with making unsubstantiated earnings claims and misrepresenting that consumers can reasonably expect to day trade with little or no financial risk. In addition, it alleged that specific past earnings claims were false, since the Chrismans and Day Trading International were not in business for some years for which the claims were made.

The consent orders to settle the complaints would bar false claims, including claims that day trading involves little or no financial risk. The settlement with Coleman bars false claims that he used his own system to enrich himself. All of the settlements would require the respondents to have substantiation for any earnings claims or claims about income or profit, or about any financial benefit or other benefit of any kind from the purchase or use of any trading program.

Finally, the settlements would require that any future advertisements contain the disclosure, "DAY TRADING involves high risks and YOU can LOSE a lot of money." "CURRENCY TRADING" and "FUTURES TRADING" would be substituted where appropriate.

The Federal Trade Commission has a free brochure, "Day Trading Ads: Cutting Through the Bull," and a web page that advises consumers:

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