Truly bold

Beware of phantom stock regulators, officials warn

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Con artists are setting up Web sites for fake U.S. regulatory agencies to lure stock investors, many from overseas, into fraudulent transactions, officials from New Jersey to Montana warned on Thursday.

These "phantom regulators" -- with names like the International Compliance Commission and the Securities Protection Agency -- have been brought to the attention of actual regulators, the officials said.