AVOIDING INVESTMENT FRAUD AND ABUSE: ALLIANCE FOR INVESTOR EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS 11 BEST RESOURCES FOR INVESTORS

WASHINGTON, D.C.//June 12, 2006//Amid concerns about a growing number of online schemes to separate unwary investors from their money, the nonprofit Alliance for Investor Education (AIE) today highlighted 11 of the best available investor education resources individuals can use to avoid financial fraud and abuse.

The collection of top resources -- "Investment Fraud and Abuse: What You Need to Know" –- is available at http://www.investoreducation.org/fraudandabuse. AIE is a 20-member organization of the United States’ leading financial-related trade associations and governmental organizations.

"Investment fraud seems to be more prevalent today as a result of the ease of access to consumers that con artists have via the Internet," said Alliance for Investor Education President Michael D. Jones, who also serves as senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). "The Alliance for Investor Education wants to make sure that investors are armed with the information they need to protect themselves and their nest eggs."

The new "Investment Fraud and Abuse: What You Need to Know" section of the AIE Web site features the following education savings information:

• "Unlucky 13" Traps for Investors - North American Securities Administrators Association.
• How Seniors Can Avoid Financial Abuse – Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Foreign Exchange (FOREX) Fraud – Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
• Spam Stock Tips – National Association of Securities Dealers.
• If You Are a Victim of Fraud ... – Securities Industry Association/Path to Investing.
• Outrageous Ad Claims – American Association of Individual Investors.
• 12 Common Mistakes Investors Makes - CFA Institute.
• Investment Swindles: How to Spot and Avoid Them - National Futures Association.
• Getting Help With Your Investments - Investor Protection Trust.
• Schemes Targeting Hispanics – Federal Trade Commission.
• What You Should Know: Investor Protection Resources – The Bond Market Association.

ABOUT AIE

The Alliance for Investor Education Web site at http://www.investoreducation.org provides investors with access to a full range of information they need to make wise investment decisions. Dedicated to facilitating a greater understanding of investment basics, the Alliance for Investor Education was established in 1996 as a coalition of leading financial services industry and investor advocacy groups.

The entire investment community is represented in AIE's membership ranks. Full members of the Alliance include: American Association of Individual Investors, American Financial Services Association Education Foundation, BetterInvesting, The Bond Market Association, CFA Institute, Employee Benefit Research Institute Education and Research Fund/American Savings Education Council, Investment Company Institute Education Foundation, Investor Protection Trust, National Association of Securities Dealers, National Endowment for Financial Education, National Futures Association, National Investor Relations Institute, the New York Stock Exchange, Securities Industry Association/Path to Investing, and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the North American Securities Administrators Association are the governmental and quasi-governmental advisors to the Alliance.

CONTACT: Ailis Aaron Wolf, (703) 276-3265 or .