Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 20 · column 2 of 5 · from the scan, no model involved
nies or companies quoted on the OTCBB. Stock Detective tracks (self) promoted stock and the too-good-to-be trues. It is not meant to scare people away from investing, Lichtman said. It is there to help steer them clear of potential rough spots.
“Not every little company is a fraud,” Lichtman said. “Some are going to grow up and become very valuable.”
Sites and pages to check out for online investment information include: www.sec.gov. Check out the EDGAR database for company filings. The site also provides lots of information about online investment pitfalls and a directory of state securities regulators.
• www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pub8/ alerts/oinvalrt.htm. The Federal Trade Commission posted this consumer alert, “Online Investment Opportunities: ‘Net Profit’ or ‘Net Gloss?’ “ in December 1998. It has some typical investment pick-up lines and links to other government and nongovernment sites.
• www.stockdetective.com. Financial Web’s Stock Detective site gives surfers the lowdown on the hijinks, including the Stinky Stocks Roundup, a list of “un-picks” to avoid.
• www.nasdr.com. The National Association of Securities Dealers can provide some disciplinary history on brokers or firms touting stocks. They also are available at (800) 289-9999.
• www.fool.com. The Motley Food offers a lot more than portfolio reviews. There’s a wealth of how-to-information for beginning investors.
96.1%