Accused Texas Ponzi Scammer May Have Defrauded Investors of $2M

An El Paso man accused of running a Texas Ponzi scheme may in fact be a man who was convicted of fraud in Maryland more than 10 years ago. Scott Lindemann is now charged with wire fraud for allegedly defrauding at least 25 investors of $2 million.

Prosecutors say that Lindemann’s real name may actually be Scott Yermish, who left Maryland after serving time in jail. He left the state without finishing his probated time for a theft conviction.

It is in El Paso that Lindemann is accused of using his hedge fund to set up his Texas securities fraud scam. Per court records, he gained the trust of one person, who then assisted him in bringing in more investors. Lindemann allegedly gave some of the investors money so they would think they’d earned a profit. He also generated bogus documents that caused them to believe that their investments had grown substantially.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, one victim of the alleged Texas securities fraud says that she and her husband lost over $250,000. She also claims that other investors took out mortgages on their houses to invest with Lindemann.

The FBI is calling this a “quick investigation.” Lindemann was arrested a week after the complaint was made.

Ponzi Scam
This type of investment fraud generally involves investors receiving purported returns except that the money they are “making” is actually from new investors who think that these funds are being invested. To keep the scheme going, new investors must keep joining up so that scammers can use their money to pay the earlier-stage investors. Ponzi scams can collapse when too many investors ask to cash out or bringing in new investors starts to prove challenging.

Every year, there are investors that lose money because they placed their money in a Ponzi scam. Fortunately, there may be a way to recoup your losses. It is important that you speak with a Texas securities fraud law firm about your case.

Warning Signs that You May Be Investing in a Texas Ponzi Scheme:
• Watch out for “guaranteed” investment opportunities or the promise of high investment returns with little or no risk.
• Returns are too consistent. It is natural for investment returns to go up and down-especially if there is the hope of high returns.
• The investment that isn’t registered with the state or the SEC.
• The investment professional you are working with isn’t registered or licensed.
• The investment strategy involved is too complex for you to understand or you can’t get complete information about it.
• There isn’t enough information about your investment that can be found in writing.
• Account statement errors.
• You aren’t getting promised payments.
• Cashing out on your investment is proving to be a challenge.
• Your financial adviser tries to get you to “roll over” payments that are owed to you with the promise of even higher returns.

Many Ponzi scam victims have lost their life savings, retirement, and/or kids’ college fund because they placed their trust and their money in the hands of the wrong people.

Related Web Resources:
Man arrested by FBI may have scammed millions, San Antonio Express-News, August 2, 2011
Accused Texas Ponzi Schemer May Be Fugitive Md. Fraudster, FinAlternatives, August 3, 2011
Ponzi Scams, SEC

Ponzi Scams, FBI

More Blog Posts:
Houston Securities Fraud: Ex-Citigroup Broker Accused of Stealing Millions from Wealthy Mexican Investors is Barred from FINRA, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, July 29, 2011
Basketball Benefactor Accused of Texas Securities Fraud and Ponzi Scam that Targeted High-Profile Coaches Found Dead, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, July 19, 2011
Venezuelan Workers Fall Victim to Francisco Illarramendi’s Ponzi Scam, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, March 30, 2011
Contact our El Paso securities fraud lawyers today.