Prior to the open today I received an email from Marketing@insiderwealthalert.com promoting POLR. The email linked to the website https://www.hardassetreport.com/landing/
One way to find out early about these online landing page pumps (many of which also have mailers) is to subscribe to a bunch of really crappy email pumpers: they will often rent their list for pumps like this. Insiderwealthalert.com’s disclaimer stated:
In accordance with Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of Nineteen Thirty Three, you are hereby advised that Eastman Communications, Inc. (ECI) is receiving a fee between $7,000 and $15,000, from an independent third party as compensation for the distribution of this advertisement
Considering the high price and market cap and low budget I will look to sell this short soon. The volume is very light for the moment, however.
Disclosed budget: $700,000 [Was listed as $250,000 when this was first posted and was increased at some point before 2013/5/8]
Promoter: Pond Research LLC aka Ken Williams’ Hard Asset Report
Paying party: Commodity United Ltd.
Shares outstanding: 42,952,500
Previous closing price: $2.00
Market capitalization: $85 million
(click image to see full-sized)
Excerpt from disclaimer:
Commodity United Ltd. paid the publisher, Pond Research LLC, the sum of $700,000. This total production budget was applied towards costs associated with creating, printing and distributing this report. Excess funds remaining after production, if any, will be retained by the publisher as profit.
…
Hard Asset Report is a trademark of Pond Research LLC.
[Edit 2013-5-8]: I noticed a new landing page, at http://www.alaskanoilrush.com/landing/. Also, the disclaimer on both landing pages now discloses $700,000 in compensation. New disclaimer:
Old disclaimer:
IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER: This stock profile should be viewed as a paid advertisement. In order to enhance public awareness of Polar Petroleum and its securities through the distribution of this report, Commodity United Ltd. paid the publisher the sum of $250,000. This total production budget was applied towards costs associated with creating, printing and distributing this report. Excess funds remaining after production, if any, will be retained by the publisher as profit. This publication is not, and should not be construed to be, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. This publication, its publisher, and its editor do not purport to provide a complete analysis of any company’s financial position. The publisher and editor are not, and do not purport to be, broker-dealers or registered investment advisors. Any investment should be made only after consulting a professional investment advisor and only after reviewing the financial statements and other pertinent corporate information about the company. Investing in securities is speculative and carries a high degree of risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This publication is based exclusively on information generally available to the public and does not contain any material, non-public information. The information on which it is based is believed to be reliable. Nevertheless, the publisher cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. This publication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected continual growth of the featured company and/or industry. The publisher notes that statements contained herein that look forward in time, which include everything other than historical information, involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s actual results of operations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include the size and growth of the market for the company’s products and services, the ultimate degree of success in drilling excursions, the company’s ability to fund its capital requirements in the near term and long term, pricing pressures, etc. Hard Asset Report is a trademarks of Commodity United Ltd. All other trademarks used in this publication are the property of their respective trademark holders. Pond Research, Hard Asset Report and Ken Williams are not affiliated, connected, or associated with, and are not sponsored, approved, or originated by, the trademark holders unless otherwise stated. No claim is made by Pond Research, Hard Asset Report or Ken Williams to any rights in any third-party trademarks.
PDF copy of old POLR pump page and new pump page.
[Edit 2013-5-13]: I found another new landing page with a higher compensation amount: https://www.hardassetreport.com/landing/
PDF of new landing page.
Disclaimer: [Edit 2013-5-13 -I am net long 40 shares of POLR. I may trade this at any time.] I have no position in any stock mentioned above and no relationship with any parties mentioned above. This blog has a terms of use that is incorporated by reference into this post; you can find all my disclaimers and disclosures there as well.
Are you still using IB for your shorting broker? Ever since Sykes has gotten really popular I have had no success at OTC short availability with them. In past years I made most of my short term trading gains on the short side. I have had almost no success in the last year or so. I understand you may “box” you shorts and get them early, but even that seems impossible lately.
Paul — Yes, most of my shorts are still at IB. It has gotten more difficult but one thing that helps is having the ‘shortable’ column in TWS and then getting shares to short at random times during the day when it goes light green.
Hi Mike,
Really appreciate the scams you are exposing in your blogs… helped me profit a lot from them. Just thought I’d do the same and bring your attention to a blatant pump scam… NVLX. Let me know what you think about it!
Cheers
I have not been following NVLX and cannot recall seeing it be promoted.
Hey I am a new penny stock investor…got to know about your blog through a friend… was wanting to ask you since you are such an experienced trader whether you are aware of stockhousegroup.com… .are they promoters who pump stocks or are they a genuine investment newsletter?
Hope you can advise me
Thanks from Seattle!
I believe they are promoters.