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Microcap & Penny Stocks : Zia Sun(zsun) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sir Auric Goldfinger who wrote (6480)	1/19/2000 11:28:00 PM
From: StockDung	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10354

Microcap fraud depends on spreading false information. Here's how some fraudsters carry out their scams: Questionable Press Releases Fraudsters often issue press releases that contain exaggerations or lies about the microcap company's sales, acquisitions, revenue projections, or new products or services. Paid Promoters Some microcap companies pay stock promoters to recommend or "tout" the microcap stock in supposedly independent and unbiased investment newsletters, research reports, or radio and television shows. The federal securities laws require the newsletters to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment. But many fraudsters fail to do so and mislead investors into believing they are receiving independent advice. Internet Fraud Fraudsters often distribute junk e-mail or "spam" over the Internet to spread false information quickly and cheaply about a microcap company to thousands of potential investors. They also use aliases on Internet bulletin boards and chat rooms to hide their identities and post messages urging investors to buy stock in microcap companies based on supposedly "inside" information about impending developments at the companies. For more information about Internet fraud and on-line investing, read Internet Fraud and What You Need to Know About Trading in Fast Moving Markets. "Boiler Rooms" and Cold Calling Dishonest brokers set up "boiler rooms" where a small army of high-pressure salespeople use banks of telephones to make cold calls to as many potential investors as possible. These strangers hound investors to buy "house stocks" – stocks that the firm buys or sells as a market maker or has in its inventory. To learn more about cold calling, read Cold Calling Alert. Microcap fraud schemes can take a variety of forms. Here's a description of the two most common schemes: The Classic "Pump and Dump" Scheme It's common to see messages posted on the Internet that urge readers to buy a stock quickly or to sell before the price goes down, or a telemarketer will call using the same sort of pitch. Often the promoters will claim to have "inside" information about an impending development or to use an "infallible" combination of economic and stock market data to pick stocks. In reality, they may be company insiders or paid promoters who stand to gain by selling their shares after the stock price is pumped up by the buying frenzy they create. Once these fraudsters sell their shares and stop hyping the stock, the price typically falls, and investors lose their money. The Off-Shore Scam Under a rule known as "Regulation S," companies do not have to register stock they sell outside the United States to foreign or "off-shore" investors. In the typical off-shore scam, an unscrupulous microcap company sells unregistered Reg S stock at a deep discount to fraudsters posing as foreign investors. These fraudsters then sell the stock to U.S. investors at inflated prices, pocketing huge profits which they share with the microcap company insiders. The flood of unregistered stock into the U.S. eventually causes the price to plummet, leaving unsuspecting U.S. investors with enormous losses. The SEC recently strengthened Reg S to make these frauds harder to conduct.

To: Sir Auric Goldfinger who wrote (6480)	1/20/2000 1:17:00 AM
From: Frank_Ching	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10354

ZiaSun Subsidiary Posts Over $27 Million in Year-End Sales; - Sales and Seminar Registrations Exceed Expectations - SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- ZiaSun Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ZSUN - news), a profitable Internet holding company, today announced year-end results for its subsidiary Online Investors Advantage (OIA). OIA, a market pioneer and the Internet's leading investment education firm, posted over $27.4 million in fiscal 1999 sales with very strong earnings as compared to $3.57 million in fiscal 1998 sales. Sales during the first nine months of 1999 were $19 million, and the fourth quarter sales increase is on target with OIA's growth objectives in 2000. In the process, OIA trained 8,272 students in 220 investment education workshops across North America, New Zealand and Australia during the year. The number of workshop attendees has already increased in the first quarter of 2000. ``We are extremely pleased with OIA's continual sales increases, and expect additional growth by introducing OIA's investment workshops into the European Community in the second quarter of 2000,' said ZiaSun Chairman Scott Elder. ``I believe the European expansion will be very smooth, because OIA has already established a solid operating model, which is readily adaptable to the European marketplace.' OIA anticipates at least 10,000 workshop attendees in the U.S.A. alone this year. This increase will be driven by the addition of television advertising, based on the success of a promotional TV spot, which significantly increased attendance at its free seminars where OIA presents and sells its investing workshops. Direct mail and newspaper advertising will be significantly increased as well. An arrangement with Traders Library is also expected to contribute to increased sales during 2000. This online bookstore operation was established in the third quarter of fiscal 1999 as a value-added service for subscribers to OIA's Investor Toolbox. Bookstore sales have rapidly evolved into a profit-generating operation in conjunction with Investors Toolbox, which should exceed $1.25 million in fiscal 2000 sales compared to $670,000 in fiscal 1999. About Online Investors Advantage The Security Blanket.com, an online education industry watchdog and analyst, highly recommends OIA's investment education program. This has helped OIA establish a dominant U.S. market share in the education sector for investor training in the benefits, dangers and required skills of effectively selecting stocks for investment on the Internet. About ZiaSun Technologies ZiaSun Technologies, Inc. is a leading Internet holding company focused on e-commerce and specialized online support services within North America, Asia and other international markets. The Company's Internet portfolio includes Asia4Sale (www.asia4sale.com), AuctionAsia (www.auctionasia.net), MEDIAhits (www.mediahits.com), Momentum Asia (www.momentumasia.com), Momentum Finance (www.mfinance.com - a top 100 financial website), Momentum Internet (www.momentumplus.com), Online Investors Advantage (www.i-advantage.com), PINmail (www.pinmail.com), Search Dragon (www.searchdragon.com), ServiceLive (www.servicelive.com) and Swiftrade (www.swiftrade.com). Investors Relations Contact: ZiaSun Technologies, San Diego Mr. Mark Harris, VP, Investor Relations, 858-350-4060, mark@pinmail.com. Note: Any statements released by ZiaSun Technologies Inc. that are forward-looking are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Editors and investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements invoke risk and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business prospects and performances. These include economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in the statements and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclaimer: This transmission was intended only for the party or parties to whom it was directed. If you have received the transmission in error or by other means, it must be destroyed and by no means circulated, copied or otherwise duplicated without the express permission of its author(s). Nothing in the contents transmitted should be construed as an investment advisory, nor should it be used to make investment decisions. There is no express or implied solicitation to buy or sell securities. The author(s) may have positions in the stocks or financial relationships with the company discussed and may trade in the stocks mentioned. Readers are advised to conduct their own due diligence prior to considering buying or selling any stock. All information should be considered for information purposes only. No stock exchange has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein. SOURCE: ZiaSun Technologies, Inc