Fake press releases enforcement actions

This library records 16 enforcement actions tagged fake press releases. A fake press release is a fabricated corporate announcement issued through a wire service or a lookalike site, designed to move a share price for the few minutes before the company can deny it.

Actions are listed newest first. Each row links to a case page carrying the regulator's own release and, where one was published, the complaint. For how this technique works and what statute it engages, read the fake press releases technique page.

Actions: 16
Total penalties: $150k
Median penalty: $150k
Largest: $150k
Criminal parallel: 44%

Action	Agency	Filed	Penalty	Status
SEC v. Muhammad Saad Shoukat and others (fake press releases, 2026)	SEC	2026-01-06	—	filed
SEC v. In Ovations Holdings, Inc. and Mark Goldberg (fake press releases, 2022)	SEC	2022-12-09	—	judgment
SEC v. Michael J. Starkweather and Andiamo Corporation (fake press releases, 2021)	SEC	2021-12-03	—	judgment
SEC v. Mark A. Miller (fake press releases, 2021)	SEC	2021-06-21	—	unknown
SEC v. Mark E. Fisher, Esq. (fake press releases, 2018)	SEC	2018-11-02	—	judgment
SEC v. Brian Weber and Bebida Beverage Co. (fake press releases, 2018)	SEC	2018-10-31	—	judgment
SEC v. John Madsen, Andalusian Resorts and others (fake press releases, 2018)	SEC	2018-10-23	—	judgment
SEC v. Diane J. Harrison, et al. (fake press releases, 2018)	SEC	2018-04-30	—	settled
SEC v. Andy Z. Fan (fake press releases, 2018)	SEC	2018-04-25	—	settled
SEC v. Wellness Center USA, Inc. (fake press releases, 2018)	SEC	2018-04-12	—	settled
SEC v. Andalusian Resorts and others (fake press releases, 2017)	SEC	2017-10-30	—	filed
SEC v. Martin T. Cantu (fake press releases, 2017)	SEC	2017-10-02	—	unknown
SEC v. Raymond H. Barton (fake press releases, 2017)	SEC	2017-02-09	—	judgment
SEC v. Randy A. Hamdan and Oracle Consultants, LLC (fake press releases, 2016)	SEC	2016-02-17	$150k	judgment
SEC v. George Ivakhnik and The Mobile Star Corporation (fake press releases, 2015)	SEC	2015-09-17	—	filed
SEC v. 8000, Inc., Jonathan E. Bryant, Thomas J. Kelly, and Carl N. Duncan, Esq. (fake press releases, 2015)	SEC	2015-09-16	—	judgment