The Ohio Investor Recovery Fund has helped 130 victims over the last three years

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three years ago the Ohio Investor Recovery Fund was created to help victims of investment fraud. Fast-forward to today and the program has helped 130 Ohioans.

The fund is operated by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Securities and has helped provide more than $2 million in financial relief through civil and criminal proceedings. The program offers victims a rare opportunity to recover up to 25% of losses with a maximum of $25,000. An anonymous investor says the money she recieved from the fund will help her take legal action against those who defrauded her.

“I could have had work done to my house. I could have helped out a family member. I could have had work done to vehicles. There were a lot of ways that money could have been spent and I had to find other resources to help myself out – some of which involved taking on some debt so that I continue to make that investment for my future and my family’s future,” the anonymous investor said.

Ohioans who are considering an investment or suspect they have been scammed should contact the Division of Securities’ Investor Protection Hotline at 877-683-7841 for guidance or to file a complaint.

“It was as if they were really involved in it and working on it and really, it was personal. So I felt comfortable in the fact that they were now handling it and even if nothing happened, even if there was no resolution, I was still confident that that division did everything they could to recoup the funds,” the anonymous investor said.

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Securities has more information and resources available online if you’d like to learn more.