PAUSE Program (Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities)
The SEC’s PAUSE Program lists: (1) entities that falsely claim to be registered, licensed, and/or located in the United States in their solicitation of investors; (2) fictitious regulators, governmental agencies, or international organizations; and (3) entities that impersonate genuine U.S. registered securities firms.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
The SEC’s PAUSE Program lists: (1) entities that falsely claim to be registered, licensed, and/or located in the United States in their solicitation of investors; (2) fictitious regulators, governmental agencies, or international organizations; and (3) entities that impersonate genuine U.S. registered securities firms. [1]
Please visit SEC.gov | Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) to learn more about the PAUSE Program and to view the lists. [1]
Frequently asked questions
What does PAUSE Program (Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities) mean in the cited reference?
The SEC’s PAUSE Program lists: (1) entities that falsely claim to be registered, licensed, and/or located in the United States in their solicitation of investors; (2) fictitious regulators, governmental agencies, or international organizations; and (3) entities that impersonate genuine U.S. registered securities firms. [1]
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.