During Fraud Prevention Month, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) are encouraging Canadian investors to research their investments before making important decisions regarding those investments.

“CSA investor education tools and resources can help Canadians become informed investors, which is one of the best defences against fraud,” says Bill Rice, chair of the CSA and chief executive officer of the Alberta Securities Commission. “The CSA is here to help investors protect their money and learn how to avoid investment fraud. It starts with a simple step: checking registration.”

Check Registration Day occurs Mar. 18. Canadians can check their financial advisor’s registration status through the CSA website’s “national registration search” page. Investors who access the search page for the first time will be asked to complete a survey, which will help the CSA make improvements to the tool.

The CSA is also encouraging investors to check their financial professional or financial firm’s disciplinary history through its “cease trade orders” database and “disciplined persons” list.