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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a new online search tool that will provide easier access to information on securities law violators, the U.S. regulator announced on Wednesday.

The new tool, SEC Action Lookup for Individuals (SALI), is intended to assist the public in making informed investment decisions and avoiding financial fraud.

Investors can research whether individuals have been subject to SEC enforcement action, regulatory orders, and federal court judgments.

The new tool covers both registered investment professionals, and unregistered individuals, that have faced regulatory enforcement action.

It supplements existing investor education resources, including the SEC’s investment professional search tool, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s BrokerCheck system.

“Our Main Street Investors themselves are a key line of defense in detecting and preventing fraud. One of the SEC’s most important tasks is to arm our investors with the tools necessary to identify potential fraudsters,” says Jay Clayton, SEC chairman, in a statement.

“An important risk factor is whether the person you are dealing with has a disciplinary history with the SEC or other regulators. SALI provides Main Street investors with an additional tool they can use to protect themselves from being victims of fraud and other misconduct,” he adds.