Security & Fraud Prevention

Mebanewood takes the security of its clients, investors, counterparties, and business relationships seriously. This page provides general information intended to help identify and prevent fraud, impersonation, phishing, unauthorized account activity, and other security threats involving the Mebanewood name.

No security procedure can eliminate all risk. You should remain vigilant, independently verify unusual communications, and promptly report suspected fraud or unauthorized activity.

1. Official Communications

Official communications from Mebanewood generally originate from email addresses using the following domain:

@mebanewood.com

The use of the Mebanewood name, logo, personnel information, or similar-looking email address does not establish that a communication is authentic.

Fraudulent communications may use:

• misspelled or altered domain names;
• free or personal email services;
• copied logos, signatures, or website content;
• fabricated employee profiles;
• spoofed telephone numbers;
• false social-media accounts;
• urgent requests for money or information; or
• links to counterfeit websites or portals.

Carefully inspect the complete sender address, domain name, telephone number, website address, and surrounding circumstances before responding.

2. Verify Unusual Requests Independently

Do not rely solely on the contact information contained in an unexpected email, text message, social-media message, invoice, payment request, or telephone call.

Independently verify any unusual or sensitive request by contacting Mebanewood through a telephone number or email address obtained from:

• the official Mebanewood website;
• an existing written agreement;
• previously verified contact information; or
• another trusted and independent source.

The SEC advises investors who receive an apparently legitimate message from a financial firm to contact the firm directly using a verified telephone number before relying on the communication.

3. Funds and Payment Instructions

Exercise heightened caution with any request involving:

• wire transfers;
• bank-account information;
• subscription payments;
• capital contributions;
• distributions;
• redemptions;
• advisory-fee payments;
• changes to standing payment instructions; or
• transfers of cash or securities.

Mebanewood will not rely on a general website form, social-media message, or ordinary unsolicited email as sufficient authorization to transfer client assets or change verified payment instructions.

Before sending funds, independently confirm:

• the recipient’s legal name;
• the receiving financial institution;
• all account and routing information;
• the purpose and amount of the payment; and
• any change from previously established instructions.

Do not assume that payment instructions are authentic merely because they appear within an existing email conversation. Email accounts and message chains can be compromised.

A request to disregard established verification procedures, maintain secrecy, act immediately, or avoid contacting a known representative should be treated as a warning sign.

4. Changes to Instructions

Treat any purported change to previously verified wire, banking, custody, payment, or delivery instructions as potentially fraudulent until independently confirmed.

Changes should be verified using a trusted method other than the communication through which the change was received. For example, an emailed change should ordinarily be confirmed by calling a previously verified telephone number.

Mebanewood or an applicable custodian, administrator, bank, broker, or other service provider may delay or decline to process an instruction pending satisfactory verification.

5. Mebanewood Will Not Ask for Certain Information Through Unsecured Channels

Mebanewood will not ask you to provide the following through a general website form, public social-media platform, or unsolicited electronic message:

• passwords;
• one-time passcodes;
• multifactor-authentication codes;
• complete account credentials;
• private cryptographic keys;
• remote access to your computer or device; or
• payment in gift cards or similar instruments.

Do not disclose authentication information to anyone claiming to contact you on Mebanewood’s behalf.

6. Phishing and Malicious Links

Phishing communications may attempt to induce you to:

• open a malicious attachment;
• click a deceptive link;
• enter credentials into a counterfeit website;
• download software;
• approve a login request;
• disclose confidential information; or
• send funds to a fraudulent account.

Do not click a link or open an attachment unless you reasonably trust both the sender and the communication.

When possible, navigate directly to a known website rather than using a link contained in an unsolicited message.

Be cautious of communications involving:

• unusual urgency;
• threats or pressure;
• unexpected invoices or payment changes;
• spelling or formatting irregularities;
• unfamiliar file-sharing services;
• unexpected login prompts;
• requests to bypass normal procedures; or
• domains that differ slightly from mebanewood.com.

7. Account Security

Clients and investors should use the security controls made available by their custodians, financial institutions, administrators, and technology providers.

Appropriate precautions may include:

• using strong and unique passwords;
• enabling multifactor authentication;
• securing email accounts;
• installing software and security updates promptly;
• avoiding unsecured public networks;
• reviewing login and transaction alerts;
• monitoring statements and account activity; and
• promptly revoking access for lost or compromised devices.

The SEC identifies multifactor authentication, account alerts, current security updates, and careful review of suspicious communications as important measures for protecting investment and financial accounts.

8. Statements and Account Activity

Review statements, confirmations, transaction notices, and other communications received directly from your custodian or other financial institution.

Promptly investigate:

• an unrecognized transaction;
• an unexpected change in account information;
• a missing statement;
• a new linked account;
• an unauthorized withdrawal or transfer;
• an unfamiliar login alert; or
• any discrepancy between records.

Do not wait for a periodic review if you suspect unauthorized activity.

9. Social Media and Messaging Platforms

Mebanewood does not use social media, public messaging applications, or online discussion forums to:

• accept client trading instructions;
• change account authority;
• transmit wire instructions;
• request authentication credentials;
• guarantee an investment return; or
• solicit payment to a personal account.

A social-media profile using the Mebanewood name or the name or image of a Mebanewood representative may be unauthorized.

Following, connecting with, or receiving a message from an account does not establish that the account is authentic.

10. Impersonation and Unauthorized Use of the Mebanewood Name

Third parties may attempt to impersonate Mebanewood, its affiliates, or its personnel.

Such schemes may involve:

• counterfeit websites;
• fraudulent investment offerings;
• false employment opportunities;
• fake invoices;
• fictitious funds or accounts;
• unauthorized use of biographies or photographs;
• fabricated regulatory credentials;
• cloned social-media profiles; or
• communications falsely claiming an affiliation with Mebanewood.

Mebanewood is not responsible for unauthorized conduct by persons falsely claiming to represent or be affiliated with the firm.

The FTC warns that impersonators commonly pose as familiar businesses to obtain money, account access, or personal information.

11. Investment-Fraud Warning Signs

Exercise caution when a person claiming an association with Mebanewood:

• promises guaranteed or risk-free returns;
• pressures you to invest immediately;
• asks you to send funds to an individual or unrelated entity;
• refuses to provide definitive documentation;
• discourages independent legal or financial review;
• claims that verification procedures must be avoided;
• communicates only through encrypted messaging applications;
• requests secrecy;
• offers an investment that cannot be verified through official channels; or
• represents that regulators have endorsed an investment.

No Mebanewood representative is authorized to guarantee investment results or represent that an investment is free from risk. The SEC identifies guaranteed returns, purportedly risk-free investments, aggressive sales tactics, and unlicensed sellers as common warning signs of investment fraud.

12. Reporting a Suspected Incident

Promptly contact Mebanewood if you receive a suspicious communication or believe that:

• someone is impersonating Mebanewood or its personnel;
• Mebanewood’s name or branding is being used without authorization;
• a communication or payment instruction may be fraudulent;
• information relating to your relationship may have been compromised;
• your email account or device has been accessed without authorization; or
• funds or securities may have been transferred improperly.

Contact Mebanewood using independently verified information:

+1 (615) 854-8585
contact@mebanewood.com

Include relevant details, but do not send passwords, authentication codes, or complete financial-account credentials by ordinary email.

13. Immediate Steps Following Suspected Fraud

If you believe fraud or unauthorized activity has occurred:

• Contact the affected bank, custodian, broker, administrator, or financial institution immediately.
• Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, recalled, frozen, or otherwise restricted.
• Change compromised passwords and secure affected email and financial accounts.
• Enable or reset multifactor authentication.
• Preserve relevant emails, messages, transaction records, telephone numbers, website addresses, and other evidence.
• Contact Mebanewood through independently verified channels.
• Consider reporting the incident to appropriate law-enforcement or regulatory authorities.

Time may be critical, particularly where funds have been transferred.

Possible fraud may also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the SEC, or the appropriate state securities regulator.

14. Security Incidents

Mebanewood maintains safeguards and incident-response procedures designed to protect information and respond to security events.

If Mebanewood determines that notice of an incident is required, it will provide notice in accordance with applicable law. The timing, content, recipients, and method of any notice will depend on the circumstances and applicable legal requirements.

This page does not create a contractual security standard, guarantee that an incident will not occur, or expand any duty beyond that imposed by applicable law or definitive written agreement.

15. No Guarantee of Security

Although Mebanewood uses measures designed to protect its systems and information, no communication method, network, device, system, or security procedure is completely secure.

Mebanewood does not warrant that:

• electronic communications cannot be intercepted;
• systems will be continuously available;
• security controls will prevent every attack;
• third-party service providers will remain secure; or
• fraudulent communications can always be identified before harm occurs.

Each person remains responsible for exercising reasonable care and protecting their own devices, accounts, credentials, and communications.

16. Related Policies

Additional information is available in the following documents:

• Privacy Policy
• Adviser Privacy Notice
• Terms of Use
• Submission Terms
• Legal & Regulatory

17. Changes to This Page

Mebanewood may revise this Security & Fraud Prevention page from time to time to reflect changes in security practices, fraud risks, technology, or applicable law.

The “Last Updated” date identifies the most recent revision.