Michael Douglas Condemns 'Gordon Gekko' and Insider Trading in New FBI Campaign (VIDEO)

By Benge Nsenduluka, CP Reporter Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Michael Douglas is assisting the FBI in a public service announcement to condemn insider trading and critics have pointed out the irony considering his acting past.

The 67-year-old, who is best known for his role as the greedy Wall Street executive, Gordon Gekko, in the 1987 film "Wall Street," appears in the video in a bid to raise public awareness to what has reportedly become a growing problem.

"In the movie 'Wall Street' I play Gordon Gekko, a greedy corporate executive who cheated to profit while innocent investors lost their savings. The movie was fiction, but the problem is real," Douglas says in the video.

"Our economy is increasingly dependent on the success and the integrity of the financial markets. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. For more information on how you can help identify securities fraud, or to report insider training, contact your local FBI office. Or submit a tip online at www.fbi.gov," he adds.

The video, produced by the FBI, starts off with a clip from "Wall Street," where Gekko attempts to promote greed while speaking as a shareholder meeting.

"The point is, ladies and gentlemen, greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right!" the ruthless Gekko says in the film clip.

The video, which was posted on social networking site YouTube, is designed to help tackle white collar crime after a recent FBI report revealed that insider trading is on the rise, according to ABC News.

"While the number of cases involving the falsification of financial information remains relatively stable, the FBI has observed an increase in the number of insider trading cases. Insider trading has been a continuous threat to the fair and orderly operation of the U.S. financial markets and has robbed the investing public of some degree of trust that markets operate fairly," the report stated.

FBI Special Agent David Chaves told ABC that the Bureau "couldn't be more excited" with Douglas' involvement in delivering their anti-corruption message.