During the COVID-19 pandemic, the BC Securities Commission (BCSC) and other securities regulators across Canada issued a number of investor alerts to highlight potential investment frauds.
We encourage you to keep an eye on the BCSC’s Investment Caution List, which identifies unregistered activity or unqualified securities being promoted in the province.
BCSC Enforcement staff have added 27 new entries to the Investment Caution List since our last post in April.
The BCSC urges people to exercise caution when dealing with firms that are not registered to trade or advise in BC, and to exercise caution when dealing with companies that are not registered to issue shares. Investors should also be wary of companies claiming to have products or services that will prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19.
Below are the latest additions to the Investment Caution List.
Unregistered Companies Accepting Funds from BC Residents
The BCSC became aware of two businesses, not registered to trade in, or advise on, securities or derivatives in BC, that had accepted funds from BC residents for trading.
Crypto-ct claimed to have its headquarters in Asia and offered an online cryptocurrency trading platform.
StarkMarkets, operated by SWISSGEMS Ltd. and Krisimark Ltd.
StarkMarkets claims to be located in Bulgaria, and offers an online trading platform to trade in CFDs and Forex.
Unregistered Companies Soliciting or Targeting BC Residents
The BCSC became aware of three unregistered businesses that solicited BC residents or targeted BC residents through advertising.
Euroasia Global International Financial Corporation (Europe)
The BCSC is concerned about an opportunity to invest in Euroasia Global International Financial Corporation (Europe), which offered returns of up to 1,500 times the principal to at least one BC resident.
Profit Earn claims to be based in the United Kingdom, and offers investment services that BC residents can use to buy investment packages with guaranteed returns.
Global Logistics BTC claims to be located in California and the United Kingdom, and offers investment plans in forex, binary options and bitcoin trading.
Unregistered Companies Accepting BC Residents as Members
The BCSC became aware of 16 businesses not registered to trade in, or advise on, securities or derivatives in BC, that accepted BC residents as members.
IFCMARKETS. CORP. claims to be incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, and offers an online trading platform to trade in CFD and Forex.
Cryptominas claims to be registered in Canada and offers an automated platform that allows investors to earn profits daily with different investment plans in cryptocurrency trading.
Megabitpay Limited claims to be incorporated in England and Wales, and offers investment plans with guaranteed returns by trading in cryptocurrencies.
Crypto Hallmark Investment claims to be registered in Canada, with a postal address in Williams Lake, BC. It offers investment plans with guaranteed returns by trading in cryptocurrency.
Highgoldminings.com claims to be based in Vancouver, BC, and offers investment plans with guaranteed returns.
Cryptrade24 claims to be located in Churchill, Manitoba, and offers investment plans in cryptocurrency trading.
Sblock-Trade claims to be located in the United Kingdom, Colombia and Nova Scotia, and offers investment plans in cryptocurrency trading.
Coinmining.Ltd claims to be located in the United Kingdom, and offers investment plans in cryptocurrency trading.
Easemining
Easemining offers investment plans with different rates of return.
Crypto Climax claims to be registered in the United Kingdom. It offers investment packages with different rates of return.
Btccoinex claims to be registered in the United Kingdom, and offers investment plans with different rates of return.
Probtcminer offer investment plans with different rates of return by investing in startups and crowdfunding projects.
Forte-Miners claims to be incorporated in the United Kingdom, and offers investment plans with different rates of return by trading cryptocurrency.
CryptoWorld claims to be incorporated in the United Kingdom, and offers service plans with different rates of return by mining or trading in cryptocurrency.
BinaryOpt claims to be registered in the United Kingdom, and offers investment plans with different rates of return by mining and trading cryptocurrency.
Net Binary Trade claims to be based in the United Kingdom, and offers investment plans in cryptocurrencies, foreign currency options and commodities.
Unregistered Companies
The BCSC became aware of two businesses not registered to trade in, or advise on, securities or derivatives in BC.
OPTMiners.com falsely claims to be a subsidiary of a BC company, and claims to offer investment opportunities that promise immediate and high returns that are derived from Bitcoin mining.
Ziptradex claims to be based in California, and provides a fully-automated platform that accepts investments and makes payments of profit according to chosen terms.
Companies Not Recognized as an Exchange or Registered as a Dealer
The BCSC became aware of two businesses that have not been recognized as an exchange or registered as dealers in BC.
Cryptec offers an online cryptocurrency trading platform that BC residents can use to trade in cryptocurrency.
LAT Foundation Limited (LAToken)
LAToken claims to have offices in Moscow, Russia, and offers an online cryptocurrency trading platform that BC residents can use to trade in cryptocurrency.
Companies Offering Investments Without Filing a Prospectus
The BCSC became aware of two businesses promoting investments without filing a prospectus in BC.
BeFaster.fit Limited (BeFaster)
BeFaster promoted an initial coin offering (ICO) of BeFaster (BFCH) tokens, in which BC residents can participate.
The BCSC recently became aware of BC residents investing in shares of GTV Media Group Inc. (GTV) (a subsidiary of Saraca Media Group Inc.). GTV and Saraca Media Group Inc. are not registered to sell securities in BC and have not filed a prospectus with the BCSC.
Report a Concern
If you suspect an individual or company is engaging in this type of activity, contact BCSC Contact Centre immediately at 604-899-6854 or 1-800-373-6393 or through e-mail at [email protected]. You can also file a complaint or submit a tip anonymously using BCSC’s online complaint form.
InvestRight.org is the BC Securities Commission’s investor education website. Subscribe to receive email updates from BCSC InvestRight.
