Carbon trading

[Meatball1051]

Hi I'm new to the site and was just wondering if any type of carbon credit trading is genuine, I'm a recent graduate and keep seeing job adverts for positions in this field but have read mixed reports. Thanks for any replies.

 

[pboyles]

Hi I'm new to the site and was just wondering if any type of carbon credit trading is genuine, I'm a recent graduate and keep seeing job adverts for positions in this field but have read mixed reports. Thanks for any replies.

In theory some are genuine but what you're seeing advertised will most likely be cold calling sales jobs where you ring up pensioners and other vulnerable people and attempt to sell them worthless crap.

It's one step up from stealing, though it seems some people have no problem with that.

 

[Mrs M]

The main problem with carbon credits is that it's a really new market, so no one knows where they're headed, value-wise. They could be the next big thing. They could be worthless. Where the mis-selling comes in is that pushy salespeople are telling people they'll get XXX% returns on their investment. They might, but it's very high-risk.

 

[anley]

Where the mis-selling comes in is that pushy salespeople are telling people they'll get XXX% returns on their investment. They might, but it's very high-risk.

No they 'might' not.

Profit for the investor will NEVER happen. The sole aim of the carbon credit scammers is simple, to sell something that's worth say £50 for £1,000. Think about it, like the land banking scammers if they actually sell something to you there is in effect no fraud. For example, if I sell an iPad to you for £10,000 and give you the iPad, where's the crime?

How can the scammers do this? Simple, tell naive people that they know an easy way to make big money!! Why are the investors naive, because -

a) they haven't realised that 100% of cold calls are scams (even if the original call just wants to 'send some interesting research' - that folks, is just the start of the setup process)
b) They haven't got a clue what carbon credits are and so rely on the charming salesmen for ALL their information and research
c) They're greedy so when a stranger 'tells' them how to easily double and triple their money without doing any work they i) lap it up and ii) disregard ALL common sense, the potnetial profits (carrot) really does blind them
d) They don't know the value of INDEPENDENT RESEARCH and probably worse, don't know how to do it
e) They haven't realised that the internet is the best anti-scam tool ever invented, clue: it's all about INFORMATION and INFORMATION IS POWER
f) They understand little if anything about general investing, ie projected yearly returns above 25% (in general) should come with a warning, ie they'e not normal which means EVEN MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED.

Sadly there was a women here (a mother in law) that recently got scammed by buying carbon credits. All the usual nonsense of sending money offshore to weird sounding names and account etc.

I really fear for this lady because apprantly she still thinks the compajny she dealt with is legit. That makes her what's called a 'super mark' is because it's far easier to scam a proven mug than to an unproven one. So you can bet the scammers are going to come back to the well time and time again with this lady till the well is either dry or she realises just what's gone on.

Sadly these sorts of scammers have no morals, and if the opportunity arises they will try to TAKE THE PERSON FOR EVERYTHING THEY HAVE. Countless examples of this over the last few years.

Ask here if in doubt over ANYTHING especially when it comes to charming salesmen from flashy sounding companies offering mouth watering business deals where the money has to be wired to offshore accounts and you can normally bet the account name has nothing to do with the name of the flashy sounding company.

 

[mizuchi]

Look this is a mixed bag. Carbon credits as a commodity do exist, although its an oxymoron because its a certificate saying you HAVENT produced a tonne of carbon - eh semantics.

there 2 types of carbon credits which companies who's adverts your seeing, sell to the 'investors' ( again for these companies they mostly work off a list of people who have/still/used invest in any shape or form). there are btw many other type of credits and derives.

Vers - volountary emission reductions
and
Cers- certified emissions reductions.

VERS - these credits are given by private companies to the producer, and are NOT suitable for investments purposes. they are otc, so companies like google and nike may buy some just to show their green credentials. If your thinking about going for these roles, find out what type of credit they sell. if its VER - stay clear.

Cers- are certified by the UN and are traded on exchanges. there is money to be made from them BUT as the post above states. the maority of companies, when selling to joe public put a massive premiuim on them, some upto 400%. where the scam comes in (apart from the massive premium) is the time frame these guys give. 1 year, 6 months, blah blah. aint gonna happen.

Could this be the biggest commodity market in the future, possibly, could it fizzle out, possibly.
There is alot of misconception about the area, and the economic climate doesnt help.

As a recent graduate im sure you can get onto some very good schemes in established financial institutes who do green products. you jut have to do your homework and keep your conscience intact.

 

[jamescummins]

Carbon credits are only really traded by major energy consumers, utilities, and a few banks. Trying to dabble in a physically delivered commodity is a complete and utter waste of time for an individual, carbon or any other. The information gap between the private individual and the firms involved is ridiculously huge. If you're going to trade them in any way, shape, or form, then you have to be trading the futures via an established broker - not the physical certificates. The only certificates even worth trading if you have the capital, and resources and EUA's.

If you're trying to get a job and are particularly interested in traded carbon (not sure why, it's a very small market in the wider scheme of things and isnt really a standalone market at all) then you should try the utilities grad schemes like RWE, Eon, BP etc

 

[mizuchi]

I still think there is money to be made for the average joe who doesnt care too much about the intricaies of the markets, from physical credits. You just need to get in at a good price, find an honest broker. im laughing while im writing.

you should try the utilities grad schemes like RWE, Eon, BP etc

^ ya and that.

 

[fonze]

I bought credits and sold them on a trading exchange , the profit was low but was a profit was made, I believe this shows the market is moving and working

 

[trendie]

BBC News - EU parliament rejects plan to boost carbon trading

carbon trading (plunged) to around £5 a tonne.

even if it wasnt scammy to begin with, there is now no profitable viable market.

 

[fonze]

This is negative feedback for the companies involved but the ETS scheme mentioned is an internal trading platform for power stations and industrial plants and these credits can not be sourced or owned by a private investor and therefore have no clarity on an investors holding. If of course the slump in pricing reflects onto the CER and VER market then investors would look to be at risk and may look to exit the market as soon as possible otherwise they may find to make a lose later down the line. Interesting report considering the main polluters are the power stations involved in the scheme and yet the prices have dropped and shows the turbulence within the market.

 

[BobbyBB]

Bad news for the Carbon Credit scammers (and the cold callers are ALL scammers)

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: EU Emissions Trading in Tatters (As It Should Be)

Guess they'll have to shift tactics to sell -

Fine Wines
Land that's 'soon' to get planning permission
Rare Earth Metals
Coconut planations
African Land etc

The sad part of all of this is the people who have got taken by investing in Carbon credits will be the same people that get taken for the above. If you're gullible, if you're in danger of falling for strangers that call offering easy money please learn from these pages.

Protect yourself - Use the internet - Ask Questions - don't invest in things you don't understand via cold calling scammers - Research who you're REALLY doing business with (clue, you won't find much, the company they use will be new which means it will have NO track record of success, a massive red flag if ever there was one).