B
Black Swan
Only 38,000? Pfttt!! T2W has got over 200,000....
UK regulator is taking the unusual step of contacting 38,000 potential share fraud targets after recovering a "suckers list" used by boiler room fraudsters.
The Financial Services Authority plans to write to the thousands of people on the list (which contains phone numbers, names and addresses) warning them that their details are circulating among boiler room share fraud scammers. Boiler rooms normally operate outside the UK, outside the reach of regulators and compensation schemes. Fraudsters use high-pressure sales techniques to sell non-tradeable, overpriced or non-existent shares.
Target lists maintained by the fraudsters sometimes feature notes on an intended mark's interests and list of blue-chip shares they already hold. The list is thought to be in active use.
Jonathan Phelan, the FSA's head of unauthorised business, explained: "This is the biggest list we've ever recovered and by acting quickly and contacting every single person on it we're hoping we can stop people losing money. Boiler room fraudsters often sound professional so it's easy to be drawn in by their overblown claims and give them money to invest. The reality is however that the shares are worthless or don't exist and the money is lost forever."
An FSA statement provides a list of tips to avoid getting scammed. Potential investors should regard cold calls with skepticism. Checking the FSA Register to make sure they are dealing with an authorised dealer is also good advice.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/19/share_scam_sucker_list_warning/
UK regulator is taking the unusual step of contacting 38,000 potential share fraud targets after recovering a "suckers list" used by boiler room fraudsters.
The Financial Services Authority plans to write to the thousands of people on the list (which contains phone numbers, names and addresses) warning them that their details are circulating among boiler room share fraud scammers. Boiler rooms normally operate outside the UK, outside the reach of regulators and compensation schemes. Fraudsters use high-pressure sales techniques to sell non-tradeable, overpriced or non-existent shares.
Target lists maintained by the fraudsters sometimes feature notes on an intended mark's interests and list of blue-chip shares they already hold. The list is thought to be in active use.
Jonathan Phelan, the FSA's head of unauthorised business, explained: "This is the biggest list we've ever recovered and by acting quickly and contacting every single person on it we're hoping we can stop people losing money. Boiler room fraudsters often sound professional so it's easy to be drawn in by their overblown claims and give them money to invest. The reality is however that the shares are worthless or don't exist and the money is lost forever."
An FSA statement provides a list of tips to avoid getting scammed. Potential investors should regard cold calls with skepticism. Checking the FSA Register to make sure they are dealing with an authorised dealer is also good advice.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/19/share_scam_sucker_list_warning/
