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Aeon Group International
Aeon Group International -
Waarschuwing FSA Japan - 2017-Dec-31
Investment Fraud - Investors Alert
1. Today, so-called "Cold Calling," a fraudulent practice aimed at soliciting investors, is conducted all over the world. "Cold-calling" is a practice where by an entity disguises itself as a brokerage firm or an asset management firm and approaches potential investors via non face-to-face channels, such as by phone, fax, and emails, in order to solicit investment in securities or financial products. Typically, a "cold caller" makes unsolicited calls to potential investors, cajoles them into deciding to purchase certain securities, and then, becomes unavailable for contact after the investor sends the money for that purchase. As a result, the investors cannot obtain the securities although they made the payment, and they also cannot get back the money they paid. Investors need to be more careful and vigilant, as cold callers have been using more varied and more sophisticated tactics. (For example, some cold callers execute transactions properly and make profits for investors at first. Then, they solicit bigger transaction and make the investors transfer the money for it. After that, the cold callers disappear.)
2. In most countries, a person is required to be registered with or licensed by the national regulatory body before conducting solicitation of securities transactions. However, cold-callers do not have such registration or licenses. One of the characteristics of cold callers is that it is extremely difficult to discover their whereabouts. Many cold callers indicate their office locations on their websites (or documents sent to investors), but they rarely operate at that location. Apparently, cold callers intentionally hide their whereabouts, so that they can avoid being visited by the investors they approach. Notably, it is very typical that cold callers claim that they are located in a country that is different from the location of the prospective victim. For example, there are many cases in which cold callers that have approached American or European investors claims that to have an office located in Japan (at a building in Tokyo, for instance.)
3. The FSA has received extensive information from overseas investors and foreign regulators with regard to cold callers who claim to be located in Japan. The FSA has made a list of entities which are not registered with or authorized by the FSA under the Financial Instrument and Exchange Act of Japan. Investors should be very careful and vigilant about conducting business with these entities, potentially opting against conducting any transactions via these entities.
4. Recognizing the need for cooperation among securities regulators in order to combat cold calling, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) - the international body consisted of securities regulators around the world - publicized a statement for investors alert on cold calling in February 2002 (see attachment). In the context of such international cooperation, the FSA brings attention and warning to investors by putting the list of suspected cold-callers below. Likewise, foreign regulators publicize the same kind of list and issue warnings to investors on their own websites. When you are solicited by an entity to invest in certain securities, it is very important for you to check the list below as well as other regulators' websites in advance of making decisions.
5. It has been noted that the entities listed below do not cover all exiting cold callers in the world. Other cold callers may exist. Therefore, it is recommended that investors check not only the list below, but also the "List of licensed (registered) Financial Institutions" and confirm whether the entity is registered with the FSA. If not registered, sufficient caution is necessary, such as not having a business with such entities.
2017-08-23, https://www.fca.org.uk/news/warnings/atsuko-ventures: Atsuko Ventures Warnings Published: 23/08/2017 Last updated: 23/08/2017 We believe this firm has been providing financial services or products in the UK without our authorisation. Find out why to be especially wary of dealing with this unauthorised firm and how to protect yourself from scammers. Almost all firms and individuals offering, promoting or selling financial services or products in the UK have to be authorised by us. However, some firms act without our authorisation and some knowingly run investment scams. This firm is not authorised by us and is targeting people in the UK. Based upon information we hold, we believe it is carrying on regulated activities which require authorisation. Atsuko Ventures Address: 2-18 Nakanoshina, 3-Chome, Kita-Ku, Osaka, 530-8252, Japan Telephone: 816 4560 4045 Fax: 816 7832 3046 Email: contact@atsukovent.com Website: www.atsukovent.com How to protect yourself We strongly advise you to only deal with financial firms that are authorised by us, and check the Financial Services Register to ensure they are. It has information on firms and individuals that are, or have been, regulated by us. If you want to check a consumer credit firm that may not yet have been authorised by us, please also check the Interim Permission Register (link is external). If a firm does not appear on the Register but claims it does, contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768. There are more steps you should take to avoid scams and unauthorised firms. You should also be aware that if you give money to an unauthorised firm, you will not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (link is external) or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (link is external) (FSCS) if things go wrong. Report an unauthorised firm If you think you have been approached by an unauthorised firm or contacted about a scam, you should contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768. If you were offered, bought or sold shares, you can use our reporting form.
2018-06-04,
Public warning by Finansinspektionen Sweden against Aeon Group International:
Investor alert: Aeon Group International
2018-06-04
Swedish
It has come to the attention of Finansinspektionen (FI), the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, that persons claiming to represent Aeon Group International are offering Swedish investors to trade with securities.
FI has investigated the matter and has not been able to determine that Aeon Group International is a going concern. Aeon Group International is neither authorised by FI to conduct securities business or other financial services in Sweden nor under FI's supervision. FI has not received any notification of cross-border activities from other EEA countries. Aeon Group International is also not authorised to provide financial services according to the supervisory authority of the country in which the company claims to be domiciled.
FI warns investors and others about doing business with firms that are not authorised to offer financial services. The list of companies authorised to offer financial services can be found at www.fi.se under Company Register.
Aeon Group International has a website (www.aeongroup-intl.com) and is using the following contact information:
4th floor Kioicho Building
3-12 Kioi-cho
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0094
Japan
Telefon: +81 (3) 45 80 2113
Email: info@aeongroup-intl.com
This warning alert was received from an external source, see Finansinspektionen, Sverige / Sweden.