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SHAREHOLDER WARNING – Share Scam

  • Created on the 15 November, 2011.

15/11/2011

WARNING: We have been made aware of continued questionable approaches to Shareholders by several companies operating out of New York; The Tate and Carver Consultancy, The Rockridge Consultancy and The Easton Consultancy to name a few. We believe these companies are operating a scam as they are offering severely inflated prices for shares and we have reported this. We advise Shareholders not to engage with these or any other suspicious companies.

In recent years, many companies have become aware that their shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas based ‘brokers’ who target UK shareholders, offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. These operations are commonly known as ‘boiler rooms’. These ‘brokers’ can be very persistent and extremely persuasive, and a 2006 survey by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has reported that the average amount lost by investors is around £20,000.

It is not just the novice investor that has been duped in this way; many of the victims had been successfully investing for several years. Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy or sell shares at a discount or inflated price or offers of free company reports. If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:

* Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation

* Check that they are properly authorised by the FSA by visiting http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/

Report the matter to the FSA by calling 0845 606 1234 or use the online links below

* If the calls persist, hang up.

The FSA also maintains on its website a list of unauthorised overseas firms who are targeting, or have targeted, UK investors and any approach from such organisations should be reported to the FSA so that this list can be kept up to date and any other appropriate action can be considered.  Please note if you deal with an unauthorised firm, you would not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

You can also notify the FSA with regards to Unauthorised overseas firms operating in the UK by completing an online form at:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml

For Unauthorised UK firms please use the following online form:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/form.shtml

More detailed information on this or similar activity can be found on the FSA website:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/

Please also see: http://www.sec.gov/answers/advancefeefraud.htm