Investor Alert: VenDigital Platform (formerly IB Platform)

Be an informed investor - Don't be fooled by fraudsters misrepresenting themselves 

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2023 /CNW/ - The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is warning Canadian investors not to be fooled by VenDigital Platform.

We are issuing this alert further to a scam we were warning about in May (see Investor Alert: IB Platform, May 8, 2023) and again in August (see Investor Alert: IB Platform is not affiliated with CMC Markets, August 29, 2023).

In communications with investors, VenDigital Platform is implying to be a trading platform regulated by the former Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), and the former Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA). VenDigital Platform also implies that it is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), by presenting information to investors with regulatory logos and generating fraudulent versions of IIROC's Advisor Report. VenDigital Platform is not a member of CIRO, nor was it a member of the former IIROC or the MFDA. VenDigital Platform is also not a member of CIPF.

CIRO has noted a spike in impersonation schemes. In communications with investors, fraudsters claim to be associated with legitimate firms, posing as registered individuals or regulators. If you suspect anything unusual, always independently verify that the person calling or emailing you is the person they claim to be.

Often, the name given is a real individual's name, and the fraud is only revealed by a bogus email domain or phone number. Do not rely on unsolicited information, do your own research online, and contact the individual advisor, the firm, or the regulator directly to confirm it was them who had contacted you. CIRO will never ask for your banking or credit card information or copies of identification documents. Additionally, CIRO does not provide assistance with recovering funds, nor do we ask for or take payment from investors.

Fraudsters also try to imitate legitimate financial institutions and send fake emails requesting personal or financial information. These are called phishing emails. Make sure you delete phishing emails and do not click on anything. They can carry harmful viruses that may infect your computer and steal your sensitive information.

Know exactly what you are investing in. Make sure you understand how the investment, product, or service works. Get a second opinion and seek professional advice about the investment.

Investors should also check the background, qualifications and any disciplinary history of investment advisors registered with CIRO or the CSA by checking the free AdvisorReport for advisors registered with investment dealers, or the CSA's National Registrant Search.

If you believe you have been a victim of this or a similar scam, immediately contact your bank, local police, your provincial securities commission, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada's debt and equity marketplaces. CIRO is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians' trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit CIRO.ca. 

Please direct all other inquiries to our Complaints & Inquiries team: 1-877-442-4322 (Canada/US), 800-5555-2323 (Outside Canada/US), or by completing our Secure Contact Form

SOURCE Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)