SEC warns public against online investments schemes

CEBU CITY – The Securities and Exchange Commission has warned the public against persons posing as investment solicitors representing organizations not registered with the SEC.

Vanessa Almeda, SEC-Cebu information officer, said their Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) has discovered five unregistered firms soliciting from unsuspecting victims to invest with them online. 

Almeda identified the firms as Great4 International Marketing Corporation which is allegedly doing business under the name and style of Home of Organic Wellness; Sky International Trade Company Limited / Philippine88.com; Ground Zero Poultry; AVZ Ventures / AVZ Ventures, Inc.; and Global Booking Hub which is engaging through Global Booking Hub.com / GBH / GBH-12 Consumer Goods Trading. 

She said an initial investigation disclosed that Home of Organic Wellness has been enticing the public to invest in the company through membership packages for a fee of P7,000 each that entitle would-be investors lofty designations, such as marketing director, marketing coordinator, marketing specialist, marketing officer, and brand ambassador. She added that Home of Organic Wellness has no secondary license to solicit investments and is based in Quezon City. 

At Sky International Trade Company, would-be investors are told to register on their website and choose nine “VIP plans” with online orders worth P200 up to P50,000. “The investor can earn P20 to P2,400 daily depending on what plan they get. An investor can also earn from direct order rebate equivalent to 10% and 5% for indirect order rebate,” the EIPD said. 

The poultry farm offers an opportunity to its lenders to earn an amount of savings while contributing to the business’ growth. They may opt to invest a minimum amount of P20,000 with guaranteed money back of 8% monthly, or a total of 48% returns semi-annually. 

AVZ Ventures, on the other hand, also offers schemes that focus on the referral and recruitment of new members to gain profit. While the Global Booking is a group of persons claiming to be engaged in delivery service, foreign exchange, and appears to be promoting “Tora Token,” a token with corresponding value depending on the amount invested.  

“Global Booking has a DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) registration operating under the name of GBH-12 Consumer Goods Trading with certificate number 3356904 operated by a certain Masahiko Ferrer Tanaka. (One is) registered as (a) corporation but based in Quezon City but does not have a secondary license to solicit investment, AVZ Ventures Inc. is the name,” Almeda told the Philippine News Agency and she advised Cebuanos who have come across these groups to report to them to the authorities. (John Rey Saavedra)