MONTRÉAL, July 3, 2024
/CNW/ - The Autorité des marchés financiers ("AMF") is warning
Quebeckers about fraudulent websites that offer private loans with
attractive interest rates.
The scam is always the same:
- The victims apply for a loan from a fraudulent website
- The criminals require certain fees to be paid to "open a file",
"pay professional fees" or "pay an insurer in order to secure the
loan"
- The victims are asked to send the fees by Interac transfer to
various e-mail addresses, including personal ones
- After paying the fees, the victims never receive the loan
funds
Identity theft
Websites used by criminals include:
- paolofolco-courtier.ca
- landry-courtier.com
- courtiercanada.ca
- courtier-canada.com
- tremblay-solutions.ca
- sirois-finance.ca
Some fraudulent websites are counterfeit sites that use the
names of actual representatives and/or firms registered with the
AMF, which can cause confusion. For example:
- Paolo Folco has been registered
in mortgage brokerage since February 1,
2013 and in insurance of persons since August 19, 2014
- Bruno Landry Courtier Assurance-crédit inc. has been registered
in commercial-lines damage insurance since March 6, 2003
- Tremblay Solutions Financières inc. has been registered in
insurance of persons since February 5,
2009
The AMF wishes to emphasize that none of the duly
registered representatives and firms listed above solicits or
advertises to the public on the aforementioned fraudulent
websites.
Furthermore, no firm by the name of "Paolofolco-courtier",
"Courtier Canada", "Landry Courtier", or "Sirois Finances" is
registered with the AMF.
The AMF also wishes to emphasize that the offering of private
loans is not regulated by the AMF. For an individual or firm to
offer private loans, it must be registered with the Office de la
protection du consommateur.
How to protect yourself
We recommend you perform the following checks and steps before
taking out a private loan or purchasing financial products:
- For private loans, check with the Office de la protection du
consommateur (OPC) to find out whether the individual or firm
you're communicating with is registered with the OPC
- For financial products, check the Register of firms and
individuals authorized to practise or contact the AMF
Information Centre to find out whether the individual or firm
your communicating with is registered with the AMF
- If the individual or firm is registered with the OPC or the
AMF, verify the individual's or firm's identity by contacting them
using the contact information provided by the OPC or the AMF
- Never share your personal information or transfer any money
before performing these checks
About the Autorité des marchés financiers
In its role as regulator, the Autorité des marchés financiers
acts to maintain a financial sector that is dynamic, operates with
integrity and warrants public confidence. It regulates, in
whole or in part, activities in the following sectors: insurance,
securities and derivatives, distribution of financial products and
services, deposit institutions, mortgage brokerage and credit
assessment.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Media only:
Sylvain
Théberge: 514-940-2176
sylvain.theberge@lautorite.qc.ca
Information
Centre:
1-877-525-0337
Website:
lautorite.qc.ca
LinkedIn:
Autorité des marchés financiers
X
@lautorite
SOURCE Autorité des marchés financiers