The Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB) is warning about another cryptocurrency scam making the rounds.
GoldberryCo is encouraging people to invest through social media, news articles and spoofed websites of legitimate companies, according to FCNB.
It is also using the names of journalists and celebrities in order to endorse its crypto-trading platform.
Officials say victims are pressured to deposit at least $250 with the assurance they can withdraw it at any time.
Some investors have been able to take out some of their money, but any requests to withdraw all funds fail, and the fraudsters disappear.
Marissa Sollows, director of communications and public affairs at FCNB, said 27 New Brunswickers have lost a total of more than $23,000.
“The scam targeted people of all ages, professions and from around our province,” said Sollows. “Victims ranged from their 40s into their 80s and they lost anywhere from $250 to more than $12,000.”
GoldberryCo, which is operating through the websites goldberryco.com and goldbrco.com, is not registered to sell investments in New Brunswick or anywhere else in Canada, said FCNB.
Sollows said if the person or company you are talking to is not registered, it is a major red flag of fraud.
“One of the first steps New Brunswickers can do to protect themselves from investment scams is to check the registration of the individual and the company trying to sell them the investment before they part with their money,” she said.
You can do so through the National Registration Search tool, which can be found by clicking here.
Since Jan. 1, FCNB has issued alerts on 13 companies claiming to provide online cryptocurrency trading services to New Brunswickers that are not registered to deal or advise in securities.
“Crypto scams are becoming more prevalent around the world, and the money lost to these scammers is staggering and, in most cases, permanent,” said Sollows.
If you believe you were a victim of the GoldberryCo scam or any other investment scam, contact FCNB at 1-866-933-2222 or online.
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