Boiler Room Scams

[anley]

Post Office boxes etc it's a sure sign of you know what.

Website first registered less than a year ago.

A website which basically tells you nothing.

A website with lots of flashy photos.

Where have we seen this all before?

Maybe there is a telephone number and a Mr Hendriks, maybe there's a Mr Smith working there as well, but so what?

I also don't see how a company can expect to get anything back from these scammers without being the law and/or expensive court cases, but where, in which country, and is that the country the scammers are based in?

All highly unlikely which is why you have to say scam UNLESS there's a case study which can be proved, perhaps written in a paper etc.

Plus, how much money is the above all going to take? I would think the starting point would be at least £10,000, if not £25,000+. But then how much will the company ask for, I bet to start with less than £2,000. Something is clearly not right there.

 

[wilvanbil103]

Believe what you like, but I think you are overly paranoid on this. This company exists and they are knowledgeable on this field. Of course they are professionals and will charge for their time. On an individual basis this is expensive, but usually more victims combine and the cost per person are not too high, and of course have to be seen in relation to your loss.
We all understand that it is very difficult to get money back from such scammers, but it is much more about doing something. Since most of us use their time to generate an income and the police is not able to adequately fight such crime, I have not come across any better option. have you?

 

[pboyles]

Believe what you like, but I think you are overly paranoid on this. This company exists and they are knowledgeable on this field. Of course they are professionals and will charge for their time. On an individual basis this is expensive, but usually more victims combine and the cost per person are not too high, and of course have to be seen in relation to your loss.
We all understand that it is very difficult to get money back from such scammers, but it is much more about doing something. Since most of us use their time to generate an income and the police is not able to adequately fight such crime, I have not come across any better option. have you?

William,

Have you recovered any money as a result of this? If you have not then a better option would have been to accept you were scammed and forget about it. Spending more money is not going to help you unless you recover more than you spend.

 

[anley]

This company via their website proports to be big in Europe yet nobody talks about them online and no proper links from other proper sites coming into their website.

Folks, it's not possible to be big without people linking or talking about you.

Sorry, but I cannot believe any of this, we've seen these 'recovery' companies in the past and ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN SCAMS.

Probabilities therefore suggest that this is yet another one.

 

[wilvanbil103]

William,

Have you recovered any money as a result of this? If you have not then a better option would have been to accept you were scammed and forget about it. Spending more money is not going to help you unless you recover more than you spend.

I agree, however with something like this there is never a 100% guarantee to recover any funds, and you have to be willing to put some more money at risk. Otherwise leave it, take your loss and move on.
No recovery of money so far...it is still too early to tell (G&M are working on this since about 4 months). Nevertheless, some interesting background information emerged already, which we would never have found otherwise.
Even if money cannot be recovered, this info might be quite interesting for enforcement authorities and/or publication. For me, this alone has already been worth the investment made.

 

[pboyles]

I agree, however with something like this there is never a 100% guarantee to recover any funds, and you have to be willing to put some more money at risk. Otherwise leave it, take your loss and move on.
No recovery of money so far...it is still too early to tell (G&M are working on this since about 4 months). Nevertheless, some interesting background information emerged already, which we would never have found otherwise.
Even if money cannot be recovered, this info might be quite interesting for enforcement authorities and/or publication. For me, this alone has already been worth the investment made.

Scroll down to the section called 'Recovery Rooms'.

http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Departments/ECD/Fraud/boilerroom.htm

 

[pboyles]

I really dont like the look of this.

http://boards.fool.co.uk/griffin-miller-europe-bv-12174040.aspx?sort=postdate

 

[123hf]

Banks never give voluntarily informations; you need an investigation company for this.
As a matter of a fact these intelligence agencies mostly know all of these banks who are cooperating with "Boiler rooms" or similar crooks. If you have lost lots of money you should think about engaging one of them. Especially because your "problem-bank" is in Asia. European banks have more regulations like FATH40, so they are more cooperativ in some cases. I also heard that Hong-Kong banks are willing to help.
Offcourse these crooks change their bank accounts to those countries where they can act anonymously. But even with trusts and other kinds of set-ups the agencies have their ways to find out who´s behind it.
Tell us more how Stratclyde Associates betrayed you, maybe we can learn from it.
And remember, doing nothing will NOT bring your money back.

Tks for the replay. Another guy from Stratclyde Associates call me today, using a different name, but with the same voice, now he told that, He is a specialist and work as independent trader, for the shares that I have with the market price is around 0,20 EU/share, he is working with a private American group that like to take over the company and are willing to pay 3.80 EU/share, but, for that he needs to form a block of 7 million shares, so, the company can get at least 51% of the shares. He guarantee the sell price when he get the total necessary shares, but for that each client need to buy at least another 7000 shares at 0.8 EU/share or pay to then an extra 5.600,00 EU, after you pay it they will sell all your shares and send the money to you.
They really try a lot, I let the guy talk at the phone to check how long they are willing to try to convice me, after 45 minutes he gave up, but told me that he will call me back if he can get the deal.
They work on the felling that you need to recovery your loss, showing a great profit that you can make just putting a small amount of money, but what you are doing is just making worst and given more money for these robbers.

 

[wilvanbil103]

Interesting..precisely the same story as the one that the guys from Dai-ichi Securities were giving. In their case it was a deal to buy shares from a chinese goldmining company at 1,0 EU for which a buyer would be willing to give 3,25 EU. Of course, all bull****!
Would be interesting to play along a little bit and get the details of the bank account to which the funds need to be wired. This is usually the only thing real in the whole story and gives maybe some hints for prosecution/identification.
rgds,
William

 

[wow2403]

I really dont like the look of this.

http://boards.fool.co.uk/griffin-miller-europe-bv-12174040.aspx?sort=postdate

I have been checking up Griffin&Miller and made contact to the dutch ministry of justice. They confirmed that G&M have a licence to make investigations. They are part of Interludium. I cannot imagine that the dutch justice department gives a licence to a "recovery scam unit".

 

[pboyles]

I have been checking up Griffin&Miller and made contact to the dutch ministry of justice. They confirmed that G&M have a licence to make investigations. They are part of Interludium. I cannot imagine that the dutch justice department gives a licence to a "recovery scam unit".

Wow2403

How much have you recovered so far as a result of paying people to investigate this for you?

 

[wow2403]

Nothing yet. Just started the investigation.

 

[AVN]

Nothing yet. Just started the investigation.

Do u know what their typical charges are?

 

[anley]

I have been checking up Griffin&Miller and made contact to the dutch ministry of justice. They confirmed that G&M have a licence to make investigations. They are part of Interludium. I cannot imagine that the dutch justice department gives a licence to a "recovery scam unit".

You may well have done this or you may not and just told us that you have.

Folks, I'm just getting the other point across, the boiler room/recovery water is extremly cloudy so proceed with the utmost caution.

Personally I think there's a 99% chance NO money will ever be recovered because the scammers know how to get their money out of the system, and quickly. There's an outside chance the scammer gets caught but the money is a lot harder and that's what people are really after here.

So are G&M legit, well it doesn't really matter as money paid to them is highly unlikely to get a result because it's just too damn complicated.

 

[karl_99]

Hi the above discussion is interesting but I've just been ripped off by a Boiler Room setup called 'Britannia Swiss Equities'. They sold me shares in a 'dodgy' company called 'BioDefense Corporation' in Boston. The Swiss people appeared legitimate (they had a website and gave an address in Zurich with a telephone number) but I indulged in several trades as they kept convincing me there was a sure fire profit. In my early trades at least I got some shares (probably worthless I now know) but I stupidly sent money for the last trade (£33,500.00) direct to a bank in Cyprus and heard no more about it - it was supposed to give a good deal on the dollar exchange. I see now their website has totally changed and shows a smiling girl instead of a more normal bank logo so presumably they have absconded with my money.
What I want to know is does anyone know this company and been ripped off by them? I assume the company has ripped off BioDefense Corp as well as they've kept the money instead of sharing it with them. Also is there any authority or body that might be worth approaching who could be useful to bring these people to justice or will they go on doing this for ever with impunity (FSA say they can't do much as it's outside the UK)?

Hi There,

i work for biodefense . i might be able to help you . contact me at us 1-917-239-2119

Hi All, I found this website today and am very glad I did. When you have been ripped of by scammers there seems to be knowhere to turn and becuase of certain laws nobody can help. I myself have purchased shared in Bio defense and they and 'Britannia Swiss have destroyed my life and the relationship with my family.

1st you recieve a call for a very enthusastic and very clued up individual who is convincing even as a sales person myself and I am very cautious of scams and protecting my money I always have been it is a very cleverly run scam as everywhere you look everything seems legitimate. Websites, Contact directly with Biodefense but and also a call from a very important person who will change your life. They have ruined 2 of my holidays as these calls always came when I was away and distrupted any chance I got to get away but it was always vital information. Once the money was transfered low and behold the calls were few and far between. And contact numbers they give you do not work and if they did you know it would cost a fortune as they are all around the world. I must stress this is a massive organised scam International.

Biodefense got in contact with me and said they do not know who sell on behalf of them as there are so many companies this is discraceful I now own a company and would not just trust anyone to represent my companys name.

When I couldnt get hold of Britannia Swiss I hassled and hassled them until I got a call when I did they said that the company had been brought out by a bigger more reliable company I cannot remember the name as I recieved 1 call only. Several months later I recieve a call form a company called 'Mercator Associates' another company who brought out the company that brought out 'Britanni Swiss'. It all seemed so unreal and hard to keep up with.

Mercator associates do still have a website and are aparently based in italy but really they could be anywhere in the world the contact i had 'Lloyd Fisher' if that is his real name called me when I was in spain to try and sell me more shared considering at this point it had been over a year and a half since my last investment it was a downer on my holiday and set the scam in stone.

The contact I had a Biodefense was 'Antony (Tony) Orth' and again seemed very helpful as they all are when they have your money and he said I am on the system as a shareholder. I even got a Share certificate that is so realistic I cant tell if it is fake and neither can anyone else how do you tell? And he said not to worry but these things take time.

This is a year later and the only reason people invest is beacause they believe they will turn their money round within months. Ow they do have a heart they only scam you for money that you can afford to lose very nice of them. That money was there but that amount of money nobody can afford to lose it another way to build trust. They use thousands of techniques to make you feel comfortable and with no reason to doubt why would you. It took months of convincing and although there was a risk there seemed you would at least make a few thousand when shares go live. Which still havent by the way.

No response to emails, cannot contact the number as it does not exist, and biodefense have not contacted me either. Its now nearly 3 years since the shares were brought and the calls and contact have filtered out over such a long time that your money could be anywhere and almost impossible to trace.

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM. IF BIODEFENSE ARE A LEGITIMATE COMPANY THEY NEED TO SORT THIS OUT AND FAST I WILL GET MY MONEY BACK PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL IF YOU FEEL THE SAME POWER IN NUMBERS.

Also please visit these links below to see the websites and the contacts that are behind this. It will only change under a different name. Its not only Biodefense either but they seemed to be the main target when the scam took place.

www.mercatorassociates.com
www.britanniaswissequities.com

This website no longer exists as I have just found out I have no more links to this company

Biodefense has to be liable for thier lack of knowledge of these scammers and should have more quality control in place.

There are millions of pounds in thier hands and I belioeve together we can find them.

Advise would be appreciated and if you agree have been scamed before show your support.

 

[Ivanhoe70]

Do u know what their typical charges are?

I’m a victim of FIB Trading. Griffin & Miller charged me for 2.100 Euro in total. I did not found this company by the Internet however. The Financial Police Unit in Groningen brought me in contact with them when I reported my fraud case to the Police. Although the police brought me in contact I did my own research before I became a client. First I checked the Dutch Chamber of commerce and found out that they have really three offices registered in the Netherlands. One in Zaandam, Rotterdam and Apeldoorn. The directors are also registered. One of them is mister Steffens, a bit of a famous police officer who was involved in the rescue of mister Heineken. (The kidnapped guy from the beer brewery). He works together with several crime journalists. You can find him at the internet (and of course I have contacted him). Another director is a mister Malinka. I found out that he is a former captain from the Dutch Special Forces. My research also reveilled that Grifin & Miller works for a Dutch crime program called “Opgelicht” on television. After my own ‘investigation’ I contacted the Dutch Ministry of Justice in The Hague: (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministe...ligheid-en-justitie/contact-met-dienst-justis). They told/wrote me that all three companies of Griffin & Miller/Interludium have actually a license for investigation and security services. They also told me that Dutch investigation companies are checked and supervised by a special unit from their local police units. To be absolute sure I contacted the “College for the protection of personal information” in Rijskwijk (070-8888500) and asked them if they were registered there. They confirmed me that they are registered there also as a private investigation company. When I became a client I received an agreement and a copy of their license from the Ministry of Justice. They did not promissed us (we have a group of six) to retreive or money but to investigate who is responsible. To see what is going on during their investigation, they created an online secure page and arranged a meeting for all victims. My lawyer (DLA Piper) has also access to this page. Just like the most victims I was very suspicious but I checked them out (I wish I did so with FIB Trading) before I became a client. But of course this is my story so I advice you to do some reseach yourself. At this moment we do not have our money back, but we know now who is responsible so we it is possible start a Legal Procedure soon.

 

[pboyles]

I'm afraid yours is a familiar story, many people have been ripped off by boiler rooms selling Biodefense shares, it has made the press several times as well. To date Biodefense has not even been listed on a stock exchange.

Bigbrains who was posting here supporting the company actually works for them. He is a convicted criminal and crack addict, you'll not be too surprised to hear he was convicted of securities fraud. Biodefense would have you believe they have nothing to do with these boiler rooms but you can be sure they are very closely linked.

Hi There,


Hi All, I found this website today and am very glad I did. When you have been ripped of by scammers there seems to be knowhere to turn and becuase of certain laws nobody can help. I myself have purchased shared in Bio defense and they and 'Britannia Swiss have destroyed my life and the relationship with my family.

1st you recieve a call for a very enthusastic and very clued up individual who is convincing even as a sales person myself and I am very cautious of scams and protecting my money I always have been it is a very cleverly run scam as everywhere you look everything seems legitimate. Websites, Contact directly with Biodefense but and also a call from a very important person who will change your life. They have ruined 2 of my holidays as these calls always came when I was away and distrupted any chance I got to get away but it was always vital information. Once the money was transfered low and behold the calls were few and far between. And contact numbers they give you do not work and if they did you know it would cost a fortune as they are all around the world. I must stress this is a massive organised scam International.

Biodefense got in contact with me and said they do not know who sell on behalf of them as there are so many companies this is discraceful I now own a company and would not just trust anyone to represent my companys name.

When I couldnt get hold of Britannia Swiss I hassled and hassled them until I got a call when I did they said that the company had been brought out by a bigger more reliable company I cannot remember the name as I recieved 1 call only. Several months later I recieve a call form a company called 'Mercator Associates' another company who brought out the company that brought out 'Britanni Swiss'. It all seemed so unreal and hard to keep up with.

Mercator associates do still have a website and are aparently based in italy but really they could be anywhere in the world the contact i had 'Lloyd Fisher' if that is his real name called me when I was in spain to try and sell me more shared considering at this point it had been over a year and a half since my last investment it was a downer on my holiday and set the scam in stone.

The contact I had a Biodefense was 'Antony (Tony) Orth' and again seemed very helpful as they all are when they have your money and he said I am on the system as a shareholder. I even got a Share certificate that is so realistic I cant tell if it is fake and neither can anyone else how do you tell? And he said not to worry but these things take time.

This is a year later and the only reason people invest is beacause they believe they will turn their money round within months. Ow they do have a heart they only scam you for money that you can afford to lose very nice of them. That money was there but that amount of money nobody can afford to lose it another way to build trust. They use thousands of techniques to make you feel comfortable and with no reason to doubt why would you. It took months of convincing and although there was a risk there seemed you would at least make a few thousand when shares go live. Which still havent by the way.

No response to emails, cannot contact the number as it does not exist, and biodefense have not contacted me either. Its now nearly 3 years since the shares were brought and the calls and contact have filtered out over such a long time that your money could be anywhere and almost impossible to trace.

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM. IF BIODEFENSE ARE A LEGITIMATE COMPANY THEY NEED TO SORT THIS OUT AND FAST I WILL GET MY MONEY BACK PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL IF YOU FEEL THE SAME POWER IN NUMBERS.

Also please visit these links below to see the websites and the contacts that are behind this. It will only change under a different name. Its not only Biodefense either but they seemed to be the main target when the scam took place.

www.mercatorassociates.com
www.britanniaswissequities.com

This website no longer exists as I have just found out I have no more links to this company

Biodefense has to be liable for thier lack of knowledge of these scammers and should have more quality control in place.

There are millions of pounds in thier hands and I belioeve together we can find them.

Advise would be appreciated and if you agree have been scamed before show your support.

 

[pboyles]

Karl99

Are you in the UK? If you are I have a suggestion for you.

 

[friday76]

Jefferson Holt now added!

Add this one to the list of boiler rooms. Had a phone call today from Neill Ford, saying he was from the Quorum Financial group .com, and they were taking over the book of GandR capitalmanagement, a boiler room that was liquidated in July of last year.

A quick search shows there is no such organisation, no such website and the number he called from is not known. Clearly a boiler room. Stay clear of Quorum or anyone who rings you up out of the blue. Stick to the main markets or low interest accounts.

Another one is www.blackrosefinancial.com, this outfit is banned in Sweden but apparently not in the UK. Are we just slow or stupid? FSA is being informed.

Let me know of current boiler rooms as I am creating a website to neutralise these criminals. They must be current, i.e. e mails, correspondence from them in the last 3 or 4 months. What they do is take out a website subscription for 12 or 24 months. The most lucrative phase will be 3 to 9 months and 3 to 20 months for the 1 and 2 year website respectively. Please send your fears by return and I will tell you how you can locate these guys and they can be caught in the act. All that is required is their e mail address.
friday76

 

[anley]

Guys, the FSA is worse than useless in all of this. Don't expect anything from them in this matter or any other matter that's supposed to protect us retail clients from legit or non-legit firms.

All they're good at in having pointless meetings and writing useless strategy reports, ie all talk, no action.

The FSA - the poster boy of useless bureaucratic government waste.