Investor Alert for Oliver Briggs

The Nova Scotia Securities Commission is alerting investors that Oliver Briggs and oliverbriggs.com are not registered to trade in securities or derivatives in Nova Scotia.

Oliver Briggs claims to be an online brokerage specializing in cryptocurrency trading. It says it operates out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A recent warning notice issued by the St. Vincent and Grenadines Financial Services Authority confirms that Oliver Briggs is not registered or licensed with the authority.

At least one Nova Scotian investor lost money after opening an account with Oliver Briggs. The person was contacted directly by an Oliver Briggs representative after clicking on a social media ad. The representative instructed them to download software that gave the representative control over the investor’s computer. The representative then accessed the person’s bank accounts and sent money to a fake account. Requests to return the funds were ignored.

The commission urges Nova Scotians to exercise extreme caution when dealing with firms that are not registered in Nova Scotia. If you have been contacted by Oliver Briggs or have been approached with an investment opportunity you believe may be fraudulent, please contact the commission or the securities regulator in your jurisdiction.

Quotes:

“Being asked to download software that gives others the ability to access your computer is a huge red flag. This access provides fraudsters with the ability to access your most intimate personal and financial information – including your bank accounts – and puts you at significant risk for identity theft and scams.”

– Stephanie Atkinson, director of enforcement, Nova Scotia Securities Commission

Quick Facts:

• it is illegal to solicit investments in Nova Scotia without registering with the commission and complying with Nova Scotia securities laws, unless an exemption applies

Additional Resources:

To file a complaint or report a scam to the Nova Scotia Securities Commission: https://nssc.novascotia.ca/recognize-and-report-scam

To see if a company or person is registered, check the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Registration Search at http://www.aretheyregistered.ca/

Warning issued by the St. Vincent and Grenadines Financial Services Authority: https://svgfsa.com/warning-notice-oliver-briggs/