Scammers are continuing to target investors with fake, high-yield bond offerings and using high-profile financial institutions’ likenesses to lure unsuspecting investors.
Aviva Investors, the global asset manager of Aviva plc has issued a warning to the public about a scam operation in this market. It has issued a warning on its Australian website.
“Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd (“Aviva Investors”) has been made aware of a financial scam currently underway where members of the public and financial advice firms are being approached by individuals fraudulently representing themselves as our employees to pitch fake investment schemes. This offer is supported by fake marketing materials that make unauthorised use of Aviva Investors corporate branding,” the company said in a statement.
“Aviva Investors does not offer direct investment products to members of the public or financial advice firms and does not have any connection to anyone offering these products.”
Also read: Bond Scammers Now Impersonating Barrenjoey
The Australian Financial Review, cited one email it has seen which offers a CBA-branded one-year fixed bond, at a rate of 9.775 per cent, via Aviva Investors, with a minimum investment of $100,000. Upon analysis the scammers did use an actual CBA bond number, but it was issued in 2018, matures in 2028 and is denominated in South African rand.
Scammers have been increasingly targeting bond investors and those looking at other more stable fixed-income instruments.
Whilst scam emails and offers are becoming more sophisticated and often using high-quality documents, in this case, the email was from the domain @avivabonds.com.au, which is not Aviva’s domain.
To learn more about protecting yourself from scams, please visit ACCC’s Scamwatch website.
If you believe you might be a victim of financial product scams, please report to the Australian Securities & Investments Commission using the online reporting tool on ASIC’s website here.
