Amidst the growing interest in EVs, opportunistic scammers have seized upon this trend to lure unsuspecting investors. Recent reports highlight fraudulent schemes targeting Belgian consumers under the guise of “eco parking” — networks of charging stations for electric cars. These schemes promise substantial returns, leveraging the appeal of green investments.
How EV and Precious Metals are Used to Scam People
The Financial Services and Markets Authority of Belgium has flagged a concerning trend: scammers are enticing individuals with promises of high returns through investments in precious metals or electric car charging stations (“ecoparking”). Why precious metals and charging stations you ask?
The Attraction of Precious Metals
Precious metals like gold and silver have long been symbols of wealth and stability. Investors are often drawn to their perceived value as safe-haven assets during economic uncertainty. Scammers capitalize on this attraction by offering investments in these metals, often without physical delivery or proper documentation, leaving investors vulnerable to misleading schemes.
The Promise of Electric Car Charging Stations
With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), infrastructure development, such as charging stations, has become essential. Scammers exploit the growing interest in sustainability and green technologies by promising high returns from investments in “ecoparking” networks. These schemes may present themselves as innovative opportunities in the booming EV market but can mask misleading intent.
The Risks Behind the Offers
Despite the promises of high yields, these investment opportunities often conceal fraudulent schemes. Individuals have reported receiving offers via phone calls and emails, spurred by online advertisements on social media and dubious news sites. These schemes, however, frequently lack the necessary regulatory approvals and are orchestrated by unauthorized entities.
The Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) has flagged several websites and entities for operating without the required authorization in Belgium. Among them are:
- Fyamcapital.com: the fraudsters used the following email addresses: [email protected]; [email protected] and [email protected]
- Monacces.shellrecharges.eu: the fraudsters used the following email address: [email protected]
- Plenitudeeurope.com: the fraudsters used the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].
The above companies are not authorized to provide investment services in Belgium.
Take note: the scammers behind the websites Plenitudeeurope.com and Shellrecharges.eu take on the identity of, respectively, Eni and Shell, two major players in the energy sector.
The FSMA thus strongly advises against responding to any offers of financial service made by the companies listed above and against transferring money to any bank account number they might mention.
In order to avoid fraud, the FSMA makes the following recommendations to investors:
- Always check the identity of the company (company name, home country, registered office, etc.). If the company cannot be clearly identified, it should not be trusted.
- Always verify if the company in question has the requisite authorization. To this end, an easy search on the FSMA’s website will do. Take note!
- Always beware of ‘cloned firms’: companies that pass themselves off as different, lawful companies even though they have no connection with them.
- A close look at the email addresses or contact details of the companies in question may prove useful in detecting this type of fraud and preventing it.
More than ever, prudence is necessary. In case of any doubt, and before making any (more) payments, do not hesitate to contact the FSMA using the consumer contact form. As well, please feel free to notify it of any contact you may have had with a suspicious company that has not yet been the subject of a warning by the FSMA.
If you have been a victim of investment fraud, the FSMA advises you to file a complaint with the local police or with the judicial authorities.