Investors lose millions in Forex trading scam
(Toronto, Ontario – December 3, 2013) - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - GTA Financial Crime unit has charged the two directors of InvestTechFX Technologies Incorporated for allegedly defrauding investors out of millions of dollars.
Left: Rony Spektor; Right: Alan Zer
InvestTechFX Technologies Incorporated (InvestTechFX) is a web-based foreign exchange trading company. The RCMP’s investigation revealed a fraudulent scheme spanning over three continents and 10 countries, which has inflicted millions of dollars in losses for victims from around the world.
The RCMP alleges that between January 1, 2008 and November 25, 2013, Alan ZER (48 years old) and Rony SPEKTOR (51 years old) operated their website to draw foreign exchange investors worldwide into opening trading accounts. Investors deposited funds into the accounts believing that InvestTechFX was facilitating active trading in the foreign exchange (forex) market. However, the investigation has revealed that InvestTechFX did not honour the client trading orders. The funds were simply transferred into personal accounts of ZER and SPEKTOR. Investors’ attempts to withdraw their funds were denied by InvestTechFX through allegedly false, misleading and deceitful justifications.
On November 28, 2013, RCMP investigators executed a search warrant at an office in Toronto where the majority of the victims were enticed to transfer funds into their InvestTechFX accounts. During the search warrants, police found and seized evidence consistent with ‘boiler room’ activities. Three individuals found working in these premises were arrested and released on a ‘Promise to Appear’ at the Toronto West Courthouse (1000 Finch Ave. West) on January 3rd, 2014.
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of ZER and SPEKTOR, who are alleged to be the masterminds of this elaborate scheme. Their whereabouts remain unknown to police. RCMP laid ‘Informations’ on ZER and SPEKTOR at Toronto Old City Hall Courthouse (60 Queen St. West).
“Today’s frauds continue to grow more complex through the use of technology, which highlights the continued need for awareness and due diligence”, stated Superintendent Dave BELLAMY, the Officer in Charge of the RCMP GTA Financial Crime units. “We remain committed to detecting, disrupting and dismantling these types of organizations in our efforts to maintain investor confidence and protect the integrity of our economy.”
Investors who believe they have been defrauded by InvestTechFX Technologies Inc. are asked to contact the RCMP GTA Financial Crime unit at 1-855-253-7267.
The RCMP would like to thank United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China and numerous agencies in the United States for their assistance in this investigation.
