A SEC das Filipinas emite uma ordem de cessar e desistir contra o esquema de negociação cripto da BG Wealth

• A SEC das Filipinas emitiu uma ordem de Cessação e Abstenção (Cease and Desist) à BG Wealth por falta de conformidade e classificou-a como fraude financeira.

Após cerca de um ano a operar em várias jurisdições, incluindo os EUA, Samoa e as Filipinas, a Comissão de Valores Mobiliários e Câmbios das Filipinas (SEC) emitiu finalmente uma ordem de Cessação e Abstenção contra a BG Wealth Sharing Ltd. Através do Departamento de Execução e Proteção do Investidor do regulador filipino, determinou à empresa, incluindo a sua administração, representantes e promotores, que interrompesse as suas transações e atividades de marketing.

What is BG Wealth

BG Wealth is a crypto scam ring founded and operated by Stephen Beard, a self-proclaimed professor and investment guru. According to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the company marketed itself as an investment group and “the world’s largest hedge fund.”

The fake investment firm enticed people to join its social media channel, particularly on Facebook. From there, its operators urged unsuspecting victims to join its group via messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, or Bonchat, where they encouraged them to invest in an associated trading platform, DSJ Exchange.

ADVERTISEMENTInitially, BG Wealth gradually builds its members’ confidence by generating “advanced trading signals” with “zero risk.” These eventually translate into unrealized gains in their DSJ accounts of up to $1,500 for every $2,000 invested.

In reality, the perpetrators are allegedly just doctoring all the exchange’s data to make it appear that actual trading is taking place and that its users are benefiting from its sophisticated strategy. Meanwhile, BG Wealth immediately siphons all the money investors have poured into DSJ into its own bank accounts.

Overall, it’s a clear Ponzi scheme since it generates revenue only from new users to pay out older ones. The scam eventually unraveled when various regulators flagged BG Wealth’s activities, and users began having trouble withdrawing their funds. DSJ mysteriously freezes during those attempts, masking the issue as a mere technical glitch rather than a measured exit scam from the culprits.

ADVERTISEMENTWhat’s worse, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized its platforms, BG Wealth made a last-ditch effort to demand “advanced fees” from users with frozen funds to supposedly help them withdraw their money.

Fundamentos para a Ordem de Cessação e Abstenção

A Bitpinas informou que a SEC filipina considerou que os negócios da BG Wealth violavam o Securities Regulation Code (SRC) e a Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA). A agência utilizou o emblemático Teste de Howey como base para a ordem de Cessação e Abstenção, decidindo que a falta de registo e de licença para vender ou oferecer valores mobiliários na sua oferta pública constituía fraude financeira.

De forma curiosa, a mais recente ordem da SEC centrou-se apenas no aspeto de conformidade do negócio da BG Wealth. Embora tenha mencionado que a fraude financeira inclui solicitações enganosas, como esquemas Ponzi, não voltou a destacar as suas conclusões anteriores de que o negócio estava a operar um elaborado esquema Ponzi.

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