Alternative Investment X 3

This week received 3 alternative investment offers.

1. JJ Poor to Rich

A friend introduced this to me.  Just invest minimum amount USD 50, maximum USD 1,000.  Do nothing else and get 20% monthly returns and so 100% return of investment capital after just 5 months.  And you could speed up the ROI process by introducing friends/clients and get 5% per person introduced.

In this super low interest environment, is there such a "big toad jumping down the street"?

My friend tried to convince me that it is only USD 1,000, not that I can't afford and it is just 5 months and I could get back everything. And a lot of people joined and earning already.

I told him this is dangerous thinking that the ROI is short and the investment amount is low. The risk could then be escalated if one asks family members to join and thinking that the scheme would not collapse in the short 5 months' time. 

I will not take part in this investment as I just have no idea how long the JJ bunny could keep on drumming...

2. Casino shares in Cambodia

A casual friend offered an opportunity to invest USD 1,500 and get some shares in a Cambodia casino operation.  I do not need to do anything (again) and the small shares will just snowball every month and get larger and larger.

According to him, it is 100% safe and no risk at all.  "You ever see casino goes bankrupted?"

I told him that even the banks will not guarantee 100% my bank deposits and seeing that I am not too interested, he refused to disclose the name of that investment opportunity.   

3.  Coal mine in Indonesia

I also got a cold call from Black Mineral to invest in a coal mine in Indonesia for a so-called "great opportunity" in this energy thirsty world.

I was in front of my computer then and I googled "MAS Investor Alert List" while talking to the person on the line, and I found the company on the list.

The person said being on the list does not mean that the company has issues or the investment is not safe.  But I said I am a fool if I am to invest in a company on the list.


For recap purposes:

The MAS Investor Alert List 
From time to time, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)  receives information on unregulated persons who have been mistaken as being licensed or authorised by MAS.  Consumers should exercise care when dealing with these persons or with other persons acting on their behalf.  Overseas consumers who receive solicitations by persons who claim to have an operation in Singapore should also exercise care and check if they are in fact dealing with persons who are regulated by MAS.

The MAS Investor Alert List is a list of unregulated persons who, based on information received by MAS, may have been wrongly perceived as being licensed or authorised by MAS.  The list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly. 

Link to MAS Investor Alert List

Companies that are in the above list meant that they are not regulated by MAS and the products that they carry are non-regulated products.