12.1.10 Case study: Affinity fraud
- 12.1.1 Fraud awareness quiz
- 12.1.2 Types of fraud
- 12.1.3 Mass marketing fraud
- 12.1.4 Investment fraud
- 12.1.5 Payment scams
- 12.1.6 Credit card and debit card fraud
- 12.1.7 Video: Debit and credit card fraud
- 12.1.8 Other frauds
- 12.1.9 Why we fall for fraud
- 12.1.10 Case study: Affinity fraud
- 12.1.11 Detect fraud and scams
- 12.1.12 Signs of frauds and scams
- 12.1.13 How to spot fraud
- 12.1.14 Summary of key messages

At a picnic with her social club, Sylvie's friends Oliver and Marie introduced her to Paul, a fairly new member of the group. Sylvie didn't know Paul well, but he came to every meeting and had led the last food bank drive. That was impressive.
"I want to tell you about an excellent opportunity," Paul said in a low voice. "It's exclusive, so I don't want just anybody to hear about it."
He told Sylvie about a brand-new trust fund. "It trades in high-yield foreign bank instruments in a prime bank trading market. Investors will receive a monthly return of 20 per cent for 12 to 18 months, and the return of your principal is fully guaranteed."
"Isn't it great?" said Marie. "We cashed in a $10,000 guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) to invest. I mean, three per cent on the GIC, compared to 20 per cent. You do the math!"
"And a portion of the profits go right back into the club," Paul said. "Just think of all the good work we'll be able to do!"
Sylvie considered. She had an adequate pension, but not much more. With an extra cushion, she'd be able to give more to her children and grandchildren, and she'd be supporting the club and all its worthwhile activities.
She wasn't a big investor and didn't like to take risks, but if the principal was guaranteed, then she wouldn't lose anything.
Sylvie decided to invest cautiously. She withdrew $5,000 from her savings and put it into the trust fund.
A month later, to her delight, she received a cheque for her original $5,000, plus 20 percent interest. She promptly sent presents to her entire family. Then she invested $10,000. Again she received the principal, plus interest.
Sylvie took out a loan for $50,000 and waited to receive her cheque.
The money never arrived. A few weeks later, Oliver and Marie came to a meeting looking shocked. Paul had disappeared. So had their money.
Sylvie was a victim of affinity fraud. Paul had gained the investors' confidence by building a relationship of trust, promising sure-fire returns and pretending to help the club. By making payments to early investors with funds raised from later investors, he had convinced them that the investment was successful. In fact, the prime bank trading program did not exist, and all of the investors' funds had been transferred to offshore accounts.
Lessons Sylvie learned:
- If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Don't believe promises of guaranteed returns that you can't verify. Check with a licensed financial adviser.
- Don't invest in anything based on a "hot tip." Check it out thoroughly first. Read the prospectus or consult a financial adviser.
- Don't invest in something just because your friends or relatives are.
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