SEC warns Nigerians against new ponzi scheme

By Joseph Inokotong, Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has raised the alarm over the activities of some online fraudsters, who are currently running an online investment scheme tagged: “Loom money Nigeria.”

The SEC said ‘Loom Money Nigeria,’ is taking over the social media by targeting young people to participate in a pyramid scheme.

The warning was given by acting Director General of the SEC, Ms. Mary Uduk during a press conference by the Minister of Finance in Abuja, Thursday.

Uduk, who was represented by acting Executive Commissioner, Operations of the SEC, Isyaku Tilde said the fraudsters, carry out their illegitimate business activities via social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, luring young Nigerians to invest as low as N1, 000 and N13, 000 and get as much as eight times the value of the investment in 48 hours.

Uduk said the venture has no tangible business model, describing it as a Ponzi scheme where returns would be paid from other people’s invested funds.

“We are aware of the activities of an online investment scheme tagged ‘Loom money Nigeria’. The platform has embarked on an aggressive online media campaign on Facebook and WhatsApp to lure the investing public to participate by joining various Loom WhatsApp groups to invest as N1, 000 and N13, 000 and get as much as eight times the value of the investment in 48 hours.

“Unlike MMM that had a website and the promoter known, the people promoting ‘Loom’ are not yet known and this pyramid scheme operates through closed groups mainly on Facebook and WhatsApp. If it were a local Ponzi scheme with known offices, it would be very easy for the commission to seal their offices and freeze their accounts.

“We therefore, wish to notify the investing public that the operation of this investment scheme has no tangible business model hence it’s a Ponzi scheme where returns are paid from other people’s invested sum. Also, its operation is not registered by the commission.”

Uduk therefore, advised the general public to distance themselves from the scheme, adding that “anyone that subscribes to this illegal activity does so at their own risk.”

She also assured that an inter-agency committee, financial services regulation coordinating committee is working on the issue while also collaborating with security agencies to shut them down.

A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors.