News Release

Vancouver -- The B.C. Securities Commission will be warning communities in northwestern British Columbia about investment frauds and scams from Oct. 20 to 24.

The provincial securities regulator, in partnership with Northern Savings Credit Union, will deliver its popular investor education seminar to residents of Queen Charlotte City, Masset and Prince Rupert next week. Northern Savings has been joined by the Terrace and District Credit Union to host a session in Terrace and Envision Financial for the seminar in Kitimat.

“It is important for people to be aware of investment frauds and to get tips on how to avoid becoming victims of these scams,” says BCSC Chair Doug Hyndman. “Fraudsters work in communities throughout the province so we also need to take our seminar ‘Investigate before you invest’ to people throughout B.C.”

The free, public seminars will show people how to protect themselves and their investments from frauds and unscrupulous salespeople. Novice to expert investors will learn how to identify an investment scam, how to check out the background of a financial adviser and how to determine if an investment is suitable for them.

The Better Business Bureau’s Val MacLean will also be a featured presenter at the sessions. She will be warning local residents about the consumer frauds and scams that the BBB encounters.

During its last fiscal year, the commission delivered more than 50 seminars to people throughout the province and it expects to bring as many or more sessions to the public this year. The free investor education seminars are provided through partnerships with seniors groups, credit unions, the Better Business Bureau and other organizations.

The B.C. Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating trading in securities and exchange contracts within B.C. Check the commission’s website (www.bcsc.bc.ca) for a list of seminars coming to your area.