Following several reports by investors, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers is warning the general public against offers to invest in containers.
The AMF recommends that investors should not respond to offers from individuals to invest in containers without first checking whether these individuals have the necessary guarantees or authorisations.
The AMF is aware that some investors are being contacted by phone or email by direct marketers who are offering them opportunities to invest in containers that can be accessed via an online platform. Investors are then asked to sign a false rental agreement or a subscription form for an allegedly legitimate financial product or to subscribe to a passbook account with interest payments, a retail private equity investment fund or a fixed-term account.
The investment is presented as highly profitable and risk-free. In actual fact, there are no container purchases or rentals behind this kind of fraudulent offers.
Generally speaking, the AMF reminds retail investors to follow these vigilance guidelines before making any investment:
- Be wary of promises of quick profits without trade-offs. There is no such thing as a high return without high risk.
- Do not be rushed or give into pressure from the caller. Take time to think it over.
- Be suspicious of requests for money transfers to countries that have no connection with the company or with the investor’s country of residence.
- Do not take information provided by companies, whether orally or in writing, at face value. Using a false identity is easy and it is a widespread problem.
- Do not give your personal information (phone numbers, email address, ID documents, bank details, IBAN, proof of residence, etc.) to websites that you do not believe are trustworthy.
- Beware of advertisements that you see on the internet and especially on social media. They are the hunting grounds for scammers phishing for ew victims.
- If the company that has contacted you has not been blacklisted by the AMF, this does not mean it is authorised to provide you with financial services.
About the AMF
The AMF is an independent public authority responsible for ensuring that savings invested in financial products are protected and that investors are provided with adequate information. The AMF also supervises the orderly operations of markets.Visit our website https://www.amf-france.org
