I received a request from Prosus asking me to trade on its online trading platform for lucrative return on my investment, is this true?
Prosus N.V. has been made aware of a scam targeting members of the South African public. Victims of the scam will receive an eBook, via social media channels such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which describes Prosus as “a registered online trading platform”.
As part of the scam, fraudsters allege that targeted recipients will be assigned a trade broker who will trade on their behalf if they deposit cash into a third-party account. The returns promised are very enticing – for example, a 100% return on investment in an hour. Once money is transferred into the account, the funds disappear.
Prosus urges the public to always use extreme caution when receiving calls, text messages or emails from an unknown source, particularly when they include requests to part with money. Phishing emails, texts and calls can be very convincing, with company logos and banners copied from websites.
Importantly, Prosus is not a trading platform. The company has a primary listing on the Euronext Amsterdam, with a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, under the symbol PRX. It also has an ADR programme trading on an over-the-counter basis in the United States (PROSY). Should you wish to invest in the stock market please visit
https://www.jse.co.za/grow-my-wealth, contact a broker who can assist you with trading on the Euronext Amsterdam (
https://live.euronext.com/resources/members-list) or visit
www.globalbuydirect.com to find out more.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of a phishing scam:
Never respond to an unsolicited call, text message or email no matter how official it may seem.
Use extreme caution when clicking on links and attachments included in unsolicited emails, even if they appear to be from a company or person with whom you do business.
If you believe you have responded to a fraudulent email, contact your bank immediately so they can take steps to protect your account and your identity.