Attention: Beware of Fraudulent Investment Solicitations and Scams that Use the Name of Monex Group, Inc. and its Group Companies without Authorization

There have been numerous cases of fraudulent use of the name and logo of Monex Group, Inc. (the “Company” hereinafter) and its group companies (collectively, the "Group"). The cases reported to us so far include the following:

 

  1. Individuals falsely claiming to be employees or affiliates of the Group on social networking services to solicit investments or encourage users to sign up for applications or services to obtain side or concurrent jobs.
  2. Websites that misappropriate the Company's logo and name, and encourage the opening of accounts or transfers of investment funds that are not related to the Group.

 

These acts have absolutely no connection to the Group. These activities include violations of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and other laws and regulations. Neither the Group nor its employees or related parties will engage in illegal investment solicitation or brokerage activities. If you receive an unexpected investment solicitation from an unfamiliar party or are offered an investment or employment-related service that seems unusual, you should first suspect fraud and refrain from responding. If the solicitation persists, you should consult with the nearest police agency, consumer affairs center, or the bar association (e.g., by phone).

 

Many investment scams have certain characteristics in common. If any of the following circumstances are present in the investment solicitation you received, it is a scam. In such cases, you should immediately contact the nearest police station or any police officer.

  1. Promises of very high returns with no risk.
  2. Claims that the principal is guaranteed despite being an investment.
  3. Urges you to make a quick decision by saying it is a limited time or an exclusive offer, or does not give you time to discuss or consider the matter with your family.
  4. Instructs you to send cash by mail or courier service.
  5. Requests you to pay or send money via the phone.
  6. Does not prepare a written contract or explanatory materials regarding the investment and does not respond to requests to present them.
  7. Uses a lot of technical terms such as "private equity," "foreign currencies," "investment funds," "solar power generation," etc., that are prevalent in the news at the time, and recommends investments without providing sufficient information.
  8. You are contacted about the same investment opportunity by several people you have never spoken to before, and they all try to make you believe in the investment.

 

The following are tips for preventing losses and damages from investment fraud:

  1. Refrain from Responding Unknown Callbacks: Do not call back if you have a call history from an unknown number. Handle your personal information and that of your family members with the utmost care.
  2. Protect Personal Information: Do not send personal information (phone number, e-mail address, ID, bank account, address, etc.) by email or register on websites whose credibility cannot be verified.
  3. Verify Information: Carefully check the information provided in emails, websites, etc. Do not rely on information given to you by a caller. The person on the other end of the line may not be an actual employee. You should confirm where the caller works (phone number, email, address) and call the company directly to verify that he/she actually works there.
  4. Scrutinize Investment Solicitations: If you receive an investment solicitation from anyone claiming to be an investment broker, first review the information carefully. Do not sign a contract or pay money without a contract with anyone you meet for the first time.
  5. Verify Credentials of Financial Firms: If the person soliciting investment claims to be a financial instruments business operator (such as a bank, securities firm, asset management company, etc.), verify the website of the Financial Services Agency and contact them to confirm that the business operator is not unlicensed, unregistered, or suspended from business.