The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) is issuing an investor alert warning the public about an investment scheme that is using a legitimate oil and gas company as bait to separate investors from their money illegitimately.
The tactics in the scheme involve “spoofing” or masquerading as a legitimate website for the purposes of raising funds through the selling of securities. The supposed investment opportunity appears almost identical to a real but different company that is in the oil and gas exploration and production industry.
The ASC has received notice that investors are being approached by representatives from Offshore Drilling Inc. to purchase shares in Arsenal Energy Inc., a reporting issuer in Alberta.
Albertans should be aware that Offshore Drilling is mirroring Arsenal Energy’s content and contact information on its website www.offshoredrilling.us.tc, without permission. As well, the listed owner of the company, Larry Stevens John, and Offshore Drilling are not registered to sell securities.
The ASC continues to investigate the parties responsible for this “spoofing” website.