Investors are being warned by New Brunswick Securities Commission (NBSC) staff about a potential land-banking investment scheme.

Securities regulators in Saskatchewan and Ontario have ordered land-banking companies based in Puerto Vallarta to cease trading. Regulatory authorities are continuing their investigations into these entities.

The NBSC says investors should be cautious of offers to buy securities related to the following companies because they are not registered to sell securities in New Brunswick:

• Landbankers International MX, S.A. DE C.V.
• Sierra Madre Holdings MX, S.A. DE C.V.
• L&B Landbanking Trust S.A. DE C.V.

Land-banking is a securities-related transaction whereby an individual invests in land in anticipation that it will later be sold at a greater value.

Investors should be cautious of land-banking when the land is being sold in a location with which they are not familiar, the NBSC says.

Several individuals are alleged to be involved in selling or promoting these securities to Canadians. They include Brian J. Wolf Zacharias, Roger Fernando Ayoso Loyo, Alan Hemmingway, Kelly Friesen, Sonja A. McAdam, Ed Moore, Kim Moore, Jason Rogers, and Dave Urrutia.

IE