Unlicensed Institutions - Canada

This notice is issued by the Financial Supervision Commission (“The Commission”) in accordance with the powers conferred upon it under Section 22 of the Financial Supervision Act 1988

The Commission have been made aware that the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions of Canada (OSFI) has issued a Warning Notice concerning entities claiming links with Canada, which are not authorized Canadian financial institutions. OSFI also warn that the listed institutions are fictional entities and may be part of various advance fee scams.

The listed entities are:

Empire Financial Group – 200 King Street, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada L4H 3R4
Related entity: Reliance Insurance Company

(“Empire Financial” is the brand name used by a number of legitimate financial institutions that are members of the Empire Financial Group, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The above fictitious entity is not connected with or affiliated with members of the Empire Financial Group)
(Reliance Insurance Company is the name of a legitimate insurance company. The above fictitious entity, of the same name, is not connected with the legitimate insurance company, or its affiliates)

Continental Financial & Security Trust – 75, Wilson Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3V 4C4 Website : www.cfsts.com

Banque International Pour Le Commerce Et L’Industrie De La Offshore Canada –
Unknown

The Equity International Clearing Agency – 1980 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3H 1E8
Related entity: Equity Financial Trust
Website : www.equityfinancialtrust.com

First Canadian Bank – 2590 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario,Canada M6T 6G5
Website: http://ecybers.com/willwebcreate/Signature5/index.htm

Alliance Securities and Trust – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Related entity: Eco-Canada

First Citizens Bank – Suite 1404, 242, Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1N 2H3

(First Citizens Bank of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is not connected with the following legitimate financial institutions:

· First Citizens Bank, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
· First Citizens Bank, Trinidad and Tobago
· First Citizens Bank, South Carolina, USA
· First Citizens Bank, Presque Isle, Maine, USA
· First Citizens Bank, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA
· First Citizens Bank, Columbia Falls, Montana, USA
· First Citizens bank, Luverne, Alabama, USA
· First Citizens bank, Talladega, Alabama, USA
· First Citizens Bank, North Iowa, USA
· First Citizens National Bank, Mansfield, Pennsylvania, USA
· First Citizens National Bank, Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA
· First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater, Wisconsin, USA
· 1st Citizens Bank, Polson, Montana, USA)

OSFI also warn that the following institution is a fictional entity and is not a legitimate government agency. They warn that it may be part of an advance fee scam.

Financial Transactions Reporting Agency of North America (FINTRANA) – Glasgow Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Website: www.fintrana.org

(The above fictitious entity is not connected with the Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), which is a legitimate government agency)

The Commission is drawing attention to these entities in order to assist the due diligence process of any of its licenceholders which may have dealings with them. The Commission emphasises that this warning applies to the entities using the above listed details. You should note that there might be genuine institutions with names resembling those of the above entities. It is a common ploy of fraudsters to use names, which are similar to those of genuine regulated entities. If you are in any doubt as to whether a financial entity is genuine, the Commission would recommend, as a first resort, verifying details with the relevant Regulatory Authorities in its claimed country of belonging.

A full list of entities on Warning Circulars, Notices or Advisories issued by OSFI is available.

Persons having queries regarding the Notice issued by OSFI may contact the OSFI Compliance Division by telephoning +1 416 973 6117 or by email to: alerte@osfi-bsif.gc.ca

Licenceholders having any queries regarding this Commission Public Notice may address them to the Commission’s Enforcement Division on +44 1624 689313 or by email to fsc@gov.im

FSC Reference: JPM/13/2003