Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged Nigerians to report any suspected illegal investments scheme to the commission for proper investigation and necessary action.

The commission said this in a notice issued on Thursday to the investing public with a warning that ponzi investment schemes posed great danger to the growth of the capital market.

In its latest advisory, coming against the backdrop of the CBEX saga, SEC warned the public about the growing threats and risks posed by Ponzi schemes, illegal investment operations, and unregistered digital assets platforms.

It explained that fraudulent entities and individuals have continued to exploit unsuspecting investors through deceptive promises of high returns, often leveraging the allure of digital assets to create an erroneous perception of legitimacy.

“The public is strongly advised to be wary of investment opportunities that promise guaranteed or unusually high returns with little or no risk.

“These include unregistered platforms offering cryptocurrency investments, forex trading, or blockchain-based schemes, without subjecting themselves to the prescribed processes for obtaining the prior approval of the SEC.

“The SEC reiterates in this regard that ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is’,” it stated.

The commission urged potential investors to conduct thorough due diligence before investing and should verify the registration status of the company or individual offering the investment through the SEC’s website.

The SEC explained that Section 196 (3) of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025 criminalises the promotion and operation of prohibited/unregistered schemes.

“This violation is punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N20m or a prison term of 10 years or both,” the commission warned, adding that it is fully committed to identifying and prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law.

“We encourage the public to partner with the SEC to safeguard the integrity of the investment environment in Nigeria by promptly reporting suspected illegal investment schemes to the SEC,” the notice concluded.

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