Canada investment adviser accused of Ponzi scheme
Jul 13, 2009
By Pav Jordan
TORONTO (Reuters) - More investors said on Monday they were victims of an investment advisor whom they allege ran a so-called Ponzi scheme similar to the one that landed U.S. fraudster Bernard Madoff in jail for life.
Bertram Earl Jones, who won clients through word of mouth and was not registered with securities authorities, allegedly swindled investors out of as much as C$50 million ($43.5 million), according to one of Canada's top securities regulators, Quebec's Autorite Des Marches Financiers.
Most of the investors were from the French-speaking province of Quebec, although others were from elsewhere in Canada and the United States, the regulator said.
The alleged scam was discovered only last Wednesday, after investors alerted authorities that checks were bouncing and Earl Jones was not answering his phone or his e-mails.
Quebec regulators have frozen Earl Jones's accounts and say they believe he is on the run. Earl Jones had no apparent legal representation making statements on his behalf.
The allegations against him have not been proved in court.
Quebec officials are working with Canadian police and U.S. regulatory authorities to search for the investment advisor.
Abridged
SOURCE: Reuters - USA
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