November 13, 2014 Investor warnings - News

Montréal – The Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) is notifying Québec consumers that it recently identified an on-line binary options trading platform that is not authorized to offer products and services in Québec: amberoptions.com. Quebeckers should therefore not trade via this website.

Offering investment services or products, whether on the Internet, from an electronic platform or in person, is a regulated activity. Any person or company offering investments must be registered with the AMF. Furthermore, the AMF must approve any company that creates or markets derivatives and authorize the marketing of those derivatives.

Unauthorized trading platforms are sometimes associated with fraudulent schemes. The consequences of these schemes can include denial of access to the accounts and assets of certain clients and even identity theft.

Below is the AMF's updated list of websites that are not authorized to offer investment products and services in Québec. The list is updated when new unauthorized sites are brought to its attention. Check our Investor Warnings section regularly to make sure you have the most up-to-date list. This list is not exhaustive; always check whether the person or company with whom you are considering investing is duly authorized.

Binary options – “All or nothing” options

Binary options are a type of option where the investor faces two possible outcomes when his investment matures: either he receives a pre-determined cash payout (sometimes called the “premium”) or he loses his investment, hence the term “all or nothing” options. Binary options are often used to trade on the derivatives market. This type of option carries specific risks and is suitable only for certain investors.

Visit the AMF website for other advice on how to prevent fraud.

The Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec’s financial sector.

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Information :

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