Ontario Securities Commission issues alert on fake CSA-branded emails offering to recover investor losses

The Ontario Securities Commission has published a Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) investor alert warning that false documentation is circulating by email using CSA branding and the names of CSA executives as part of schemes claiming they can recover funds lost to fraud. The alert notes that fraudsters often target people who have recently been victimized and may request an upfront fee or personal information. It reiterates that the CSA and its member regulators will never ask investors to send money, promote investment opportunities or fund-recovery services, or make unsolicited calls, emails or texts requesting payments tied to enforcement actions or investigations. Recipients of suspicious communications are advised to verify authenticity by contacting their local securities regulator directly using official CSA member contact details, rather than replying or relying on contact information provided in the message.