Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam updates Alert List to add eight unlicensed companies and individuals

The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam (BDCB) updated its Alert List, adding eight companies and individuals that are not licensed, authorised or regulated by the BDCB and are therefore flagged for public caution. The new entries are Apex Tech Trader (also operating as Apex Capital Trade), Brunei Easy Cash (Brunei Easy Loan and Syarikat Loan Wang Trusted Fast and Easy Brunei Darussalam), Global Trade, Meta Trade (Meta Trade BN, Team Meta Trade Academy and Tech Centre Trade Fundation), Pusat Rawatan Atok Samjoyo (Wang Ajaib), Syehk Abdullah bin Abuzar (also using Syehk Ahmad Abuzar and Syehk Hj Ali Abdullah on TikTok), Sahabat Invest KTC (Kingdom Trade Company), and Trade Master Partners (Pelaburan Patuh Syariah Legit & Trusted and Investment Trade Master Partners Brunei). The Alert List is intended to help the public avoid being misled into believing listed persons are regulated by the BDCB, and the inclusion is stated to be without prejudice to any further assessment of the activities concerned. The central bank reminded consumers to deal only with BDCB-licensed financial institutions and to avoid unlicensed operators, particularly those showing characteristics of get-rich-quick or pyramid schemes, noting that activities such as money changing, money remittance and money lending require BDCB licensing and that dealings with unlicensed or unregulated entities are not protected under its regulatory framework. The BDCB indicated it will continue to actively monitor suspicious or unlicensed financial activities in Brunei Darussalam.