In the wake of Reddit‘s successful initial public offering (IPO), there is an anticipated surge in scams promising shares in companies on the verge of their own IPOs. Such scams are not new and have been a method of deceit for years, targeting uninformed investors eager to get in on the ground floor of the next big company. A notable name often mentioned in these fraudulent offers is Elon Musk‘s Starlink, a company many investors are keenly watching.
Kantonal Finanz Key Data
| Trading name | Kantonal Finanz |
| Business activity | Investment offerings |
| Domain | https://kantonalfinanz.com |
| Legal entity | Kantonal Finanz Limited |
| Jurisdictions | US, UK |
| Contact data | +44 20 4520 5170 [email protected] |
| Authorization | No |
| Compliance rating | Black |
| Warnings | BaFin |
Short Narrative
The German financial regulatory authority, BaFin, has issued warnings against one such entity, Kantonal Finanz Ltd, which purports to be based in New York and London. This company has been offering financial and investment services, including the sale of shares in pre-IPO companies like Starlink, under the guise of legitimacy. However, investigations reveal that Kantonal Finanz Ltd is not the reputable entity it claims to be.
The website for Kantonal Finanz, found at kantonalfinanz.com, lists the company as Kantonal Finanz Limited and falsely asserts that it is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under reference number 922650. This reference number actually belongs to ZKB Securities (UK) Ltd, a completely unrelated entity, indicating a clear attempt by Kantonal Finanz to mislead potential investors and cloak itself in the trustworthiness of legitimate financial regulation.
This kind of scam often follows a predictable pattern: investors are tempted by the promise of acquiring shares in well-known companies before they go public. However, the promised shares are never delivered once payment is made, and the fraudulent sellers become untraceable. In some instances, the shares offered for sale may not even exist.
Report Scams
If you have come across or been a victim of investment scams like those offered by Kantonal Finanz or similar fraudulent entities, you are encouraged to report your experiences. Information can be submitted through whistleblowing systems such as Whistle42, which are dedicated to exposing scams and protecting potential victims. Sharing your experiences can help prevent others from falling prey to these deceptive practices and contribute to the broader effort to combat financial fraud.
