族裔社区易为杀熟诈骗受害者
Ethnic communities vulnerable to affinity fraud
来源: 大中报 南茜(Nancy Jin)
当2007年移民加拿大的徐先生夫妇突然发现其银行账户中出现高利付款记录，才惊觉自己进行了某项高杠杆投资。
Mr. and Ms. Xu, a couple who immigrated to Canada in 2007 didn’t know that they were put into heavily leveraged investments until debt records of high interest payments suddenly appeared in their bank accounts.
徐先生随即联系了自己的银行，结果震惊地发现这些利息是从他们购买互惠基金的$20万元贷款累计而来。但对这笔贷款的来源摸不着头脑的徐先生夫妇，突然想起了在教会结识的理财顾问张先生其曾极力向他们推荐杠杆投资策略。
Xu contacted their bank immediately and was shocked to find that the interest had been accumulated from a $200,000 loan they made to purchase mutual funds. Unable to recall that they’d ever authorized such a loan, they suddenly remembered that Mr. Zhang, a financial advisor had approached them in the church, promoting a leveraging investment strategy.
杠杆投资是一种高风险投资行为，需要投资者拥有雄厚财力以抵挡投资亏损。徐先生夫妇清楚地记得他们曾拒绝了张先生的建议。感觉上当受骗的徐先生因此去找张询问这笔未经许可的贷款的由来，但却被告知这是因为双方沟通有误造成的。但是当徐先生夫妇坚持退出投资时，张却吓唬他们称这样做会付出沉重代价，其中包括额外费用和巨大投资损失。
Leveraging to invest is a high risky investment, which requires a strong financial base to sustain losses. The couple clearly remembered that they had firmly rejected Zhang’s offer. Sensing deception, the Xu met with Zhang and asked about the unauthorized loan, but was told that the loan was a result from a miscommunication. Seeing that the couple insisted on pulling out, Zhang intimidated them with costs – including extra fees and heavy investment loss.
然而对于徐先生夫妇来说，一笔高额损失在所难免。由于投资失利，再加上不断累计的利息额和税费，徐先生夫妇深陷财务困境，并因此导致他们与张及其公司发生争执。随着争议不断升级，处理投资争端调停机构OBSI（银行及投资业申述专员）不得不进行调解干预。但是，徐先生夫妇最后得到的补偿却只能弥补其部分损失。
However, the Xu’s were unable to avoid the inevitable. The falling value of their investments, coupled with accumulating interest payments and taxes have put the Xu’s in financial distress, and led to a dispute with Zhang and his firm. As the dispute escalated, it eventually landed on the desk of OBSI, an agency that serves as a third-party mediator to settle investment disputes. But Xu’s efforts to seek compensation have only resulted in a partial recovery of their loss.
但是张也未能逃脱当局的制裁。MFDA（互惠基金经纪机构）在调查后发现张伪造客户签名，并篡改客户财务信息。最终，当局永久吊销了张的执照，并对其处以$7.5万元罚款。
But Zhang was unable to escape the authorities. An MFDA’s investigation has found Zhang had forged client signatures, altered client’s financial information. As a result, his license was permanently revoked and he was fined $75,000 in penalties.
但徐先生夫妇的遭遇只是族裔社区日益增多的杀熟欺诈行为的冰山一角。据CSA（加拿大证券管理会）信息，目前有越来越多华裔姓氏的人士遭规管机构处罚，这些人士都因为严重违规而被行业监管机构扫地出门。
The Xu’s story is only a tip of the iceberg in a growing trend of affinity fraud in the ethnic community. According to the CSA (Canadian Securities Administrators) information, a growing number of individuals with a Chinese last name appear on the regulator’s list that has been thrown out of the profession for foul play.
在通常情况下，新移民往往对政府和当局缺乏信任。由于在加国面临诸多挑战的移民社区成员更倾向于依赖同社区人士提供投资建议，而这一现象为无良人士提供了行骗的大好机会。通过利用群体成员的信任和友情，这些行骗行为令族裔社区无数受害者上当受骗。
Typically, newcomers lack trust in the government and authorities. Facing a slew of challenges in the adopted country, they tend to rely on their own community members for investment advice. This has provided a perfect opportunity for con artists. Exploiting the trust and friendship that exists in groups of people, these fraudsters have drawn countless victims from the ethnic communities.
实施杀熟诈骗的骗子往往会冒充为某群体成员。一般来说，杀熟欺诈都会涉及“庞氏”诈骗或是传销骗局，此类诈骗都是利用新投资者的资金去支付早期投资者的收益，从而令投资看似成功，合法。
The fraudsters involved in affinity scams often are – or pretend to be – members of the group. Affinity scams often involve “Ponzi” or pyramid schemes where new investor money is used to pay earlier investors, making it appear as if the investment is successful and legitimate.
由于社区群体关系紧密，杀熟诈骗可能完全不被外人知晓。此外，由于存在语言障碍，一些族裔受害者总会尝试在群体内部解决问题，而不是通知有关当局或是诉诸法律。
Because of the tight-knit structure of the community groups, outsiders may not know about the affinity scam. Stymied by language barriers, ethnic victims may try to work things out within the group rather than notify authorities or pursue legal remedies.
庞氏诈骗的受害者在族裔社区屡见不鲜，其中有些人因此损失数百万元，甚至被骗光毕生积蓄，并且至今仍深陷经济困境。
There are many victims to Ponzi schemes in the community. Some of them have lost millions of dollars and even entire life savings, and are still facing a dire financial situation.
美国威斯康星州证券管理主任、NASAA投资顾问部主席Patricia Struck在早先接受《大中报》采访时曾表示：“如果有人向你提出的投资方案好得出奇，那么就有可能是诈骗。投资者应该事先了解以下问题：我的投资去向何处？为什么这一投资能够产生所承诺的回报？”
“If something offered by an investment sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true. Investors should ask: Where will you put my money? How will the investment generate the promised rate of return?” Patricia Struck, Wisconsin Securities Administrator, who also serves as the chair of NASAA investment advisor section, told Chinese News in an early interview.
但是，即便在庞氏骗局渐露马脚之时，一些杀熟欺诈的受害者仍然不愿承认被骗，因为他们担心会因贪婪和愚蠢而被人耻笑。而这也就是为什么此类骗局得以持续如此之久，且导致的经济损失如此之巨大的原因。
Even as Ponzi schemes start to collapse, victims of affinity fraud are slow to admit that they’ve been swindled, worried about looking foolish for being blinded by greed, which is why schemes are sustained for so long, and the financial damages are so severe.
Mr. and Ms. Xu, a couple who immigrated to Canada in 2007 didn’t know that they were put into heavily leveraged investments until debt records of high interest payments suddenly appeared in their bank accounts.
徐先生随即联系了自己的银行，结果震惊地发现这些利息是从他们购买互惠基金的$20万元贷款累计而来。但对这笔贷款的来源摸不着头脑的徐先生夫妇，突然想起了在教会结识的理财顾问张先生其曾极力向他们推荐杠杆投资策略。
Xu contacted their bank immediately and was shocked to find that the interest had been accumulated from a $200,000 loan they made to purchase mutual funds. Unable to recall that they’d ever authorized such a loan, they suddenly remembered that Mr. Zhang, a financial advisor had approached them in the church, promoting a leveraging investment strategy.
杠杆投资是一种高风险投资行为，需要投资者拥有雄厚财力以抵挡投资亏损。徐先生夫妇清楚地记得他们曾拒绝了张先生的建议。感觉上当受骗的徐先生因此去找张询问这笔未经许可的贷款的由来，但却被告知这是因为双方沟通有误造成的。但是当徐先生夫妇坚持退出投资时，张却吓唬他们称这样做会付出沉重代价，其中包括额外费用和巨大投资损失。
Leveraging to invest is a high risky investment, which requires a strong financial base to sustain losses. The couple clearly remembered that they had firmly rejected Zhang’s offer. Sensing deception, the Xu met with Zhang and asked about the unauthorized loan, but was told that the loan was a result from a miscommunication. Seeing that the couple insisted on pulling out, Zhang intimidated them with costs – including extra fees and heavy investment loss.
然而对于徐先生夫妇来说，一笔高额损失在所难免。由于投资失利，再加上不断累计的利息额和税费，徐先生夫妇深陷财务困境，并因此导致他们与张及其公司发生争执。随着争议不断升级，处理投资争端调停机构OBSI（银行及投资业申述专员）不得不进行调解干预。但是，徐先生夫妇最后得到的补偿却只能弥补其部分损失。
However, the Xu’s were unable to avoid the inevitable. The falling value of their investments, coupled with accumulating interest payments and taxes have put the Xu’s in financial distress, and led to a dispute with Zhang and his firm. As the dispute escalated, it eventually landed on the desk of OBSI, an agency that serves as a third-party mediator to settle investment disputes. But Xu’s efforts to seek compensation have only resulted in a partial recovery of their loss.
但是张也未能逃脱当局的制裁。MFDA（互惠基金经纪机构）在调查后发现张伪造客户签名，并篡改客户财务信息。最终，当局永久吊销了张的执照，并对其处以$7.5万元罚款。
But Zhang was unable to escape the authorities. An MFDA’s investigation has found Zhang had forged client signatures, altered client’s financial information. As a result, his license was permanently revoked and he was fined $75,000 in penalties.
但徐先生夫妇的遭遇只是族裔社区日益增多的杀熟欺诈行为的冰山一角。据CSA（加拿大证券管理会）信息，目前有越来越多华裔姓氏的人士遭规管机构处罚，这些人士都因为严重违规而被行业监管机构扫地出门。
The Xu’s story is only a tip of the iceberg in a growing trend of affinity fraud in the ethnic community. According to the CSA (Canadian Securities Administrators) information, a growing number of individuals with a Chinese last name appear on the regulator’s list that has been thrown out of the profession for foul play.
在通常情况下，新移民往往对政府和当局缺乏信任。由于在加国面临诸多挑战的移民社区成员更倾向于依赖同社区人士提供投资建议，而这一现象为无良人士提供了行骗的大好机会。通过利用群体成员的信任和友情，这些行骗行为令族裔社区无数受害者上当受骗。
Typically, newcomers lack trust in the government and authorities. Facing a slew of challenges in the adopted country, they tend to rely on their own community members for investment advice. This has provided a perfect opportunity for con artists. Exploiting the trust and friendship that exists in groups of people, these fraudsters have drawn countless victims from the ethnic communities.
实施杀熟诈骗的骗子往往会冒充为某群体成员。一般来说，杀熟欺诈都会涉及“庞氏”诈骗或是传销骗局，此类诈骗都是利用新投资者的资金去支付早期投资者的收益，从而令投资看似成功，合法。
The fraudsters involved in affinity scams often are – or pretend to be – members of the group. Affinity scams often involve “Ponzi” or pyramid schemes where new investor money is used to pay earlier investors, making it appear as if the investment is successful and legitimate.
由于社区群体关系紧密，杀熟诈骗可能完全不被外人知晓。此外，由于存在语言障碍，一些族裔受害者总会尝试在群体内部解决问题，而不是通知有关当局或是诉诸法律。
Because of the tight-knit structure of the community groups, outsiders may not know about the affinity scam. Stymied by language barriers, ethnic victims may try to work things out within the group rather than notify authorities or pursue legal remedies.
庞氏诈骗的受害者在族裔社区屡见不鲜，其中有些人因此损失数百万元，甚至被骗光毕生积蓄，并且至今仍深陷经济困境。
There are many victims to Ponzi schemes in the community. Some of them have lost millions of dollars and even entire life savings, and are still facing a dire financial situation.
美国威斯康星州证券管理主任、NASAA投资顾问部主席Patricia Struck在早先接受《大中报》采访时曾表示：“如果有人向你提出的投资方案好得出奇，那么就有可能是诈骗。投资者应该事先了解以下问题：我的投资去向何处？为什么这一投资能够产生所承诺的回报？”
“If something offered by an investment sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true. Investors should ask: Where will you put my money? How will the investment generate the promised rate of return?” Patricia Struck, Wisconsin Securities Administrator, who also serves as the chair of NASAA investment advisor section, told Chinese News in an early interview.
但是，即便在庞氏骗局渐露马脚之时，一些杀熟欺诈的受害者仍然不愿承认被骗，因为他们担心会因贪婪和愚蠢而被人耻笑。而这也就是为什么此类骗局得以持续如此之久，且导致的经济损失如此之巨大的原因。
Even as Ponzi schemes start to collapse, victims of affinity fraud are slow to admit that they’ve been swindled, worried about looking foolish for being blinded by greed, which is why schemes are sustained for so long, and the financial damages are so severe.
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