SEC Investment Scam Advisory Philippines: Key Warnings

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines has issued a critical SEC investment scam advisory Philippines, alerting the public to multiple fraudulent schemes targeting investors. These scams exploit trusted financial brands and promise unrealistic returns through unregistered platforms. Readers will learn about the latest flagged entities, how these frauds operate, and steps to protect themselves.

What Is an SEC Investment Scam Advisory Philippines?

An SEC investment scam advisory Philippines is an official warning released by the Securities and Exchange Commission to inform the public about unlicensed or fraudulent investment operations. These advisories identify individuals and companies soliciting funds without proper registration, often using deceptive tactics such as forged documents or fake affiliations. The SEC issues these notices to prevent financial loss and reinforce investor awareness across the country.

Current Scams Under SEC Watch in 2025

As of October 2025, the SEC has flagged several active frauds under its SEC investment scam advisory Philippines framework. One involves impersonators of COL Financial Group Inc., who use counterfeit documents to convince victims their lost funds were “reinvested.” Victims are then pressured to pay fake “tax fees” to withdraw non-existent returns. COL Financial confirmed it has no connection to these communications.

Another case targets De Guzman Consumer Goods Trading, operated by Rosemary De Leon De Guzman since April 2025. The business promises 60% to 200% returns within 30 to 60 days from farming and trading activities, but is not registered with the SEC. The agency classifies this as a Ponzi scheme, where early returns are paid using new investors money.

A third alert involves Christabel Arroyo, who promotes bitcoin mining investments via Facebook, promising PHP50,000 returns from a PHP5,000 capital within 24 hours. She uses GCash for transactions and presents fabricated investment plans. The SEC warns that this constitutes an unregistered investment contract, a violation of Republic Act No. 8799 (Securities Regulation Code).

Broader Impact and Investor Protection Measures

These cases highlight growing risks in digital financial spaces, where fraudulent investment platforms leverage social media and instant payment systems like GCash. The SEC emphasizes that any entity offering investment returns must be registered and transparent. Unregistered operations not only violate financial regulation enforcement but also undermine public trust in legitimate markets.

To strengthen investor protection measures, the SEC urges victims to report incidents to the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice. Experts stress that offers promising high-return investments with no effort should be treated as red flags. Public advisories on scams remain a key tool in financial literacy campaigns, helping Filipinos distinguish between legitimate opportunities and schemes built on fake investment documents.

As financial fraud evolves, the SEC investment scam advisory Philippines system serves as a frontline defense, combining regulatory authority with public education to combat emerging threats in the investment landscape.