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Johannesburg - The Financial Services Board (FSB) has confirmed it is investigating Expedia Investments, a self-styled arbitrageur which is promising signatories to its online contracts "guaranteed profits" of up to 10% per week.
Trying to get information out of Expedia Investments is tricky to say the least, however.
But warning bells should be sounding off when the contact form on the website says: "After 2pm we may not take calls due to the high level of trading concentration."
It then goes on to say: "Remember a few minutes either way can make us lose trades and cannot be bugged with calls".
After requesting further information the proprietor, named "Randhir", responded saying: "I have been trading for 12 months now and devised a method of making proper money.
"The reason I offer this out to the public is my margins are extremely tight. I ensure that all outcomes of an event are covered to ensure a profit - arbitrage trading".
Ultimately Expedia Investments is looking to hedge bets on the outcome of sports events and other financial markets, in an attempt to make a "guaranteed" profit.
Arbitrage is the practice of taking advantage of a price differential between two or more market markers with the intention of making a profit.
Arbitrage case
One of the most infamous cases of arbitrage trading was the LTCM collapse in 1998 that rocked the global financial markets with a $4.6bn loss.
The board of LTCM comprised a number of leading scientists and mathematicians including Nobel Prize winner Myron Scholes.
During its glory years LTCM managed at 40% return for investors per annum while operating off a base of $1bn, a claim of 10% per week guaranteed return may seem unrealistic.
Randhir remained evasive when asked to divulge his surname, but he did concede a cellphone number and that he was based in Midrand. "I am trying to help you help me make more money", he said when pressed for more details.
When asked about compliance with Financial Services Board (FSB) regulations, Randhir said: "I should by law register at the FSB and have not. If you are not comfortable, I do not mind, but I can assure you I am genuine."
FSB investigating
Denise Wolfe-Botha of the FSB confirms that the matter has been brought to their attention and the company is under investigation by the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Enforcement division.
"It is unclear what is meant by the phrase 'traders taking funds' as the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 does not address traders in particular but states any person who offers advice or an intermediary service with regards to the financial products defined in that Act.
At this stage it is unclear what the nature of the 'investment' or possible 'advice' is with regard to this particular scheme and whether the 'investment' is one that falls within the ambit of either the FAIS regulatory framework or other legislation administered by the FSB," Wolfe-Botha told Fin24.com.
Legislation around intermediaries offering financial and investment advice has become increasingly strict in SA.
Said Wolfe-Botha: "If the trader is to be found contravening the FAIS Act he can be fined a maximum of R1m or a period not exceeding 10 years of imprisonment or both".
- Fin24.com