{"id":51816,"date":"2024-09-23T09:55:39","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T07:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fma.gv.at\/warnung-vor-anlagebetrug-durch-agrarvis\/"},"modified":"2024-09-25T13:37:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T11:37:37","slug":"warning-of-investment-offers-from-agrarvis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fma.gv.at\/en\/warning-of-investment-offers-from-agrarvis\/","title":{"rendered":"FMA refers to a warning by the German BaFin regarding “Agrarvis Forst- und Energiegenossenschaft” apparently established in Vienna"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) would like to draw attention to a warning made by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), which advises that an entity called “Agrarvis Forst- und Energiegenossenschaft<\/span>” which is apparently registered in Vienna, that is publicly offering investment products through the website “www.agrarvis.com”, without publishing prospectuses. The FMA has determined that “Agrarvis” is not entered in the Austrian Commercial Register (Firmenbuch<\/span>). Inspection of the premises at an address in Vienna’s Innenstadt<\/span> (Tuchlauben<\/span> 7a, 1010 Vienna) proved that “Agrarvis” could not be found there. The first complaints from investors have already started to arrive, in which they state that they have been unable to recover the money they invested with “Agrarvis”. The FMA requests anyone affected in Austria, who might be in contact with “Agrarvis” or who might have invested money with them to come forward with any relevant information. The FMA is aware that products are being offered by an entity called Agrarvis Timber Capital I\/II\/III eG using the designations “Waldportfolio<\/span>” and “Geschäftsanteile Agrarvis Timber Capital III<\/span>”.<\/p>

Investment fraud with a “green” face is a current trend<\/h2>

Investment fraudsters always rely on the newest trends to hit the financial market to ensnare investors looking to invest in good faith. New business models and financial trends crop up frequently in public conversation, and often appear to offer more attractive possibilities than established companies and banks. A lack of or underdeveloped rules and laws for a “trendy” financial area also provide fraudsters with answers and excuses to the enquiries that their potential victims might make.<\/p>

In addition to the currently ubiquitous scams with cryptocurrency links, the FMA’s findings show that fraudulent investment offerings currently focus on protecting the environment, renewable energies or climate-related technologies. The scam also plays on potential clients’ green conscience, who perhaps want their money to also help promote clean air, or carbon-free electricity generation, and for whom sustainability is an important issue.<\/p>

Tips for consumers<\/h2>

Consumers confronted by such offers or similar ones, should consult the FMA’s Company Database<\/a> about whether the company holds a licence for the respective financial service being offered. The FMA’s investor warnings also provide some hints about known attempts at fraud. In our A-Z of Finance and in the FMA’s series “Let’s talk about money”<\/a>, we informed consumers about the tricks that fraudster use, and give advice about how to recognise such scams and not to fall for them. If you have a suspicion that an apparent fraudster has contacted you, you can contact the FMA using our Whistle-blower Tool<\/a> or by phoning the Consumer Hotline<\/a>. The Whistleblower Tool allows you to contact us anonymously.<\/p>

Additional Links<\/h2>