An outfit claiming to be a stock broking company - which is backed by celebrity boxer Mike Tyson - is behind a large increase in unwanted calls Kiwis are getting from Canada.
Newshub first reported the spike in calls from various Toronto-based numbers on Wednesday, and has since found out more about the mysterious company behind them.
According to a number of concerned Kiwis who emailed us, the company making the calls is called Trade12 ('Trade OneTwo'), which has been publicly endorsed by Mike Tyson.
Tyson recently tweeted about the company and has also appeared in a series of promotional videos for them.
According to its website, the company specialises in stocks and commodities, and is labelled as an "online trading company". It claims to have an international client list - including many New Zealanders and Australians.
Many of those who were contacted say their caller knew detailed personal information about them, such as their full name. Several who were called received 'follow-up' emails sent to their personal email addresses.
(Newshub.)
Despite the high-level celebrity endorsement, a quick Google search brings up a range of highly positive and negative reviews, across an array of websites, ranging from 1 star through to 5 stars and many websites are quick to suggest that Trade12 could be a scam.
Newshub approached Trade12 for comment, contacting their headquarters in the Marshall Islands.
Its spokesperson was unwilling to offer much information, telling us that "they have boundaries" about what information it could provide to a non-client.
It asked us to become a registered client first, which required a monetary deposit, before it would agree to provide any detailed information.
Newshub asked the spokesperson why they have chosen to target New Zealanders, to which she said those who were contacted must have "clicked on an advertisement, filled out a survey or have been referred by a friend."
But a number of people who received the calls say they would not have done this.
The spokesperson refused to provide Newshub any information relating to the number of New Zealanders who are registered clients.
When queried on scam allegations and the negative reviews online, she responded by saying they "don't know if those reviews are from our customers or our detractors" and asked that we "try the service before [we] accuse [them]."
Newshub is yet to determine officially whether Trade12 is a scam, however, they do feature on the Financial Markets Authority 'warnings list'.
How they received a verified celebrity endorsement, or how they possess personal information relating to New Zealanders, remains to be seen.
Newshub.
