If you have been invited to a suspicious Telegram group, please exercise caution; you might be a potential scam target! Numerous scams falsely claim to be associated with various investment companies, including Peregrine Capital.

We value your trust and want to ensure you are well-informed and protected from fraudulent activities. Therefore, we communicate only formally through direct channels (email), our website, and Peregrine Capital’s social platforms (LinkedIn and Facebook).

How the Scam Works:

Scammers collect personal information, including phone numbers, and add unsuspecting individuals to Telegram groups without consent. Once in the group, participants receive updates about crypto or other investment scams. These scams involve investing money now to get unbelievable returns in 30 – 60 days. Participants may initially receive small rewards to gain their trust. However, scammers ultimately aim to convince victims to pay or deposit money to claim larger rewards and then steal those funds.

Protecting Yourself:

We urge you to take the following steps to safeguard your interests:

1. Remain Vigilant

Be wary of unexpected invitations to Telegram groups and offers that seem too good to be true. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts.

2. Report the Telegram account

• Telegram facilitates its users' reporting of accounts that are potentially used for scams. When you receive an unknown Telegram invitation, the easiest way is to press the "Report Scam and Leave" button, which is usually located at the top of the Telegram interface.

• If the button is missing, you can "Open Group Profile," then click the "Three Dots" indicating more options and choose "Report." By selecting “Fake Account”.

• Additionally, you can send an email to abuse@telegram.org . The central Telegram team will follow up on the case you submit.

3. Leave the Telegram group containing the scam

The second step to address this is to leave the Telegram group you deem a scam. This will prevent you from continuously receiving potentially tempting updates. Also, remember to block the Telegram group.

4. Change Telegram privacy settings

To prevent being invited to scam groups, you can start by changing your Telegram account's privacy and security settings. Choose settings that allow you to be invited to Telegram groups only by contact numbers already saved on your phone. This is crucial to avoid similar incidents in the future, such as being invited by fake or scam Telegram accounts.

5. Don’t blindly trust endorsements

Remember that endorsements for investment opportunities are not always real, whether they appear to come from a celebrity or a friend. Scammers can hack or fake people’s accounts to appear to recommend something without their knowledge.

6. Check out their official website

If you find an investment opportunity through social media, verify its legitimacy through the official website of the investment company and use its published contact information to confirm the validity of the investment offer. Do not use the contact information given through scam channels.

7. Confirm they are a trusted member of the FSCA

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is a unique, independent institution that you can trust. Check if the company is registered with them. (https://www.fsca.co.za/MagicScripts/mgrqispi.dll).

8. Avoid Sharing Personal Information:

Do not share sensitive personal information or financial details with unknown parties, especially in online forums or groups.

9. Educate Yourself:

Familiarise yourself with scammers' common tactics, such as false promises, unsolicited group invitations, endorsements from other investors, and requests for payment or deposits.

10. Spread Awareness:

Share this message with your friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness and prevent others from falling victim to scams.

We're Here to Help:

At Peregrine Capital, we take the security of our clients seriously. If you have any concerns or questions about potential scams or fraudulent activities, please don't hesitate to contact us. Your safety and security are our top priorities.

Together, let's stay vigilant and protect ourselves from online threats.