BCSC panel finds that former notary public committed $100 million fraud

VANCOUVER, July 22, 2014 /CNW/ - A British Columbia Securities Commission panel has found that a Vancouver woman and two companies she controlled committed a $100 million fraud.

The panel found that between approximately 2003 and January 2012, Rashida Samji, a former notary public, perpetrated a fraud when she traded securities to 200 or more investors for proceeds of at least $100 million.

The panel found that Samji ran a Ponzi scheme.  She told investors that she would hold their money in trust and that it would be used only to secure letters of comfort for the financing of a British Columbia winery.  Investors were to earn fees for securing the letters of credit.

Instead, the panel found, the so-called investment was "one big lie" and "a monumental deceit".  There was no winery involved, no letters of comfort, nor any fees.  Samji did not hold investors' money in trust, but used it to pay returns to other investors, and for her own use.

The panel dismissed fraud allegations relating to falsified mortgages. 

The panel directed the parties to make submissions on sanctions according to the schedule set out in the findings.

You may view the findings decision on our website www.bcsc.bc.ca by typing Rashida Samji, Rashida Samji Notary Corporation, Samji & Assoc. Holdings Inc., or 2014 BCSECCOM 286 in the search box. Information regarding disciplinary proceedings can be found in the Enforcement section of the BCSC website.

Please visit the Canadian Securities Administrators' Disciplined Persons List for information relating to persons disciplined by provincial securities regulators, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA).

About the British Columbia Securities Commission (http://www.bcsc.bc.ca)

The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act. Our mission is to protect and promote the public interest by fostering:

• A securities market that is fair and warrants public confidence
• A dynamic and competitive securities industry that provides investment opportunities and access to capital

Learn how to protect yourself and become a more informed investor at www.investright.org

SOURCE: British Columbia Securities Commission

Media Contact: Richard Gilhooley, Media Relations, 604-899-6713; Public inquiries: 604-899-6854 or 1-800-373-6393 (toll free)