More investment scam victims surface, poised to file charges

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Victims of the alleged “investment scam” here rose from 18 to 50 persons and are ready to file complaints against the persons behind the alleged racket.

According to one of the investors who sought anonymity, Lourdes Baarde, 41, the owner of Forex Investment Scheme (FIS) has gone missing after the controversy broke out.

The complainants told the police that Baarde, a former employee of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and resident of Rio Grande Subdivision in Arnaldo Boulevard here, failed to return their investments.

The complainants, mostly local government employees, teachers, police officers and private individuals, invested at least P100,000 each.

The complainants said the 20 percent return on their investment tempted them to part away with their money.

As an assurance of sorts, FIS issued post-dated checks reflecting the investors’ projected interest earning.

But the investors were alarmed after the checks bounced for lack of funds. The investors learned lately that the trading system was hacked and cannot anymore restore.