Hello,
This Blog was created in response to some information collected over the course of the last couple of days regarding a ‘CTO (Cease Trade Order) issued by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) in the securities of Brilliante Brasilcan Resources Corp., York Rio Resources Inc., and their representatives, including Brian W. Aidelman, Jason Georgiadis, Richard Taylor, and Victor York.’
Further follow up with the Canadian Securities Administrators has identified a CTO issued by the ‘Securities Division of the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission (SFSC) on November 12, 2008, against York Rio Resources Inc., Victor York also known as Victor Georgiadis, Adam Sherman also known as Jason Sebrooke also known as Michael Chambers, Tom Parker, Joe London, Peter Robinson, Mark Roberts, Abraham Saks, Michael Walsh and Kevin Crawford. Victor York is the President and sole director of York Rio while Sherman, Parker, London, Robinson, Roberts, Saks, Walsh and Crawford act on behalf of York Rio as sales representatives. The order expires on November 27, 2008, and may be extended.’
In March of 2008 a colleague and I were initially contacted by Tom Parker representing York Rio Resources Inc. Tom was very convincing on the sale of York Rio securities stating that the company has completed numerous phases of development and is in fact in the production phase. Tom went further to state that York Rio was to begin public trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) by the fall of this year. During the conference call between Tom, my colleague and I, Tom discussed the success he has had in the past with other companies bringing them to open public trading. Of course understanding there is risk in stock trading, this still seems to be a good investment, my colleague and I purchased a significant amount of securities in York Rio.
Over the course of a few months we were in contact with Tom Parker and then Mark Roberts took over. Mark discussed a potential merger with another company, stating that it was 99.9% certain. Mark also stated that even if the merger fell through, York Rio would still go to public trading in the fall/winter of this year but on the Frankfurt exchange rather than the TSX. Mark then offered what were to be the last few shares in the company to my colleague and me. Mark stated that he and his ‘team’ have researched York Rio and in fact felt confident enough to become a major share holder himself (Mark states that he turned down a salary in lue of shares). Mark was very convincing and we again purchased a significant amount of securities in York Rio. The merger fell through and there is still no foreseeable future on the public exchange.
It is apparent that we are not the only persons concerned with what is happening with our considerable investments in this company as the issue has been brought to the attention of the OSC, SFSC and BCSC (which is still under investigation).
This Blog has been created as we would like to contact other York Rio / Brilliante Brasilcan share holders who may have any input (positive or negative) in which they are willing to share.
This blog has been created as this is the only way we know how to contact other investors regarding this situation. You can contact us directly at yorkrio.investors@gmail.com.
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93 comments:
First, thanks creating the blog. I too am a concerned investor and the fundamental question I have is “is the company legitimate?” Since I received the e-mail regarding the OSC order from “Denise” at York-Rio, I have been trying to determine whether I have been duped or if there is value to this company. At this point in time, I have grave concerns about my investment.
A key concern I had as a prospective investor was that I did not have the opportunity to meet any of the people involved personally and I had no prior history with the company, nor did I know anyone who had. As you noted, the sales pitch was very convincing. In the end, I tried to do some due diligence from afar and decided to invest, but mitigate my risk by investing the minimum amount. I was asked if I was an accredited investor.
The presentation of the investment to me was very similar to what you describe above. Through the course of the sale and follow-up (trying to get me to buy more) I was bounced from Sr. Sales guy to senior sales guy: from Jack Baker, to Ron Reid, Jason Seabrook or aka whoever they really are. The last time I talked to Jason Seabrook in mid-June of ’08, he told me that the next big investment opportunity was going to be in uranium; that he’d already been researching it and looking at a possible new opportunity of a company to invest.
In August, I got a phone an e-mail from someone a Brilliante asking if they could send me a prospectus for an investment opportunity that they had. I said they could and they booked an appointment to call me back. I didn’t get a call-back when they said, but I did a few days later. In the interim, I had reviewed the info they sent. The call was pretty short. I asked the sales guy if the investment was in any way related to York-Rio. He said no, and claimed that he had never heard of York-Rio. I told him that the way it was being presented was the same as the way York-Rio was presented and that the company was citing the same geologist in its material. The response was “oh, really.” I finished by saying that there was no way I was going to invest in this company until I got my money out of York-Rio. I recall thinking that, after I said that, the sales guy seemed to be in a hurry to get off the phone.
After the cease trade news came out, I checked the York-Rio website for more information. Nothing more was available. I tried to call the company, and got an answering machine. Early last week, I poured through the “investor news” and google’d the names of the people and companies referenced. My searches resulted in nothing that gave me comfort that there was a real mine that York-Rio had an interest in. I checked the web-links listed off the York-Rio site; again I came up dry. Late one evening while tripping through internet searches, I came across a phone number for Victor York. I thought, I have nothing to lose. I tried calling the number. A man answered and I asked if I was speaking to Victor York. The answer was “yes.” He and I spoke for some time.
Prior to talking to him, I was drawing to the conclusion that York-Rio was a scam. After talking to him, I was left with a kernel of hope that there was something to the company. If there is, there are some major challenges ahead.
I explained that I was an investor trying to figure out what was going on and that I was coming up empty handed at every turn. He said, “Go ahead, ask me anything, I have nothing to hide.” So, I proceeded to ask a few questions and listen a-lot. Below is some of what I recall being told.
In late Oct. (Oct. 21st I think) the York-Rio office was entered SWAT team style. Brilliante and York-Rio were sharing the office space. There was a lead OSC investigator and a many of RCMP. The staff in the office was told not to touch anything. Office files were packed up and taken away. The cease trade order was put in effect.
Victor was not in the office. The raising of capital and running the office had essentially been outsourced to Seabrook and those guys. I suspect that these guys are people from the companies listed in the BC stop trade order. He told me that that the cost of raising capital was something like 20cents on every dollar raised and operational costs for the office were another 50cents for every dollar raised. Part of the claim being made is that the commission costs were excessive, at 70cents on the dollar, but that this overlooked what was an office cost and assumed it to be a commission.
Victor changed his name when he was 16 and has worked ever since under the name. He was unaware that some of the others, such as Seabrook, were known by other names.
Since the raid, he has been embroiled in the affair with the support of his lawyers. With the cease trade, he is concerned that he is prevented from moving things forward. He can no longer raise capital. When I asked how the rest of the business was going beyond the cease trade, he said “ok.” I asked if there was anything available that would give investors confidence that this was the case, such as current financials. He said that financial were made public in 2006 (I have not been able to find these). He made no commitments with respect to current financials. I asked if diamonds were being produced from the site yet, if money was being made. Why did they need to keep raising capital? He said, not yet but soon. He said he couldn’t wait to get the e-mail from Brazil. I read into this that the implication that there was some trepidation regarding their reaction at the cease trade order.
Victor said that he had nothing to do with Brilliant other than the fact that they were sharing office space. No charges had been laid against York-Rio.
I asked who the other Georgiadas was. It is Victor’s nephew who was hired to work on Brilliante as an “office-boy.”
I asked about the possible sale of York-Rio and what happened to the impending deal. Victor said that there were lots of possible exit strategies for a company. I asked if dividends, as mentioned in the newsletter, were a possibility. He said that, yes, those were still a possibility.
He also spoke of his health, legal cost, and asked that I send him an e-mail that he could forward on to his lawyers as a concerned investor that was looking for more information. He was candid. It was very interesting conversation.
Do I believe everything he said? I don’t know what to believe any more.
I went in for $5000. Never really though about it too much until today when I tripped across the stock certificate in some other papers in my safety deposit box.
So I thought I would see where things were at. Imagine my surprise today.
I had no indication from York rio whatsoever. Nice way to treat the investors.
I'll be shocked if I see a dollar back but I am hopeful.
I find it interesting that subsequent to the original Cease Order, that I got a call from a sales person trying to get me to increase my investment. Hmmm.
So back to the original question: scam or no scam ... well if it has yellow feathers, a bill, webbed feet and says quack .... i think it's a duck.
Good luck all.
As a concerned investor I am speaking to an OSC investigator tomorrow morning January 14th. I am a little dumbfounded as to this whole process and the validity of it all as I'm not completely sure of who's telling me the truth. Please correspond to johnnycopeland@gmail.com
First of all thank you very much for starting this blog. My experience with York Rio is very similar to yours. By now it is obvious that we are dealing with a major scam in here, there are plenty of evidence to support this. I believe very strongly that we should start legal action against these guys before they disappear to somewhere out of country. I have already taken legal advise and I have been assured that with the information and evidence that I have collected we have a very strong case to proceed with legal action. We should sign up with an aggressive and repeatable law firm and start the process of recovering our money.
Tom,
Sounds good in theory but as you know, getting a judgment might be relatively easy ... getting a penny from a sheltered corporation that has no assets ... a little tougher.
That said, if a class action was started I would most certainly participate. Ideally you would need to find a firm willing to work on contingency.
Cheers
SDL in Calgary
SDL,
There is a very strong case according to the lawyers that I have consulted to go after this guys personally, hiding under the corporate veil will not work in here. Yes there is at least one firm is willing to take this case on contingency. What we need to do is start collecting contact information for all of the investors.
Tom
Hello All,
We are the individuals whom have started this blog due to some concerns raised due to the STO’s issued against York Rio as stated above. Since the initial post of this blog we have made several contacts via our gmail account by other concerned investors as well as a few as posted on the blog. We have also acquired some details with which we would like to share with investors including commencement of a class action lawsuit. Before I/we release any personal information consent must be submitted to us.
Tom, you state that you have met with lawyers willing to take this case on contingency. If you can contact us via the gmail account yorkrio.investors@gmail.com (along with any other investors ready to take action) we will contact you personally to begin arrangements for further action.
We live in North East BC and are therefore quite a ways from the York Rio offices, however, an associate of ours went to visit the office on February 6, 2009 and found that there is no office in existence at the last address we had for York Rio, a printing company works out of this location and there are a number of mailboxes at the back.
Some additional information has also come across our paths which strongly indicate we have all been taken by fraudulent means from York Rio and its personnel. We hope to hold a meeting with the RCMP on Monday, February 9, 2009 to begin further investigations into York Rio or in the least to acquire further details about the company and its personnel.
Again, please contact us. You can contact us through the gmail account and simply advise whether or not you would like to participate and/or let us know if you would like to remain anonymous. We will respect your wishes as we have done in the past for others.
I just noticed that the ASC (Alberta Securities Commission) has posted a stop trade order dated Jan 29'09. Their paperwork refers to both York-Rio and Brilliante together as a "boiler room operation."
http://www.albertasecurities.com/Enforcement/Enforcement%20Orders/York%20Rio%20Resources%20NOHR%202009%2001%2029%203088696%20v1.pdf
Please make sure to contact Wayne Vandelaaan of OSC tell him your stories, send him all of the documents; such as contract e-mails and any other supporting papers you may have his # is 416 204 8968.
I sent an e-mail to yorkrio.investors@gmail.com, please confirm that you have received my e-mail.
Hello Tom, we did not recieve your email. Please resend or try briscois@gmail.com
Newest update received. I suspect many of you have received this but just in case ...
In essence it reaffirms that not only does York Rio have cease trade orders in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, but that these orders have been extended.
It's interesting to note that despite the fact that the update is dated 2/16/09, and that it outlines Ont, Sask and BC, that it fails to mention Alberta.
Regardless, this continues to look like a scam and the chances of financial recover look increasingly slim.
Getting a contingency class action suit will be difficult based on the fact that actually hunting down and finding Mr. Victor (insert any number of aliases here) and any of his assets will be even harder I suspect.
As a matter of fact, despite several requests, I can not get York Rio to respond to the simple question asking, "what is your current office address and can we meet in person to discuss these matters."
That said, I am on board with any legal actions that this group wishes to embark upon.
Here is the York Rio February update:
----------------------
February 2009
Update to message from the management of York-Rio Resources Ltd. (York-Rio) issued on November 4, 2008:
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has extended the temporary cease trade order originally issued on October 21, 2008 until March 4, 2009, on consent of the parties named in that order. The terms of the original order relating to York-Rio remain in effect.
On November 21, 2008, the British Columbia Securities Commission issued a cease trade order requiring that trading in the securities of York-Rio cease until certain actions are taken by York-Rio. The order prohibits York-Rio from engaging in a range of activities that would fall under the definition of “trade” under the British Columbia Securities Act.
On November 12, 2008, the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission (SFSC) issued a temporary order with respect to York-Rio and others, which order was extended on November 27, 2007 until the SFSC is provided with certain information. The SFSC’s cease trade order provides that, for so long as the order remains in effect, the exemptions in Saskatchewan securities laws would not apply to York-Rio and the other respondents named in the order, that York-Rio must cease trading in all securities and exchange contracts, and that York-Rio must cease advising with respect to any securities, trades or exchange contracts.
Further details of the orders described above can be found on the securities commissions’ websites. York-Rio is working with legal counsel to assess and determine the best course of action to be taken.
Management would like to reaffirm that, as of the date of this message, York-Rio has not been charged with any securities or other offences and is currently working to achieve a timely resolution of these matters.
It is very interesting that York Rio management have posted a comment listing all of the CTOs issued by every provinces in Canada, but they don't say when and how these CTOs will be lifted it looks that they are happy to see all of these CTOs that buying them more time. Don't be fooled there is no mine no office we are dealing with a major scam
It is also interesting to note that this is pretty much all they have on their website. Gone is the "investor lounge," newsletters, links to useless websites, etc. If everything was on the up-and-up, why would this information be hidden away?
thx for setting up this blog, I also am burned and would participate in any action you guys set up.
I am also a victim of this apparent greed.
I should have known that something was fishy when I asked "Mark" if they ever attend the Cambridge House investment shows and he didn't know what i was talking about.
I am with the group to get our money back or at least bring these criminals to justice.
Hello again everybody. I would like to take a moment and provide some more information to the earlier information in our blog. There is no longer any doubt that we have all been taken in by an elaborate scam. YRR has only offered information on these Cease Trade Orders(CTO) by the provinces with an occasional mention that only assets from the un-associated company Brilliante Brasilcan have been seized, not the YRR assets. By the way, these assets were seized by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and the reason YRR assets were not seized is because there is nothing left to seize, not money in the banks, no equipment or any other asset that can be tracked. It is believed that Victor York and his affiliates have taken hundreds of investors for tens of millions of dollars but it is still very difficult for the OSC to determine with any accuracy.
We are still working on acquiring the current documentation from the Ontario Courts regarding the current OSC investigation and hope to have it soon. This should provide a clearer picture for us on how to proceed. In the mean time we are still researching a lawyer in Ontario who may be interested in representing a class action law suit if it is viable. The only was a lawyer will sign up with us is if there are enough assets available to cover the lawsuit on top of our investment recovery. I do hope that the documents we acquire from the Ontario Courts can provide us with this information; otherwise we the investors would have to finance an investigator for the lawyers to determine asset values. I will follow up with this once we have more information.
In an earlier posting we mentioned that the RCMP was investigating York Rio Resources (YRR), Brilliante Brasilcan and their affiliates. This information was incorrect. The RCMP are not involved with the Ontario Securities Commission investigation in any way, and further, the RCMP have no intention of becoming involved as this would just take resources from other cases. This information is very disturbing and I was quite upset to hear it. I personally invested a great deal of my savings, over $55,000 with these people and to find out the RCMP don’t seem to care is frustrating. The OSC has very limited powers and enforcement, therefore they are unable to make arrests, interrogate, etc. without the RCMP assistance. This further inhibits and slows the OSC investigations, which have been going on for over a year and a half now.
I have been advised that perhaps if the RCMP start receiving phone calls (complaints) from the numerous impacted investors then they may have to start looking into the matter. I also believe that if we can bring this matter to the media and someone there takes interest in our case it may also force the RCMP’s hand and get a real investigation underway.
I am following all of these avenues but this is an extremely time consuming process and I am working it in between my regular work and home time. If there is anyone else who can provide some resources in way of contacting law firms, media and/or the RCMP it would be greatly appreciated. One small beacon of light is that if we are unable to recover all our investment the loss can be used as a Capital Loss against any Capital Gains any time in our future.
This newsletter will be emailed to all subscribed investors as well. I hope to have more information soon.
Regards,
York Rio investors.
A friend of mine brought the following news article to my attention from earlier this year... Interesting parallel’s to York-Rio.
http://www.canada.com/Business/story.html?id=436142
I sent the following to the media... a person at Canwest and to the CBC a week ago.
So far, I have not had a response. I have no "in" with the media.
From an article written last year. http://www.canada.com/Business/story.html?id=436142. Well, it has happened again. A made in Canada, white collar criminals take millions story. Again, it is a diamond mine. In fact the parallels to this previous story are amazing.
This time a guy from Toronto, Victor York, and his conspirators using various aliases, have bilked Canadian investors of millions of dollars starting several years ago. The first scam is a Diamond mine, York-Rio Resources, that does not exist. The second, starting mid-last year and the one that seems to have roused the suspicion of the OSC, was a Brillante Basilcan Resources, a Uranium mine.
The OSC "boiler room" team has stopped further investors from falling into the well-crafted traps... They have tried to seize the remaining assets but there is nothing to seize. I was told by the lead OSC investigator that it is hard to tell exactly how much money is gone, but it looks to be over $35MM and over 500 investors have been taken. None of it can be traced.
The RCMP is not even investigating the issue so the criminals may never come to justice.
Google the cease trade orders and check out the investor blog at http://yorkrioinvestors.blogspot.com/2008/11/york-rio-securities-scam-or-no-scam.html
There are lots of investors, including me, who would love to help you tell the story and so many angles you could take:
Canadian investors ripe for the taking?
Investment watchdogs caught watching again?
Provincial security regulation - a recipe for white collar crime success?
Canadian white collar crime - Go ahead, the RCMP have no time?
Diamond, it seems from your comment that you are a little bit diacouraged. Please be assured that we are working very hard to find the extant of the York Rio's scam and trace the monies that have been collected. We will not let these criminals to get away with our hard earned monies. Please hang in there and try your best to contact various media organizations and RCMP.
I too have been "had" for a considerable sum of money. I don't have too much left in my savings for expensive legal pursuits, but would be happy to join the ranks of investors seeking justice.
After the hearing of March 3rd the CTO now extended for six more months. That is exactly what Victor York and all of his crooks want. We can not wait for another six months we have to take a civil legal action and bring these guys to the court of law. Please participate on this blog and lets start the process. It will be criminal in our part if we let these crooks to go unpunished.
listen to me,,,,,mr york was employed by 'revenue canada' for nearly 30 years, he knows all the inns and outs.............they have already accomplished what they set out to do...........and the group..........his yankee partner and her offspring are all enjoying the fruits..........too late!
I don't understand why the RCMP and media are interested in an American white collar criminals like this:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/03/19/thomas-qualls-arrest.html
when we have Canadians who have taken 15 times as much.
Pissed: You may be right. A-lot of the money may be gone. Last I heard, the OSC found some.
Do you really want to just let it go? I would like to see some justice done. I don't know who his "Yankee partner and her offspring" are but I would like to make the rest of their lives as uncomfortable as possible.
Innocent until proven guilty and all of that, but a white collar criminal is still a criminal to me.
pissed; the fact that Mr. York has worked for revenue Canada for 30 years doesn't give him the license to steal, and I don't understand what motivate you to discourage the investors from taking any legal action. First of all, OSC has already managed to retrace some money and we have to find the rest of it, the fact that moneys been hidden or spent doesn't mean is "gone". Second of all, how stupid you can be to stand by and let them to enjoy the fruit of this crime money. Give your head a shake.
Hello all,
First I would like to apologies for taking so long to respond to a number of your requests for updates, however, I have had no new information to provide. We have tried to contact Wayne Vanderlaan @ the OSC several times over the last week looking for any news or updates with the OSC investigation. All we have heard is that York Rio has received another extension until Sept 2009, again delaying the system while giving the crooks lots of time to further spend and hide the money they stole. During the last few weeks I have been working feverishly on several fronts.
I have sent numerous requests to dozens of lawyers and law firms in Ontario in an attempt to find someone willing to represent us (all York Rio Investors) in a class action law suit with a contingency. Of all the lawyers contacted only a couple bothered to respond. The lawyers who did respond state clearly that they are not willing to work with a contingency. They further state that it will cost several thousands of dollars before they will even review the case and if they accept the case they will require a deposit of tens of thousands of dollars ($30-$50) before beginning the process. Like many others, I have no more resources available to participate in such an expensive process as a civil case; which would likely only return a fraction of our monies if any at all, and the case would likely take several years with “Mr. York” using our money to fund his defence.
We need to get the police involved with this case. If the RCMP can bring charges against these criminals and they are prosecuted then whatever assets are left will be seized, liquidated and returned to the victims as is the law. The sooner we can get this process going the better.
I have filed complaints with the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Toronto City Police regarding this scam. I suggest that everybody does the same thing. You can file online with the RCPM and OPP by logging onto http://recol.ca/. You can then file with the Toronto police by going to http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/fraud/. Perhaps a run of complaints about the same scam may provoke some action.
I have spent dozens of hours researching contact information for media outlets across Canada. I have emailed W Five, the Fifth Estate, Goldhawk, the National as well as about 50 more local stations across the country. So far I have received only 1 response. The ‘Trouble Shooter’ for Global Edmonton is interested in our story but only if someone is willing to talk on camera. As I am in North East BC it would be difficult for me. If there is anyone in Edmonton or area willing to follow up with this you can email them at troubleshooter@GlobalTV.Com . Please let us know so we can follow.
Also, several days ago I got to thinking about the York Rio Resources website and the fact that they post a ‘Community Contributions’ page. First of all, if York Rio is in fact contributing to the community it is with STOLEN MONEY. I therefore acquired contact information for all organizations identified on the YRR contributions site and drafted an email to each of them.
For your reference here is what was stated in each of these emails:
Attention: ***ORGANIZATION***
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter in response to the lack of action by the authorities to investigate, charge and prosecute a heinous financial crime against Canadian citizens. The crime I speak of is investment scam run by Mr. Victor York of York Rio Resources Inc.
I, along with hundreds of other individuals throughout Canada have been contacted by York Rio Resource personnel who supplied convincing evidence of the validity of the company including a website with your Name and Logo identified as receiving contributions from York Rio.
I therefore feel it is my responsibility as an un-appointed spokesman for York Rio Resource Investors to bring this matter to your attention as well as the attention of the media. According to statements made by York Rio Resources Inc., your organization has received charitable funds which were fraudulently acquired (Stolen) from other hard working Canadian Citizens like myself.
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is currently the only organization doing anything productive in the way of investigating the actions of Mr. Victor York and York Rio Resources Inc. due to the OSC’s lack of authority in such matters their investigation has been very slow and difficult to acquire evidence. I am not sure how long the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police or the Toronto City Police have been aware of this fraud but I have personally submitted complaints to them and am disgusted with the fact that the police do not want to take action against York Rio. There is plenty of evidence out there; the OSC has thousands of pages, and yet these criminals are allowed to roam freely among us stealing from citizens like myself and apparently giving this stolen money to organizations like yours.
As you may be able to tell, I am very frustrated. I have reported this crime to the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Toronto City Police. I have also contacted the media and lawyers with very little to no response. The only one trying to help and willing to speak with us is the investigator with the OSC. I have lost my life’s savings and now the lawyers want tens of thousands of dollars more just to review the case and see if they are interested in it, so once again the criminals have more rights than upstanding Canadian Citizens.
I hope that if your organization has been receiving funds from these criminals you will now stop accepting it, after all, it is stolen money. Perhaps you may want to have your organizations name and Logo removed from the website as well. For your reference, the site is http://yrresources.com/community/ . We have also set up a blog for other investors to find some contact, information updates and support. The site is http://yorkrioinvestors.blogspot.com/
If you are interested in more information please contact me and I will supply what I can including contacts with the Ontario Securities Commission.
Thank you for your time,
York Rio Investors
yorkrio.investors@gmail.com
P.S. this email has been carbon copied to many radio and news stations in hopes that someone will pick up the story. As stated earlier, we have made numerous attempts to have our voice heard with no results. Perhaps this will help.
As stated in the letter above, I also sent this email to a number of radio and TV stations in the Toronto/Ontario area. It took several hours to collect these email addresses and I am posting them here for other burned investors to use. Again, perhaps the squeaky wheel will get some of our money back. In the least I want to see these skuz bags go to prison.
Here are the majority of the media emails I have acquired for your convenience:
Info@TrentRadio.ca
SChaves@blackburnradio.com
GHayes@blackburnradio.com
RBrander@blackburnradio.com
josie@edge.ca
insideedgechick@edge.ca
steve.winogron@chumottawa.com
ghebert@cfra.com
jbudden@cfra.com
walter@cfra.com
pina@cfra.com
cfrc@ams.queensu.ca
info@cfru.ca
chintv@chinradio.com
chinottawa@chinradio.com
lgordon@blackburnradio.com
news@chrwradio.com
info@chuo.fm
jstorey@900chml.com
kmann@900chml.com
mholmes@900chml.com
jward@q107.com
blair@q107.com
mvanderwoude@kicxfm.com
kyle.foley@kicx917.com
steve.corbett@kicx917.com
ewilmot@radio.astral.com
cmccutcheon@radio.astral.com
scott.parsons@ottawaradio.rogers.com
info@cirvfm.com
news@cfra.com
meryan@niagara.com
info@cksyfm.com
info@thewolf.ca
tcolbear@radio.astral.com
newsdirector@ckpc.on.ca
mcej@bnn.ca
now@cp24.com
am@ctv.ca
askus@ctv.ca
news@ctv.ca
newsonline@ctv.ca
Doreen@multimedianova.com
globalnationalfeedback@globaltv.com
GlobalNews.BC@globaltv.com
troubleshooter@globaltv.com
globalnews.ed@globaltv.com
newstips@globaltv.com
globalnews.calgary@globaltv.com
globalnews.leth@globaltv.com
globalnews.reg@globaltv.com
globalnews.sask@globaltv.com
globalnews.wpg@globaltv.com
Editor@5thEstate.com
w-five@ctv.ca
fightback@goldhawk.com
So, to sum up my experience:
Unless there is someone else out there with contacts in the legal system, a lawyer, or a millionaire willing to finance legal action against Victor York & York Rio we are out of luck following this direction. Perhaps some will be able to take action on their own behalf.
Unless the media picks up our story it is not likely the authorities will get involved and these criminals will continue to roam freely.
Unless more investors start making more noise, reporting to the authorities and contacting the media, it is not likely the authorities will get involved and these criminals will continue to roam freely.
I have expended hundreds of hours working on this and believe I have expended all resources available to me. Unless the media or authorities have a change in heart and decide to contact me I will not be expending any more energy on Mr. York. I hope he rots in hell for what he has done.
If anyone feels I may have over stepped my boundaries pursuing Justice I apologize but I hate to let career criminals get away.
If anyone can provide more substantial resources please post to the blog or send me an email. I will keep the blog running until YORK is buried behind bars or soil.
Good luck everybody.
Sincerely,
Lee
Do any of you have a picture of Victor York or his nephew Jason Georgadis? Please post it in this blog.
Lee:
You have done a ton of work. Thanks for all of you efforts. I sincerely appreciate it.
I'm surprised that only 25 investors have given names. According to the OSC, more than 500 are involved.
I spent some time Googling on the net and found the following pictures of Mr. Victor York. I've never seen the guy myself, so I need someone to confirm this is in fact him. However, the Internet breadcrumbs all indicate this is the guy. See the following annual reports.
http://www.runnymedehc.ca/publications.html
I'm in Calgary, not Edmonton, but am willing to go on camera and will contact Global to see if they can do an interview from there.
Tom. what is your email address...........
Hello again,
Diamond, thank you for following up with Global for the interview. This will be very helpful in getting our story out there and perhaps finally getting the authorities involved. I just spoke with Wayne at the Ontario Securities Commission and he was very excited about this story going on the air. Wayne also mentioned that he will be in Calgary at the end of the month and may be available for the news story as well. This would most certainly help our cause. Please contact Wayne and let him know you are following up with the interview. I am sure he would like to be a part of it. Also, it would be helpful if you can send me an email letting me know who you are so I can put a name with your call sign ‘Diamond’. I may be able to provide you with more data for the interview as well.
I am also willing to share your emails with other investors, but only with your clearly written consent. If you would like to have contact with other investors just send me an email stating that and I will send you email address out to the other investors. This way you do not have to post your information publicly and if someone would like to speak to you they will have your email. I will not send any other information, phone, address, etc. I will leave this up to you.
As for photos, I am not sure if this is legal or not but hell; if he can steal millions from us and not be punished then screw it. I received a couple of photos of Victor York and his accomplice slash girlfriend Patricia Ungaro from an anonymous follower. If you would like a copy of these photos just send me an email and I will forward them off to you.
I would also like to mention that Wayne Vanderlaan and the OSC are working very hard on our behalf. I can not say anything more than this for now but they are having some success with their investigations and may have some new to report in the near future. Nothing grand but it’s a start.
Best wishes,
Lee
Finally, some information on my so-called "investment". My thanks to the individual who started this blog and for those who have done all the research into this matter, although I am not sure what can be done at this point. I am one of the BC investors who heard the same story you have all been posting here. If there is legal action that can be taken where do I sign up?!
Aaron
Thanks again to the guys for starting this blog. When I was last speaking with Wayne at the OSC prior to submitting my story / timeline / contact list from my dealings with York Rio, he was very interested in my story (and I am sure many other York Rio investors) due to the fact that the initial contact I had from York Rio came from a guy named "Brian Caldwell" aka Brian Moloney. Wayne wanted my information sent to him right away, as Mr. Moloney was coming in for a hearing on another case, "Gold Point Resources Corp" I believe. I also was able to get some alias' for some of the other "invester relations" people at York Rio. Interesting read when searches are done on the past of most of these people. This was not their first scam!!
I am also under the impression that the OSC has made some significant progress from my recent discussions with them, and would agree whole heartedly that we need to make more noise. The legal system in terms of civil law is most likely out of most of our means at this time.
It only took a very little time for me to file my police reports, and I must agree with Lee and encourage everyone else to do the same. Has anyone thought of contacting their MLA? Maybe not a good route, but I am going to tell this story to anyone who will listen. I too have spend countless hours at this, and although frustrated by the lack of support offered to investment scam victims, and won't stop until there is some form of justice served those of us who were ripped off by these heartless theives.
By copy to Lee, I am in Calgary, and would be happy to speak with Global if they are willing to tell this story. I will email you to let you know who I am, as we have spoke and corresponded, but this is my first submission to the blog.
Every one reading this that has been scammed......take 1 hour this week and contact someone...securities regulator in your province, media, MLA, RCMP, OPP, Toronto Police department or anyone else that you think could or should be interested in our story. Set aside another hour next week. Let's see what a small time commitment can do....it can't hurt our cause.
Thank you,
Anonymous, you can obtain my e-mail address from Lee. The information is out now, the total sums of money been scammed by criminal Victor York and all his associate criminals is $17 million dollars if you didn't already know. For all of those "scammed" investors that still hoping for miracle or hesitating to participate in Civil law suit, this is not a small potato we are talking about a serious money here. Please contact you local RCMP's commercial fraud division give them your local Securities commission as a reference.
Hello, it is great to see people actively participating in this “campaign” against the York Rio Criminals. I would like to thank all of you who are pursuing these matters with the authorities, however, only a few have indicated that they have taken any action at all. As ‘$50K short’ stated, we need to take just a little time out of our week to file these reports to the authorities. The more the participants the more noise we can make. Unfortunately only a couple dozen investors out of the 500 impacted have been able to find our blog, but they do still trickle in. If we can get this story into the media it should open the flood gates.
I have been informed that we have generated enough noise so far to have the York Rio file dropped on the police chiefs (Not sure what department) desk last week. The only way we are going to get him to open it is to keep the complaints rolling in.
For those of you who would like to put a face with the crime I found this site yesterday. Apparently it is Victor York’s “girlfriend and V.P. of Sales and Marketing for YRR” Patricia Ungaro sitting with him in the photo. I was also told that they both spent in the neighbourhood of $100,000 on plastic surgery last year but I can’t confirm this.
The link is: http://www.wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?navtyp=SRH&sfld=C&logsrch=1&s=victor%20york
Here is a link to a site with some background information on Victor as well: http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/ReferencesView.aspx?PersonID=906247138
P.S. did you know that Victor York also has a movie production company? You can find the website here: http://www.evasonproductions.ca/
If anybody has some research information you think may be helpful please email me. I am trying to get as much data as I can on all of these guys as I am now looking for new angle of attack. For instance, if the individuals who contacted us were working for another company which was hired by YRR then we have recourse against that company as well. I would also like to know where they are and bring them out in the open before they start a new scam.
Regards,
I too am a YRR victim and I have just stumbled on to this blog knowing that the March review had conclude. Thank you for starting it. I am from Edmonton and I too am a minimum investor and for the fact that I was busy and entering a business meeting when Mark Roberts called with the news of the European merger and suggesting a larger investment ($15,000) I escaped the trap. He even sent a courier (Purolator) the next day to pick up the cheque! I was not about to send a cheque without the "proper" paperwork in place. I am wanting to add my name and information to the list of investors and I will be getting in touch with the local RCMP branch as well.
Hello Harry,
Please email your contact info to yorkrio.investors@gmail.com to be included in any future email updates.
I'm in..lost money on this. Found the blog only a short time ago. Almost forgot about Rio (was busy with other stuff) I phoned the number I have for Mark Roberts to see when the launch in Frankfurt will be...it no longer exists. Went to the site and found the cease trade stuff. Got the official share certs for my investment tho. Had a friend in Sao Paulo to see if he could find out anything. He told me it was pretty tough to find out anything but said the Minas Cerais was a very busy mining area with lots of claims. All in all looking pretty positive. Now I'm pissed. Saw the picture of Victor, look's like a phony to me. I'll sign on to the class action or anything to put these f&^%kers behind bars. If we can get some cash back that would be good too. I'm in Calgary, any thing I can do? What should I do and who should I complain to? I really don't have anything documented but I have the shares. By the way, what is the "Reno" designation mean?
Fry Victor; send your contact information to Lee @ yorkrio.investors, go to your local police or RCMP and file a formal complain talk to media even community papers, we have to do whatever it takes to put criminal Victor York and all of his criminal associates behind the bar.
I think stuation like this people are usually embarrassed to talk about it, they feel dumfound, and however that is what criminal Victor York is hopping for that people will forget about it he and his buddies will enjoy the $17 M scam. There is nothing to be embarrassed about and we will do whatever it takes to recover every cents possible from these criminals and put the behind the bar.
Glad you set this blog,I'm also one that got taken.
I live in the fraser Valley BC.
I don't have any funds to apply to this but if I can do anything else let me know.Keep up the posts,we are all together in this. Hopefully we can get our money back???.
Hello all.
I am in the same boat as you-$16k worth.
thanks for the blog.
Have a call into rcmp as well. want to ask aobut the law in alberta where phone solicitation is illegal. maybe an opening for all of us??? worth a shot.
Anyone up for hiring a private eye?
thanks agian
Trying to look at this from every perspective. (Still remember the Bush weapons of mass destruction impetus for theinvasion,subsequent continuing war and the loss of lives,time and money.)
If the OSC mandate is to protect the investors' interest why did almost 5 years elapse until they acted? I have reviewed the filings for York-Rio and all commissions were reflecting the investor reports.(the OSC as far back as SEpt. 2005)The consulting companies Anyphone Communications and Debrebud Capital received 72% of the funds, as reported.(see B.C. commission site)
The investigator for the OSC was chasing Brilliante NOT York-Rio.
I'm wondering why the full picture isn't as obvious to anyone else.
Taking in all the facts and information York-Rio did in fact have all the mineral rights, kept lines of communication open and had always filed the required filings. I smell a red herring here.
winston h. It seems to me that Victor York has slipped some of $17 M to you so can smell a red herring here, I don't know you are an investor or you are spying for Victor York, either way you are fooled by him. If you still think there is a mine, mineral right etc. you should get your head examine
For those of you not familiar with the OSC and their tactics - read the following:
October 09, 2008
COMMISSION CLIMBS DOWN AND ADMITS TO MISTAKE IN AIT CASE
by Terence Corcoran - Editor, Financial Post
In this time of earthshaking global financial turmoil, with governments and regulators heaving large bundles of money and authority around like Godzillas on steroids, it’s worth taking a minute to look at a small cautionary tale of regulatory excess and failure, followed by what one might call a rare display of regulatory humility.
The story comes from the Ontario Securities Commission, a regulatory enclave where self-criticism has been in short supply. In a release yesterday, the OSC issued its reasons for a precedent-setting regulatory climbdown. In a decision last month, the OSC revoked two regulatory orders and settlement agreements that had been extracted from Ottawa businessman Bernard Jude Ashe and the public company he headed, Advanced Information Technologies (AiT), in early 2007.
In those agreements, Mr. Ashe and AiT admitted that they had failed to disclose a merger transaction in a timely manner, contrary to “the public interest.” AiT was essentially taken over by the U.S. giant 3M for $41-million on May 23, 2002, and the company issued a news release on that day. But OSC enforcement staff, setting up one of their notorious “gotcha” stings, reached the conclusion that the takeover should have been disclosed earlier.
After the OSC swooped in on AiT, Mr. Ashe and the company decided to avoid a drawn out legal battle with the deep-pockets and endless horizons of the regulators. To get the OSC off his back, Mr. Ashe agreed to a $40,000 fine. The company paid $100,000. Both Mr. Ashe and the company agreed that they were guilty of violating the securities act by “failing to make disclosure of the merger transaction in a timely manner.”
Except that no such failing took place. In the words of OSC commissioner Patrick LeSafe, released yesterday, “the basis for that conclusion has subsequently been found not to have been a violation.” After hearing the evidence and arguments, the commission determined “there was no violation of the act. Mr. Ashe therefore could not be a party to AiT’s being in violation of the act because there was no violation of the act. So it is absolutely not contrary to the public interest,” Mr. LeSage said.
In fact, he goes on to say that it is in the public interest for the OSC to revoke its earlier orders against Mr. Ashe, return his $40,000 and return the $100,000 fine paid by the company.
The OSC commissioner then issued a limp apology. “I regret that Mr. Ashe has suffered personal and financial consequences. It is one of those things that happens and to the extent that it can be righted, corrected, that is now being done.”
Mr. Ashe, a businessman of the highest reputation in Ottawa, has since gone on to head another company, this time a private one that is beyond the aggressive reach of overzealous regulators.
This big OSC climbdown over a small case would never have taken place had it not been for Ottawa lawyer Deborah Weinstein’s courageous efforts to personally take on the regulator. She acted as corporate council to AiT during the 3M takeover, and she resisted the OSC’s claims that the company, under her advice, had failed to make timely disclosure. Rather that cave in to pressure, she declined to sign any settlement agreements or admit to having breached the “public interest” section of the securities act.
As she proved in hearings, no breach of the act had taken place. This was another case of OSC staff attempting to invent new securities law via prosecution. The 2006 Allen report on securities regulation in Canada called it “gotcha enforcement.” Under gotcha enforcement, regulators move in after a transaction has taken place, find behaviour they find objectionable even if no law has been broken, and attempt to turn it into new law by extracting settlements from participants who admit to the invented infraction.
The Allen report said gotcha practices brought securities enforcement into disrepute. Maybe the AiT case is a sign that the OSC has at least recognized the dangers and inherent unfairness of attempting to create law through enforcement. Does that mean gotcha enforcement is a thing of the past? An OSC executive last year said the commission would at least be more careful in future to provide advance signals that it considered certain transactions or behaviours unacceptable.
What we don’t know, however, is how many of the OSC’s past “settlement agreements” have been extracted unfairly. But at least now we know that the OSC, which apparently initiated the move to revoke the AiT settlements and penalities, seems to have some sense of regret, even a sense of humility. It’s a sense that doesn’t seem to exist today among politicians and regulators all over the world who are now assuming new massive power over global financial markets.
York-Rio isn’t the first, and I’m sure it won’t be the last…
What red herring?
The Rankin OSC outrage: Corcoran
Posted: February 22, 2008
Terence Corcoran, OSC
Another enforcement outrage from the Ontario Securities Commission, but nary a complaint from anybody. After seven years of harassing Andrew Rankin for insider trading crimes it has no evidence he committed, after losing an appeal, and after having been shown to have falsely blown the Rankin case into the Canadian securities crime of the decade, the OSC still would not give up. Yesterday it extracted another hunk of flesh out of the Rankin family.
The OSC should have admitted its mistake and walked away from the Rankin file. Instead, it got him to pay $250,000 and admit to "negligence" for having allowed his friend, Dan Duic, to be alone in Rankin's home or apartment, where Duic essentially robbed insider information from Rankin's computer. For being the victim of a crime himself, Rankin became victim of OSC regulatory jihad. That's the crime in this.
For a bit of history on Andrew Rankin travails, below are some of my columns on the case and other OSC misadventures prosecuting and harassing market players in a grand effort to establish the OSC as a tough enforcer. It proved to be a disastrous enforcer, often attempting to create legal precedents using individuals as guinea pigs and victims.
As is typical in such cases, the Rankin outcome — a settlement statement — becomes a meaningless document in which nobody has any confidence. What's a fact, what are the missing facts, and what part is true or not quite all the truth.
Rankin goes down as a colossal OSC failure--not a failure to get their man, but disastrous abuse of regulatory power to get the wrong man. Rankin and his family paid millions to defend themselves while the man who made the money, Dan Duic, got off. As the judge who heard the case put it, "The optics on the deal with Duic are terrible. This man pockets $4.5-million in illegal gains, and he gets to keep most of it and walk the streets a free man."
Rankin is no isolated case. Just the other week, the OSC lost its attempt to nail Ottawa lawyer Deborah Weinstein for breach of regulations that did not exist — a form of "gotcha" enforcement.
As the Rankin episode ends, the OSC and regulators across Canada are mulling over a still-secret assessment of Canada's securities laws and enforcement. We don't know what's in that assessment, but one hopes it does not include recommendations for new powers that would allow regulators to more effectively persecute innocent men like Andrew Rankin.
Below are some other articles written Terence Corcoran of the Financial Post that have been pulled from their website. Hmmmm.
Jan. 15, 2008: The last gotcha enforcement
March 9, 2007: Gotcha Again
Feb. 28, 2007: Two new reasons to probe the OSC
Nov. 21, 2006: Reasons to probe the OSC
Nov. 11, 2006, What's wrong with the OSC?
Oct. 26, 2006: Retroactive extortion
Oct. 18, 2005: Another OSC fiasco
Sept. 27, 2005: Free Andrew Rankin
July 19, 2005: Oversold under-achievement
April 28, 2001: The Regulatory trials of the OSC
Anonymous... perhaps you are an investigator ... maybe from the OSC? ... why not address real facts instead of attacking Winstin H for voicing his opinion...
Jacked; I am not an investigator and have nothing to do with OSC, I hope I would have never heard of OSC, I am an investor ($55k short) I don't mind risking or losing money on a legitimate investment, however these people have lied to us for several years they have fabricated story to sell. I have had a numerous conversation with them there is not a single statement that had they have made which has an iota of truth on it I can list dozens of stories that they have told me and all turned out to be a complete and flat lies, and that is why when somebody tries to fool me or himself it gets my blood boiling.
Regards to anonymous...I cannot imagine investing money without first asking questions. I did so and had received answers before investing. not after. I cannot even begin to understand why the OSC didnt receive complaints before the cease trade went into effect.
Even without a complaint it was the job of the commissions to protect investors anyways. They have had all the information going back quite a few years.I can understand why the OSC is stirring the pot with falsehoods.
I was able to confirm with the Brazilian website registrations for the company as well as Victor York's registration.
As my father would say:"zi xiang mao dun."
I've been following this blog for a while; and i think perhaps the 'scam' is getting burried in wonderfully creative words.......I believe the main issue here, is: Is there even a legitimate diamond Co in Brazil (has anyone checked it out)...Is there even a legitimate Co. here in Canada..............OSC rules and regulations are one-half of the picture, the other half is the 'bogus company' and it's 'money hungry' con-owners.............
Guys, stay on track!!!
I, too, have followed the "blog" and have actually done my homeworkand found that the company is in fact legitimate both in Canada and in Brazil.My Canwest shares sre nowworth 25 cents and are worthless. Let's start a witch hunt there or perhaps General Motors?
Get real: There was never a scam. The only sad part here is the OSC's purporting to "protect"investors. Five years after the fact. Then accelerating the story of a scam from one unrelated company to another.
The only way any company does business the OSC way is to file allthe required documents (as was done), report all commissions or consulting fees (as was done) and pay the required filing fees (as was done). Mud=slinging and innuendo didnt work in keeping Stephen Harper from getting elected or Barak Obama. It sometimes helps to avoid the fact the the ONLY winner here is the OSC.
It answers to no one at all.
It receives all it's monies from fees and fines.
Start thinking and looking at the larger picture:
There was never any hint of any "scam" until the OSC went after the unrelated company. Not a day before or five years before.
Thank you "anonymous" for avoiding the reality and substituting innuendo and baseless speculation.
President Obama's father was a Muslim and some people feel that he is in power to misdirect western politics. I dont. Prime Minister Harper was born in Etobicke (Toronto). Some people feel that he is an Easterner at heart. I dont.
It is easy to find conspiracies and scams to fit your agenda--"anonymous".I dont.
I look at the facts.I wait for the results.
And I dont pretend to know what I dont know.
Mr. H........u must be related to Mr. Y(G).......lots of hot air! and nothing else!!
If a crime is discovered years down the road, after the fact...does that mean that there really wasn't a crime?
Winston,
Excuse me, can you pass the blue koolaid?
I'm glad you're so convinced that it's a legit deal.
So hear's what I'll offer you Winston, I'll sign over my certificates to you and you give me a certified cheque for 30% of their value.
When the mine starts producing and the stock starts trading you will automatically 70% ahead?
I'm only in for $5000 so I'm only looking for $1500 ... a single roll on the craps table?
So how about it? Want to make some quick money in a "sure" and "safe" investment?
We're all very eager to hear your response.
Cheers
yikes ... would be great if I could spell while typing quickly ... here's not hears. Sheesh ... now let me go peel the certificates off my bathroom wall ... they make nice wallpaper and get prepared for my deal with Winston.
SDL in Calgary...you're my hero! Can't wait to hear how much Winson is going to offer u for your shares, perhaps he'll save everyone and purchase back all the stock..Who knows, with such a great investment, and he insists it is, he may be able to recoup the entire $17,000,000 lost to investors, maybe it'll double once these markets pick up again...certainly a bargoon.
Isn't he such a clever businessman. Apparently, he knows stuff that no one else does!
After reviewing the last sarcastic blogs it appears that anyone with any sense of balance or the ability to see things from both sides is being put down for spelling mistakes, etc.
If there was a scam then the same able bodied OSC or any other commissions would have uncovered it long ago. That was a valid point.
This wasnt a hidden matter done in any surreptious manner.
To ridicule someone else's blog for the sole reason of validating one's own point of view is not only petty and childish but undermines the whole purpose of a public forum of discussion.
We each have a point of view.
The simple fact is there is a cease trade in effect.
The cease trade needs to be dealt with first. There are no fraud charges. Let's give the benefit to the OSC to do their job and see what transpires. Enough wasted time and energy and fanning the flames in a very unprofessional manner.
short of a reference to blue koolaid, I didn't put anyone down. What I did offer was a business transaction that I think is very fair and is open to anyone who would like to option it.
In terms of spelling, I corrected my own error.
I'm not worried frankly about balance. I am worried that I have $5,000 tied up with others having $50,000 tied up and there has been NO indication from Mr. York et al to do anything about it.
What is unprofessional, let alone suspect, is the fact that I have requested to meet Mr. York face to face to discuss the matters facing all of us and he has refused and hidden.
And this sir, is the type of healthy open dialog that I believe you are looking for.
You are right 'anonymous'.. all points of view are valid.....including my own and perhaps 'Winson' should be reminded of this point....Because a crime is not discovered until years later, does not mean the crime didn't happen. There is a very intelligent man driving all this...And secondly, the two companies are absolutely connected....u had better look deeper into the characters directly involved.....
Thank you for the blog inviting some FACTS.
Firstly,in issuing the CTOthe OSC did so NOT in order to have documents validated but to have issuances of securities follow a set of rulesset down: accredited investors ONLY;registered sales people ONLY;commissions reported ONLY and lastly either file a prospectus or file reports with the applicable commissions.
The British Clumbia Securities Commission-Nov 21, 2008 reflects part of that in order to have the CTO lifted. Yet the very same BCSC site also shows compliance not only with filings but also the reporting of the consulting fees paid.
Next Fact-- Nearly all of the people working for the consulting companies used an AKA.
Victor York had no AKA and although a name change did take place aprox 51 years ago there was never an AKA used. Anywhere.
That information was dessiminated to taint the matter and inflame investors. It did so without fail or fallback on the "source" that passed out the information.
Simply look at the OSC site and ask why the AKA has never shown up there?
FACT: Section 16 of The Ontario Securities Act is breached by if
information(whether valid or not) is being deseminated by an official party. There are 2 agendas that are not in tandem here.
The Canadian Investor Protection Fund has a membership of Investment and Financial institutions YRR could not have belonged to it even if it wanted to.
FACT:The Yonge street address was used by the consulting company. The Concord address is a legitamate address and is owned by an investor in the company per a visit there last year.
FACT: Financial statements were issued at an annual meeting in Toronto prior to the CTO.
FACT: the CTO prevents YRR from issuing dividends,listing the company on any exchange whatsoever.
The Brazilian CNPJ site has all the information with regards to the company and it's mineral rights partners.
FACT:Victor York has a CPF number registered in Brazil.
FACT:Any phone numbers used from Oct 21st, 2008 to April 1st,2009
If some of the biased/unfounded comments on this blog are any indication of the type of calls received I'm surprised they waited over 5 months to drop that line and expect it will be up and running after the OTC is lifted.
If coolheads prevail then the best route is to look at the matter without avoiding all the facts.
Facts , not innuendos or speculation. No seperate agenda.
G.B.
Well G.B. you present a fair argument and appear somewhat satisfied with the fact that this is a legitimate deal. Although I am a bit confused as to why "nearly all the people" involved used aliases? Why were they hiding their true identities? Fair question I think.
Regardless, based on your comfort level with this investment, would you like to buy my shares for 30 cents on the dollar? Please.
G.B., Looks like more smoke to me. If financial statements were released I was never informed or offered a copy. Does anyone out there have financial statements from York Rio? By the way, I’m having a fire sale, only 25 cents/.
ok, common denominators used by Victor York : Agenda,innuendo,dessiminate,
Victor York is who he says he is - no AKA's here(see how many times this is repeated)..his ego is hurting big time, probably more than his pocket!..........constant political references to race and religion and weapons of mass destruction.....do we have emotional issues here or what! Where do u come from Victor, what exactly is your background? Never quite fit in? Not born with that silver spoon in your mouth.....ouch!!!
This is a small insignificant man, trying to make it big in this world and wants everyone to see him succeed! and we have allowed him to do so.
A GENIUS at confusing the actual issues and, drawing the eye away from the reality of the situation and the 'real' facts.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: IS THIS A SCAM!!!! INSIDE, OUTSIDE, UPSDIDE AND DOWN. It doesn't matter how u slice it...or how the overwhelmed and innundated Security Commissions are able to attack ....it's a BIG SCAM and no one, not me and not any of you, is getting back a single cent, not now, not ever!!!!
So everyone can play with sophisticated terms, quotes and words, have fun with it all...the bottom line remains the same.. SCAM ARTISTS DEVOUR POOR FOOLS, YET AGAIN!
And we all know who will get the last laugh and for a very very long time....Buon Appetite Mr. VY
Wow...I thought that anonymous was going to finally get over his exclamation marks, capital letters and personal attacks and give some sort of reference to his nebulus accusations .
Without being a too critical it would appear that now anonymous states"....so everyone can play with sophisticated terms..." giving everyone the short shrift in making sense of the matter.
I'm really interested in(as I am sure any other reader is) as to exactly how, where and what basis he rests his simple conclusions.
I dont expect his ranting or raving will allow him to actually fill in the gaps with facts but I am hopeful. As to innundated ---it is spelled inundated.
we have a provincial election coming up in May. Perhaps between now and then he (or she) may calmdown enough to reward us with some semblance of orderly analysis backed upwith hard facts.
I,for one, and a few others would appreciate it.
G.B.
Just new to this blog.
Seems that it started out 6 months ago with a professional, business-like slant and has deteroriated since to a lot of name calling and mud slinging.
If there is a "scam" here it appears to be the repeated use of the word scam without any basis.
Can't understand how a blogger justifies wasting others' valuable time by avoiding giving out a basis for their comments.
State the facts that are real and avoid the emotional tirades.
Constructive criticism not destructive criticism gives the impression that there is a sense of being professional both before and during the blog.
In any case the OSC has the ball and that Cease trade order goes til the end of summer. Let's not start knocking them either .they have a hard enough job.
Hello, first I would like to apologies for my earlier post, it was clearly written with more emotion than necessary. The REAL FACT OF THE MATTER is that this Blog was created to give York Rio Investors a source of ‘support’ in form of information, etc. which is not being provided by YRR themselves. The Cease Trade Orders issued by the provincial securities commissions did not include a “Gag Order”, therefore it became very concerning when YRR refused to correspond with investors after the CTO’s were issued.
Things were going pretty well until posts, which sound a lot like the comments made on the YRR website, started showing up. Our campaign has clearly hit a nerve with Victor York.
In any event this site is for the investors concerned with the scam at hand. Brandon is right, this Blog has deteriorated in the last couple of days. What with the ‘mud slinging’, name calling, etc. Very embarrassing and exactly what Victor was looking for. I am going to do my best to keep it on a professional level and if this means that posts will now have to be screened, then so be it. Is it time to start issuing passwords for posting on this blog? Seems kind of childish but may be necessary.
G.B. & Winston. You are more than welcome to start your own Blog in support of Victor York and YRR but this site is for the investors.
Again, my sincere apologies to the investors. Let’s get back on track. Please contact me at yorkrio.investors@gmail.com if you have any concerns, comments or suggestions to our Blog back on track.
Regards,
Winston H, and G. B. if you are not Victor york you must be one his crook associate with several aliases, however if you still think there is a company and no scam just because York Rio has not been charged with any offences, bringing charges require adequate time and that is why OSC needed until September to complete their investigation.
There's some interesting info here.
Just trying to keep up on this whole deal, as for the over all sales pitch sounds like they had it on tape or something, cause my experience was the exact same as everyone here. Any how MY name is MR.E and I too have been duped by York Rio.
I invest a little in the stock market. This York Rio was my first investment without consultation from my stock broker. I invested $7000 and was then contacted again a few months later by Mark Roberts to invest more as there was an imminent merger. I declined the 2nd investment which Mark was put off by and actually suprised...how could I pass up such a deal? A week later I was in a meeting at my office and was interrupted with an emergency phone call. I excused myself and guess who was on the other end...Mark Roberts informing me this was my last chance to jump on the winfall bandwagon. I abruptly ended the conversation with Mark and forgot about York for a year or so. Something triggered my memory about this investment and I went to thier website and saw the news of the cease trade order.
I sent an email to York and they responeded that if I am worried about my shares I should sell them privately. As much as I would like some of my money back I couldn't morally dupe some sucker like I was into buying these shares...I figured that was the end of it.
For me it's not all about the money I lost...I am very embarrased that I actually fell for this scam. No offense to everyone that is in the cold like myself but I do feel better finding this blog and seeing there were other intelligent people that fell for this. I thought I was all alone out here in BC.
I have pretty much written this money off but will continue checking this blog to see if anything comes of this. By reading the stories of everyone it is apparrent that I was duped but you never know
Kelly, there is nothing to be embarrassed about we all are in the same boat, there is very little protection about out right lies if you are a decent human being. These are bunch of criminal crooks well planned and well organized to scam hard working people such as you and I, and I don't think you should give it up or write it off so easily. We have to do whatever it takes to bring these criminals to justice. Please contact OSC at 1 877 785 1555 and talk to Wayne Wanderlaan, contact your local RCMP detachment or police and contact your local MLA. Just remember there is nothing to be embarrassed about it will be embarrassing if we do nothing and let these criminals to laugh all the way to bank with our money.
I have been contacted by a Law firm in Texas asking me to sell my shares in YRR. I have been offered $2.50 per share. I am told that I have 15000 shares and that each has a warrant of 3 shares each. Boy this sounds good. I would just need to buy the warrants for $1.00 each before I could get paid for the 60,000 shares that I did not know that I owned.
This sounds to good to be true.
I have called Wayne at OSC and he is looking into this.
Anonymous, do you have any contact information from that Texas Law firm which offered you $2:50 a share for YRR shares. If you do please post it in this blog. Are you sure this was not Victor York or any of his criminal associates that this time they are entertaining a different kind scam. I look forward to you response.
You have got to be joking; sounds like an 'I am short on cash' deal and need to raise some serious funds ASAP.....Jesus, guys...have you not been burnt enough! THINK and then THINK AGAIN!
After I told him that I have contacted the OSC with the information that he has sent I have not had any calls back. That was too bad I was looking forward to getting a check in the mail.
Here is the information.
Nicholas Williams, Attorney-at-Law
5050 Quorum Drive, Suite 708
Dallas
TX 75254
USA
Voice: 1-214 593 2414
Why not just thrown in $500 per head and form a new public company?
You can hire people to do that, y'know. Or ask Mr. York to buy a public company and give free public shares to y'all, so y'all can have hope. Many ways to skin a cat. This would work, 90% of the time.
well it looks like this site has really been cleaned up nicely. I wanted to let you know that I'm from Lloydminster, Ab. My associates and I agreed to invest a modest 5k and let it ride. I will be makeing a formal complaint to the local RCMP also I will be in contact with Wayne at the OSC. I would also like it to be known that I am going to send word to a cousin in Toronto whom works for Mcleans magazine as a journalist. No promises as I'm not too sure what he can do but I am positive about this avenue. Hats off to all here for the time invested in this matter, from all of us in Lloyd.
For those of you who missed it, our update was posted on the home page under the title ‘Another Chapter’.
Regards,
Everybody here is wasting there time. Your money is gone. Most of you really have no idea how this works.
From everything I read, York Rio is know different from a lot of other firms. You could lose your money at Nesbitt Burns the same way.
I read how people want to start law suits and complain to the OSC, that makes me laugh.
There isn't a lawyer in the world that would take this case.
If the OSC finds some of the money, they will not tell you. If the OSC freezes some of the accounts obtaining $1 000 000 dollars, the OSC is going to have a bill of $1 000 001 dollars. Then they say none of the investors money was recovered. I know some one that use to work with the OSC. He explained how bullshit they are as well, and how it works.
The only reason the OSC won't go after them criminally is because it isn't cost effective. They wont make any money. They only make money in civil matters. Also its harder for the OSC to prove guilt under the criminal code.
Also, when you invest in a company or venture, the last thing you want to do is call the OSC to complain.When you do that, YOU'RE SHOOTING YOUR SELF IN THE FOOT.
If the OSC shuts down the company or puts a order on them. YOUR MONEY IS GONE FOR SURE!
The OSC DOESN'T GET YOUR MONEY BACK!
I've been in the same position as many of you and feel like I was scammed by the Company and the OSC.
They made me believe they were looking out for me, and going to get my money back. I took days off work to go the OSC office as a witness. Hours of collecting information. I even tried to get voice recordings. THEY USED ME! I got nothing. In the end I lost my money and now my time.
One of my friends is a successful investor and I'll never forget what he told me. He said "All the investment opportunities are scams. That doesn't mean you won't make money" His advice to me was, don't get greedy. Ask yourself, what damage will this have if i lose all my money in this venture?
Invest what you can afford to LOSE.
Hope I helped.
Glad to see this blog..I am from Nanaimo BC..I was burned for $30,000...and my brother for 50,000.I set up a face book group to find other ppl..I wonder if talking to a lawyer is benificial or do we just sit and wait to hear from the OSC...
Glad to see the blog I was also burned by York Rio. I was wondering what was happening in this case and ran across this blog. After my first in vestment I was contacted by Mark Roberts with the claim that one of the elderly investor had been diagnosed with cancer and Mark was selling off his shares, so he could cover the medical his bills.
I jsut found this blog today. I have been attempting to contact YRR office over the past year for update, obviously with no success. Thanks for all the work being done. Of course, I am not confident of getting any money back but will give support where I can.
We also invested in York Rio (twice) They called back after our first investment with the crap about going on the TXE and the German stock exchange,they were going to let us in on the last available stocks?? They gave us names of other investors that we knew, we checked with them and everyone was convinced that they were a good risk. Fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice shame on me!!
Any news?
Hello Everybody,
A news update was mailed out to all investors who have given us their contact information. If you have contacted us with you info but did not receive the news update please email us at yorkrio.investors@gmail.com with you contact information again. We will double check the data and resend the updates. If you have not contacted us but would like to receive this information please give us you contact information to receive the updates. Your contact information will remain confidential unless otherwise agreed upon.
Regards,
I sent an email to yorkrio.investors@gmail.com a couple of weeks ago but have not heard from them. Then last week I got a call from someone at the BC Securities Commission telling me not to sell my York Rio shares to Penn Capital. Is it a coincidence that they would call me within days of days of my email?
Hello all,
I just received an email from the Ontario Securities Commission warning of another attempt at a double dip for York Rio shares coming out of Japan. It is a scam involving up front fees to cash out your shares. Be carful out there.
To yorkrio.investors@gmail.com why not post the news update on the blog? I sent you an email today we will see if you respond quicker than Anonymous has stated!
Thought something was up with his business ventures. Over promised & under delivered.
Victor drove flashy cars, resided in a 5 star hotel along with his girlfriend in Toronto, Ontario like a rock star with boiler room in Vaughan. The number there can no longer be reached 905-669-1050.
Sales reps were paid in Dominican offshore accounts. If the leads are running cold, those are the accounts to look at having read these documents which 'suggest 70% was paid in commissions to the sales reps'. If so, the largest sums of money will be located in those accounts, if it has not already been moved to other safe houses.
As for confirming his ID with pictures and those of his colleagues. I can assure you that picture with his girlfriend is of Victor. His co-conspirators can also be found in the a similar manner. All reside in the GTA and Vaughan. Do a little more digging!
P.S. Did his affiliates who raised capital destroy all files before this case was brought to the attention of the OSC?
Did most of those who bought securities buy shares at a value of $1? Minimum was $5000 up to $250000 per investor. Average raised per investor 5-15k.
Lost 10 g's to Fred Excel of York Rio in '08. My wife had more sense than I did and refused to allow the 2nd big investment as they were about to be traded on Frankfurt. Now, two year later or so, Dec.13,10 I get a call from 'Ian Ball' claiming he is buying out 'loss' companies such as York Rio and offering 'Apple' shares in exchange. I was not able to continue talking to him long enough to hear the new scam, but am supposed to get a call from him today Dec.14. I can't wait.
I have also been contacted by "Ball" about selling York Rio for $10,000 and shares in Apple. Another scam.
March 17 2011
Got a call from P. Thomson telling me he has client that has an investor who needs write offs and wants to trade Apple stock at a 33% discount off market price for York Rio stocks. Trouble is you have to fork out $15M+ to supposedly get my investment loosess covered. Had fun playing the game but after wasting 35 minutes of my time and asking several times for refereneces, prospectus or any written info, ended the call. Big chain smoker how ever he is, you can tell by the voice.
SCAM SCAM SCAM
Has anyone heard anything more about York Rio? I understand they were found guilty and heard there was money recovered but I never got a call about getting my money or portion thereof back.
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