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Aston Global Alpha Scam: Beware Of Online Trading Fraud!

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Cybertrace Team

September 20, 2021 · 6 min read

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What is the Aston Global Alpha / aston.biz scam? Cybertrace is issuing an urgent scam alert for a fake online financial trading/investment firm called Aston Global Alpha Pty Ltd. Impersonating an unwitting Australian company by the same name, the scammers promise outlandishly high returns on investment. Once they have lured in their victims, the swindlers dupe them out of their hard-earned money. Be aware and do NOT invest any money with these fraudsters! If the Aston Global Alpha scammers have already fleeced you of your hard-earned money, don’t despair! Contact our experienced scam investigators today to discuss how we can help. But first, let’s consider how the scam works and what tell-tale signs our expert analysts look for.

How does the Aston Global Alpha scam work?

Like other online forex scams and investment fraud Cybertrace has unmasked, the Aston Global Alpha scam follows a well-established pattern. Firstly, the fraudsters lure in victims with sophisticated and professionally designed fake websites or via bogus affiliate marketing schemes. After promising incredible returns on investment, scammers usually persuade their targets to make a small initial deposit. Thinking that they have made a quick and easy “win”, victims then often invest substantial amounts of money. Next, sophisticated but fake online programs make it seem as though their “investment” grows substantially (often ten-fold or more). However, when victims want to “cash in” and withdraw their “funds”, communication from the scammers slows down or stops altogether. It’s often only now that victims realise that they have been scammed. Don’t be one of them and fall for Aston Global Alpha’s fraudulent claims – keep your money safe!

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Additional dragnet of fraud

In order to add further targets to their scam, the fraudsters try to make unwitting accomplices out of their victims. They do this by instituting a commission-based referral program that very much looks like a pyramid scheme. It promises varying payments to those referring others but only serves to widen the pool of potential victims. Ultimately, it leaves scam victims unwittingly creating pain for others and likely ending up being blamed for their losses. Don’t become involved in the Aston Global Alpha scam by dragging others into it! Instead, learn what to look out for to protect yourself and the community against this scam, and others like it.

Outlandish claims and inconsistent language

While fake websites are designed to bamboozle, it pays to check both the big claims and the small details. First off, the Aston Global Alpha scammers make outlandish claims regarding the expected return on investment (ROI). No serious investment broker or financial trader would offer a guaranteed 200% ROI after seven days – beware! Remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Secondly, for a professional company the website language displays an often odd and incorrect use of grammar, syntax, and punctuation. This should arouse suspicion regarding its claims to be based in Australia, as does its supposedly genuine registration.

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False names and documents

Scammers often use the name of a legitimate company, or a close approximation thereof, to lend a veneer of legitimacy to their illegal operations. Here, the Aston Global Alpha scammers go a step further by posting copies of official “registration documents” on their website. The first of these is a genuine registration certificate issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) dated 2015. However, records show that the aston.biz website has only been registered since February 2021 through a private domain registration company. Furthermore, the company’s Facebook group and YouTube channel didn’t exist before June 2021. It looks like the scammers are simply pretending to be a legitimate, already-existing registered Australian company called Aston Global Alpha Pty Ltd. Sadly, the company’s directors likely have no knowledge that the scammers are falsely using their name in this way!

No regulator

In addition, the scammers have posted a (likely fake) Certificate of Insurance from Allianz dated January 2021. While the scammers claim to be based in Australia, this certificate purports to insure them for 30 million British pounds. Furthermore, the document states that the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorises and regulates the company. Why would this be so for an Australian company? In any case, a quick search of the FCA’s Financial Services Register reveals that no such company falls under its remit. Cybertrace holds information on the scam syndicate that indicates that these tricks are clearly part of its pre-existing modus operandi. In fact, our scam investigators believe aston.biz is actually the latest incarnation of well-known scam website lutex.ltd.

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Fake images

The final nail in the coffin is the picture on the Aston Global Alpha Facebook group. A reverse Google Image search shows that the same picture, albeit with a different company name, exists on other websites. Subsequently, a close analysis of the image reveals that the scammers clearly manipulated the image with a program like photoshop. The three photos below clearly show both the original and the manipulated image as well as a close-up of the tell-tale photoshop pixilation. You don’t need to be a scam investigator to determine this platform is indeed a scam.

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Faceless and unknown

Another red flag is the fact that we don’t know who owns, runs, or works for Aston Global Alpha. Neither on the website nor on social media are there any names or faces clearly associated with the company. A search of LinkedIn did not return any employees or, indeed, the company itself. For a supposed “global leader in online financial trading and investing”, this is highly suspicious. Furthermore, the scammers’ YouTube channel shows a single video of an unnamed man speaking in front of a fake backdrop. Unfortunately, it appears that the company’s alleged “rich history” has not actually produced any customers! Independent review sites such as Trustpilot do not contain any posts, and there are no records of satisfied customers anywhere. Our advice: heed these warning signs and stay away from the Aston Global Alpha scam!

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What should I do?

If you are considering investing with the Aston Global Alpha scam – don’t! It is clearly a rip-off that they designed to swindle you out of your hard-earned money. Likewise, don’t rope in your family, friends, or colleagues via an affiliate marketing scheme. You are simply doing the scammers’ work for them! And if this warning comes too late and these charlatans have already managed to dupe you, don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed. Contact our expert scam investigators today to see how our experienced investigators can assist. Our expert analysts have linked this scam syndicate to other fraudulent operations, and we would love to help you.

If you are a current or former staff member of the syndicate and would like to speak with us, you can contact us anonymously via [email protected]. Our scam investigators have successfully worked with conscientious insiders when investigating previous scams, thus bringing justice and relief to long-suffering victims. Your help can make a real difference!

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