Australia Securities & Investment Commission

Thursday 4 August 2016 16-246MR ASIC warns investors about Titantrade.com ASIC is warning the public not to click on any advertising being marketed under the brand 'Titantrade', a website by which trading in binary options is being offered. A binary option is a financial product, in particular a derivative, under the Corporations Act. Binary options are a type of option where you try to predict the short-term movements of a share price, currency, index or commodity. They are a speculative, high risk product. Any entity that deals in, or provides advice about, binary options to Australian investors must hold an Australian financial services (AFS) licence, or be authorised by an AFS licensee. The public should avoid using the Titantrade website (www.titantrade.com) (the Website) to sign up for binary options trading, or other products or services advertised by that website. ASIC is concerned that the promoters and/or operators of the Website are offering unlicensed financial services in Australia via: the Website; and webinars that it conducts. Unless an Australian licence has been obtained by the operators of the Website, the Australian public should avoid signing up for any of the financial services listed on the Website. We believe the information and advertising contained on the Website is likely to mislead the Australian public. ASIC is warning that potential investors are likely to suffer detriment as a result of being misled. On 26 July 2016, ASIC took action in the Federal Court of Australia to restrain the operators of the Website from carrying on a financial services business whilst unlicensed. The Court made orders prohibiting the operators of the Website, and other persons and entities who may have received funds from the Website, from: issuing financial products, including binary options trading; advertising or promoting its products; and operating the Website in Australia. The Court's orders have been extended until 16 November 2016*, while ASIC continues to investigate the Website, and persons and entities, including Allianz Metro Pty Ltd, who appear to have received payments from the Website. This media release is a notice issued under subsection 12GLC(1) of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001. ASIC strongly encourages the public to refer to ASIC's Moneysmart website for further information about binary options trading. View the public warnings notices register Editor's note: At a hearing at the Federal Court on 15 November 2016, the orders of 26 July 2016 were further extended until 2 February 2017 while ASIC continues its investigation. ASIC has recently identified a further website https://tradettn.com operating under Titantrade branding that offers binary options. 　 In addition to the orders prohibiting parties from operating the Website, the Court expanded the orders to prohibit the operation of:　 the website https://tradettn.com; and any website at any address and by whatever name which offers the same or substantially the same produced or service as those offered by www.titantrade.com and https://tradettn.com. Editor's note 2: At the hearing on 2 February 2017, the orders of 15 November 2016 were further extended to 5 May 2017 while ASIC continues its investigation. Editor's note 3: At the hearing on 5 May 2017, the orders were further extended to 31 August 2017 while ASIC continues its investigation. On 1 May 2017, ASIC has also issued an application for contempt charges against some defendants to this proceeding and former solicitors of certain defendants - namely Melbourne-based law firm, Kalus Kenny Intelex (refer: 17-176MR). Editor's note 4: On 19 July 2018, the Federal Court handed down judgment in the contempt application brought by ASIC. The Court dismissed all charges against Melbourne based law firm Kalus Kenny Intelex. The Court held that Eustace Senese (Eustace) , Cameron Senese (Cameron) and Transcomm Global Pty Ltd (Transcomm) were guilty of contempt after they accessed and used other funds during August 2016 and February 2017 without authorisation of the Court. Refer to 18-215MR for further details. View the Federal Court judgment and orders here.