Reason for this visit

Cyprus imprudently purchased Greek government bonds in 2012. When the Greek government bonds default occurred, the Cyprus banking system suffered heavy losses exceeding 30% of the annual GDP of Cyprus, and the countrys domestic debt crisis occurred. In response to the crisis, the Cyprus government introduced a terrible solution that was opposed by all the people, which aggravated the crisis. At the same time, some people in Cyprus discovered that having an upward trend in price, various foreign currencies that were independent of the sovereign currency might be able to cope with this crisis. As a result, people poured funds into the small foreign exchange market in an attempt to hedge and protect themselves. For various reasons, Cyprus has gradually become a country with active foreign exchange transactions. In an attempt to help investors better understand the current situation of foreign exchange brokers in Cyprus, WikiFX survey team decides to go to the country for on-site visits to local companies.

On-site visit

In this issue, the survey team went to Cyprus to visit forex broker SIB as planned according to its regulatory address that 27 Pindarou Street, Alpha Business Centre, 1st Floor Block B, CY 1060, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The investigators came to 27 Pindarou Street in Nicosia, Cyprus for a visit to the brokers office on March 22, 2024, and located Alpha Business Centre, an 8-storey commercial building with a well-maintained façade, in the city center. With a fabulous location, the building is easily accessible with a large array of entertainment facilities nearby like restaurants, shopping malls, etc.

Upon arrival at the building for further investigation, the survey personnel firstly spotted an outdoor directory at the entrance, which didnt display the company name or logo of SIB. After proceeding to the 1st floor, it could be seen that all suites were emptied without any renovation activities. It seemed as though these offices had been vacant for a long time.

Subsequently, the inspection team tried to search the company‘s website and found it unavailable, unable to know if the broker had relocated. Based on the information above, it’s more like that the broker had run away.

Through the on-site investigation, it is confirmed that the company doesnt have a physical presence at the location.

Conclusion

The survey team went to Cyprus to visit broker SIB as scheduled, but didn‘t find the company’s office at its regulatory address. Accordingly, investors should be meticulous in choosing the broker.

Disclaimer

The content is used for informational purpose only, and shall not be taken as a final order for making a choice.