A New Breed of Scammer Is Targeting Asia's Ultra-Rich
Jun 11, 2024
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Bloomberg investing reporter David Ramli discusses the rise of imposters targeting Asia's ultra-rich in the family office industry. The challenges of spotting scammers in this secretive sector and amateur detectives like Eric SayWei Neo helping weed out imposters are highlighted in the podcast.
The rise of fake family offices poses challenges in the ultra-rich sector's secrecy and legitimacy.
Amateur detective work within the industry highlights the lack of regulation in identifying impostors.
Deep dives
The Booming Industry of Family Offices in Asia
The podcast explores the significant growth of family offices in Asian financial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong. These offices cater to ultra-rich families, managing trillions of dollars globally. The narrative highlights encounters with fake or exaggerated family offices in industry events, potentially exposing the challenges of identifying legitimate practices amidst the wealth management sector's secrecy.
Rise of Family Offices in Response to Tax Incentives
Governments in Asia are offering tax benefits to attract family offices, transforming these entities into sought-after financial hubs. The podcast discusses the exponential rise of family offices in Singapore, emphasizing the allure for investors and the sector's growing popularity. The region's attractiveness for finance and investment fuels the proliferation of family offices, creating a competitive landscape with increased scrutiny.
Challenges and Detective Work in the Family Office Sector
The lack of regulation in family offices poses challenges in distinguishing genuine entities from impostors. The podcast recounts instances of amateur detective work within industry communities to uncover misrepresented individuals. With limited regulatory frameworks, professionals resort to internal investigations via messaging platforms to safeguard sensitive data and prevent potential fraud. Efforts to enhance scrutiny and disclosures indicate a growing awareness of the need for regulatory measures within the family office domain.
Reports of alleged imposters are cropping up more and more in the family office frenzy in Singapore and Hong Kong. The ultra wealthy use family offices to manage their finances and affairs.
Today on The Big Take Asia, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg investing reporter David Ramli about the secretive nature of the family office industry and why scammers are so hard to spot. Plus, she hears from Medway Investment board director Eric SayWei Neo about how people like him are becoming amateur detectives to try to weed out suspected imposters.