The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against transacting with three individuals and entities engaged in unauthorized investment schemes, financing, and lending activities.

In separate advisories, the SEC alerted the public against Marexx Gadgets and Accessories Shop, a Facebook page pretending to be H.K.K. Lending Company, and a lending scheme led by Mary Ann Toquib Andaya.

Marexx has been found by the SEC to be soliciting investments from the public without corporate registration and a secondary license from the commission, in violation of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC).

It is a sole proprietorship primarily engaged in advertising assorted cellular phones and related items for sale. However, an investigation showed that it has been offering short- and long-term investment schemes without SEC approval.

Under its short-term scheme, investors are required to place capital ranging from ₱20,000 to ₱1 million, with promised monthly earnings of 15 percent plus return of principal in three months.

Meanwhile, the long-term scheme requires investments ranging from ₱200,000 to ₱5 million, with promised 15-percent monthly earnings and return of capital in 12 months.

The SEC also warned the public against engaging with a Facebook page pretending to be H.K.K. Lending Company through the unauthorized use of the firm’s name, logo, and branding to offer loan products.

H.K.K. Lending is a financing company duly registered with and regulated by the SEC. The lending firm conducts transactions in person and does not own or operate any online platform page.

The SEC also advised the public not to transact or continue transacting with Andaya or with any individual or group representing or promoting her lending activities, as she has been operating without registration and authority from the SEC.

An SEC investigation showed that Andaya facilitated loan transactions funded by various individuals purportedly acting as “investors” from Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu, and Claveria.

She acted as a “handler,” sourcing borrowers or “miners” and implementing a lending scheme with interest rates of up to 20 percent on loaned amounts, with portions of the interest divided between the investors and herself as profit.

Section 12(1) of the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 requires any person or entity engaged in the business of lending to secure registration and authority from the commission.