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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) issued a warning on 21 June 2018 about people offering derivatives through www.everestinter.com while claiming to be connected with a New Zealand-registered company called Everest International Group Limited, identified in the warning as now Everest Peak Technologies Limited.
The important detail is that the FMA did not say Everest International Group or its director operated the website. Its enquiries found the opposite: neither had made the derivatives offer, and Everest did not operate the site. The FMA said an unidentified third party appeared to be involved and advised New Zealand residents to exercise caution before dealing with the website.
What the FMA warning says
The warning concerns a website and individuals who appeared to use the name of Everest International Group Limited when offering derivatives. The FMA’s published findings were limited but significant:
| Question | What the FMA warning says |
|---|---|
| When was the warning issued? | 21 June 2018 |
| Which website was named? | www.everestinter.com |
| What was being offered? | Derivatives |
| Who was allegedly being represented? | Everest International Group Limited, described on the page as now Everest Peak Technologies Limited |
| Did Everest and its director make the offer? | The FMA said they had not |
| Did Everest operate the website? | The FMA said it did not |
| Who was behind the activity? | The FMA said an unidentified third party appeared to be involved |
The FMA’s specific advice was: “New Zealand residents should exercise caution before dealing with the website.”
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What the warning does not establish
The wording matters because the warning is sometimes described more broadly than the underlying record supports.
- It does not say Everest International Group Limited was running the website.
- It does not say Everest’s director offered derivatives.
- It does not identify the third party that appeared to be involved.
- It does not quantify investor losses.
- It does not state that investors were unable to withdraw money or were asked for extra payments.
- It does not announce enforcement action against Everest or its director.
- It does not use a definitive finding that Everest itself was a scam.
That does not make the warning unimportant. It means the warning should be reported accurately: the FMA was warning about dealings with the website and people purporting to be associated with Everest, while expressly stating that Everest and its director did not operate the site or make the offer.
Why a derivatives offer requires checking
Under New Zealand’s Financial Markets Conduct Act, a person making a regulated offer of derivatives must generally be licensed by the FMA as a derivatives issuer. A regulated offer can include an offer made to a retail investor.
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Derivatives can expose an investor to losses that are much larger than the initial amount deposited, depending on the product and its terms. A website’s claims about leverage, returns or regulatory status are not substitutes for checking the provider’s legal identity and licence status.
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Company registration is not a derivatives licence
A common source of confusion is the difference between a registered company, a registered financial service provider and a licensed derivatives issuer.
| Record or status | What it indicates | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Companies Register | That a company has been incorporated or recorded under New Zealand company law | That it is licensed to offer derivatives |
| Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) | That an entity is registered as a financial service provider, where applicable | That the provider is licensed or endorsed by the FMA for every financial product it discusses |
| FMA derivatives-issuer licence | That the relevant licensed entity has the required authorisation for regulated derivatives-issuer activity | That every website, salesperson or affiliated company using its name is genuine |
The Companies Office distinguishes the Companies Register from the FSPR. FMA material also makes clear that FSPR registration is not the same as being licensed or regulated by the FMA.
How to check an investment offer
- Save the evidence. Keep the website address, emails, text messages, social-media profiles, contracts, payment instructions and screenshots. Do not rely on a phone number supplied by the promoter for independent verification.
- Check the exact legal entity. Search the New Zealand Companies Register for the company name and compare the registered details with the name, domain, email address and bank-account details being used. A similar name is not enough.
- Check financial-service status. Search the FSPR and review what service the entity is registered for. Registration alone does not establish an FMA licence to issue derivatives.
- Check the FMA’s licensing information. Use the FMA’s derivatives-issuers information and licensing records to check whether the actual entity making the offer is licensed for the relevant activity. Confirm the legal entity, not just a trading name.
- Pause when the details do not match. A New Zealand company may be impersonated, and a genuine registration may be misused to create credibility. Do not send money merely because a promoter supplies a New Zealand company number.
- Do not pay to unlock a withdrawal. Requests for tax, clearance, verification or release fees should be treated as a serious warning sign. The Everest warning itself does not establish that such requests occurred, but the general risk is relevant to anyone who has been approached by an investment promoter.
What to do if you have been contacted
If someone is currently promoting the named website or claiming to represent Everest in connection with derivatives, stop communicating until the offer has been independently verified. Do not provide further identification documents, remote access to your computer or additional funds.
If you have already paid money, contact your bank immediately using its official contact details and ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. Keep all transaction records. The FMA’s current scam-reporting guidance also directs people to report suspected investment scams to the FMA.
Reporting promptly cannot guarantee that money will be recovered, but delays can make recovery harder. Be cautious of anyone who later promises to recover funds for an upfront fee; that is a common pattern in follow-up fraud.
Is the warning current?
No. The warning is a historical FMA alert dated 21 June 2018. The FMA’s warnings-and-alerts library continues to preserve the page and names www.everestinter.com, but that alone does not show that the domain is operating today, that it is controlled by the same party, or that any current website using the Everest name is connected to the 2018 activity.
The FMA also notes that its warnings list is not exhaustive and that businesses or individuals may change names. A clean search result, a changed domain or a different company name should therefore not be treated as proof that an offer is safe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Did the FMA say Everest International Group Limited was running the website?
No. The FMA said Everest and its director had not made the derivatives offer and that Everest did not operate www.everestinter.com. It said an unidentified third party appeared to be involved.
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Was Everest International Group Limited found to be a scam?
The published warning does not make that definitive finding. It warns about the website and people purporting to be connected with Everest, while stating that Everest and its director were not responsible for the offer according to the FMA’s enquiries.
Does a New Zealand company registration prove that an investment provider is licensed?
No. Companies Register registration is not an FMA licence. FSPR registration is also not, by itself, proof that a provider is licensed to issue derivatives.
When did the FMA issue the Everest warning?
The warning was published on 21 June 2018. It should not be described as a newly issued warning.
What should I do if I sent money to the website?
Contact your bank immediately through an official channel, preserve all communications and payment records, and report suspected investment fraud to the FMA. Avoid paying anyone who promises recovery in exchange for an upfront fee.
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The Bottom Line
The FMA’s 21 June 2018 warning was about www.everestinter.com and people who claimed to represent Everest International Group Limited. It did not accuse Everest or its director of operating the website; it said they had not made the offer and that an unidentified third party appeared to be involved. Anyone assessing a related investment approach should verify the exact legal entity, check the relevant FMA licensing status and avoid relying on company or FSPR registration alone.
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