The RCMP investigation was launched after shareholders complained that they had bought the phony warrants as a result of a phone call from a person claiming to represent American Barrick.
Shareholders of the Toronto- based gold producer were told that they could buy Barrick warrants at reduced prices if they wrote out a cheque and made it ready for pick up by the Federal Express courier service.
But the suspicions of some shareholders were aroused when the caller said the cheques had to be prepared immediately, according to Barrick official Belle Mulligan.
“In order to get a good deal, the shareholders were told they had to act right away,” she said.
A spokesman at the RCMP’s commercial crime department in Vancouver refused to reveal how many Barrick shareholders were persuaded to buy the warrants.
While a number of cheques were found in a downtown Vancouver office, police have not yet made any arrests.
Meanwhile, Barrick issued a press release recently which advised shareholders to contact either the company or their financial advisor before buying warrants at what appear to be bargain prices.
Barrick warrants are currently trading on The Toronto Stock Exchange at approximately $7.50.
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