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The Fraud Issue

Criminals continue to fleece high net-worth individuals and family offices through sophisticated scams that involve elaborate presentations, fake companies and websites, and fraudulent documents that appear credible.

We've documented three cases that describe the highly sophisticated, complex structures and cunningly designed processes which ultimately lead to straightforward investment fraud. This has cost the wealthy staggering sums, with almost no chance for successful asset recovery.

Over the past seven years, I have observed a humble salesman, whom I personally knew from the banking and hedge fund ecosystem, effortlessly create a brand-new, family office-centric identity. This was complete with fake aristocratic titles and was supported by a massive PR effort. I sounded the alarm in 2018, but the charade continued until investigations and coverage from Vanity Fair, Spear’s Magazine, DN.no (English version available), Opalesque, and LinkedIn put an end to it.

So, when I learned about the science behind the “D-Factor” which can measure the level of malevolence in humans, I was inspired to write “Shadows in the Boardroom: The Dark Factor of Personality”. Be sure to review our recommendations on how to ensure that your business and wealth remain resilient against potential threats.

We also delve into the topic of relocation - examining how and where families move. Additionally, we discuss how families can intelligently support their children’s business ideas and projects through a Family Bank.

Thijs Jochems elucidates how family offices can simplify asset allocation by concentrating on long-term trends.

Luxury, high-value art, fine wine, and marketplaces are among such enduring trends. VCs believe that only 25% of all potential marketplaces have been established, leaving a vast 75% untapped. It becomes truly intriguing when a firm amalgamates two or more of these mega-trends. Examples include WineChain—a startup helmed by serial entrepreneurs and ex-top Amazon executives, which is enchanting consumers, investors, and premier winemakers alike—and Mintus, an SEC and FCA-regulated firm that offers shares in fractionalized high-value art. The high-caliber team at Mintus includes the former Worldwide Chairman of Christie’s and International Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art.

Other investment themes we explore include Venture Capital, Space Investing Beyond Rockets, Exploration and Space Tourism, and Gemstones.

In our governance section, we provide an in-depth look at how to make Family Governance and Legacies work, as well as strategies to transform family conflicts into opportunities.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me to reach out or share your feedback.

Enjoy!

Matthias Knab

Knab@Opalesque.com