In recent months, scams that promote fake agricultural investments have infiltrated the South African investment scene and farming industry. One of the most prominent is Tiger Agriculture, a pyramid scheme promising grand returns in exchange for as little as R100.
Below, we discuss Tiger Agriculture, its operation, and FSCA’s recent warning against them.
What is Tiger Agriculture?
Tiger Agriculture presents itself as a “beacon of innovation in the South African agricultural sector…with a collaborative business model that interweaves the traditional essence of agriculture…”
Tiger Agriculture operates as an investment platform that claims to have 170,000 members. Users will “invest” in seeds and crops that will be planted elsewhere. The investors will receive their profit upon the crops’ maturity.
Additionally, Tiger Agriculture operates on an “invite-only basis” and claims that they follow a “strict quality control process by international certification agencies (100% Guarantee).”
Aggressive recruitment
Members are incentivized to recruit new members and are paid a commission.
New members who receive an invitation are required to pay R85 as an initial “investment.”
Once the members access the Tiger Agriculture platform, they are offered the opportunity to invest in various farming products, which range from R85 to R1,820.
Read more: What happened to the biggest Ponzi scheme in SA? The BHI Trust Scam
While the owners of Tiger Agriculture remain unknown, countless individuals promote Tiger Agriculture on social media platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, and overhype the investment’s profitability.
The Promise of Impossible Returns
On its website, Tiger Agriculture claims to have an “internet-based sharing economy model” that allows small farmers and investors to adopt seeds and share in the profits.
In an advertisement, they promised that an R820 investment in strawberry plants would yield a return of R42.64 per day for 48 days. That equates to a total return of R 2046 – a 250% return in a little over a month.
Impersonation of NAMC
One of Tiger Agriculture’s more insidious tactics was falsely declaring that it was participating in a joint program with the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
Tiger Agriculture initiated the “Agricultural Assistance Program,” which it claimed was coordinated with DALRRD. Furthermore, it included the official logo of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) on its website.
The NAMEC, which operates under DALRRD, quickly dismissed Tiger Agriculture’s claims of a joint initiative.
In a statement, the NAMC confirmed that Tiger Agriculture was making fraudulent claims about their partnership.
The NAMC wrote, “[we have] noted with concern the unauthorized and deceptive usage of [our] logo as well as the widely publicized fake partnership by the organization that identifies itself as Tiger Agriculture.”
FSCA releases warning against Tiger Agriculture
In a press release dated November 06, the FSCA warned the public to exercise caution when conducting business with Tiger Agriculture.
According to the regulatory authority, Tiger Agriculture may be unlawfully offering the public with investment into agricultural products, and promising profitable returns of up to 257% per month.
Read the full FSCA statement here: FSCA Press Release – FSCA warns the public against Tiger Agriculture.pdf
The FSCA has confirmed that Tiger Agriculture is not authorized to render any financial services, including investments, to the public.
New version of Tiger Agriculture
After the FSCA had released a warning against Tiger Agriculture, the team leaders of the Tiger scheme launched Farm Home Stead.
This new model replicates the scheme but is based on farm animals instead of plants.
In Farm Home, investors can choose to invest in a dog, ostrich, bird, chicken, or other farm animals. The app indicates a guaranteed income for each animal after a specific amount of time.
For example, investing in a dog would cost only R20, but returns after 44 days would total R 880. It remains unclear how a 20-rand investment in a dog would generate such a profit.
How to Spot a Pyramid Scheme
This business model closely resembles a pyramid scheme, a fraudulent investment strategy in which members earn money by aggressively recruiting new members.
These schemes collapse when they run out of recruits, having no more funds to pay out older investors.
Here are some warning signs you should watch out for to avoid scams such as Tiger Agriculture.
- Highly-incentivized recruitment.
- No genuine product.
- Promise of high returns.
- Upfront costs.
- Pressure tactics.
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