Lawson warns public against fake investment scheme using its name

Convenience store scam link promises daily earnings amid Carziqo investor complaints.

A bogus investment scheme is trading on the name of Japanese convenience store chain Lawson, promising daily earnings to people who sign up through a suspicious website.

“Lawson Philippines does not offer investment plans, ‘buy a plan and earn daily’ programs, or referral-based earning schemes,” the company said in a statement on October 12.

Lawson urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with suspicious websites and avoid sending money through unknown platforms.

The clarification comes amid the circulation of a link titled lawson-ph.org. When opened, the link directs users to a signup form that asks for their mobile number but offers little detail about the supposed investment.

A WHOIS search reveals that the website was registered on October 12 by an anonymous user through domain host GNAME.

The bogus Lawson investment scheme was promoted online as an alternative to Carziqo, whose participants reportedly found themselves unable to access their earnings on October 12.

Carziqo Car Rental promises a self-driving ride-hailing service but has yet to launch actual services in the Philippines, where it is also registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Instead, it solicits referral-based investments from the public and promises daily earnings.

The Carziqo signup site, crziqo.digital, has a layout identical to that of the bogus Lawson investment site. A WHOIS search reveals that its owner is based in Arizona, USA. Social media posts also suggest the company is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

While the SEC has not issued a specific warning about Carziqo, it generally warns against Ponzi schemes, in which money from new investors is used to pay earlier investors.

“Those who act as salesmen, brokers, dealers or agents of fraudulent investment schemes may be held criminally liable and penalized with a maximum fine of ₱5 million or imprisonment of 21 years or both under the Securities Regulation Code,” the agency said in a 2020 general advisory.

The Lawson case is another reminder that scammers can borrow the name of a familiar brand to make an investment pitch look legitimate. Promises of daily earnings may sound tempting, but when the business behind the offer is unclear and the brand itself denies any involvement, handing over money could leave investors with little recourse when the promised returns fail to materialize.

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