Warnings on suspect or bogus companies claiming to have ties to the Island are being posted to the website of investor watchdog, the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

The BMA said it was now publishing details on these companies on its website as a way of alerting the public, with the first warning list dating from last week.

The names of the entities said to be listed were Alliance Central Bank, Aurum Capital Partners Limited, Bermuda Credit Reinsurance Bank Ltd. (or BCRB Credit Re-Insruance Bank Ltd. or BCR Bank), Certusia Reinsurance Company Inc., Certusia Reinsurance Group, Global Investment Company, International Credit union, Soros Holland Investment Fund IV, Standard Financial Trust, Trafalgar Insurance Company Limited, Trans Atlantic Financial Trust Group and Western Equities Limited.

The BMA said these were all entities that were purporting to be licensed, regulated or established in Bermuda.

But warned that the companies were falsely representing themselves and that investors should be wary, and to do business with the companies was at their own risk.

The BMA warning list also includes information on the purported Bermuda office addresses of the bogus or suspect firms.

The BMA added: ?When such concerns arise, immediate action is taken to warn foreign regulators, police and potential victims.?

The BMA advisory is printed under the public notices section at www.bma.bm.