Victims are told that a seemingly legitimate financial institution, such as UBP, is holding their funds in a temporary account. Nor does it charge fees to release funds. By invoking the name of a well-known financial institution, the criminals cloak themselves in a veil of legitimacy. Investors should be wary of similar identity theft attempts involving Canadian financial institutions. Individuals who claim to represent a financial institution but cannot provide clear, verifiable references to prove it.