The Nova Scotia Securities Commission (NSSC) published an investor alert on Friday warning about a firm called Venture Pro Trader, which the regulators says has contacted an investor in the province in a bid to sell them gold options.

The firm is not registered to sell securities in Nova Scotia, and the NSCS advises investors to “exercise extreme caution” when dealing with firms that are not registered.

“It is illegal to solicit investments in Nova Scotia without registering with the commission and complying with … securities laws,” the NSSC alert says.