They were promising 12% return in USDT to their victims
The Mirage of Returns Pinewood Investments AG presented a vision of secure and profitable investing. Ortiz-Torres promised 12–14% annual returns, backed by blockchain and real assets. Dozens of investors wired
The Mirage of Returns
Pinewood Investments AG presented a vision of secure and profitable investing. Ortiz-Torres promised 12–14% annual returns, backed by blockchain and real assets. Dozens of investors wired funds—then the withdrawals stopped.
The Closed Circle – The Ortiz-Torres Network
Ortiz-Torres operated through an opaque web of entities in Switzerland, Dubai, Malta, and Panama. His operations were slick, professional, and carefully detached from oversight.
The Victims Speak
More than 60 victims from Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Austria have come forward. Many lost life savings. None have recovered their funds.
The Regulatory Vacuum
Switzerland’s lack of oversight for non-FINMA registered companies enabled Pinewood to avoid scrutiny. The blurred lines between fintech and fraud created the perfect smokescreen.
Offshore Web
Domains like terraxgold.com and pinewoodventures.io led to shell firms across tax havens. Each site followed the same pattern: launch, raise, vanish.
Banking Silence
European banks processed large transfers to Pinewood without proper AML checks. Victims blame their banks for failing to flag suspicious flows.
Where is Ortiz-Torres?
Ortiz-Torres vanished after Pinewood’s collapse. Last seen in Dubai and briefly in Panama. No arrest, no charges.
Conclusion An Unfinished Investigation
Despite evidence, there is no unified legal pursuit. Victims remain the primary investigators in a story of silence and impunity.
Modus Operandi of Oswald Ortiz-Torres
Targeted Profiles
Ortiz-Torres focused on individuals aged 40 to 70, often independent professionals or retirees with liquid assets and limited access to legal or financial advisors. These individuals were mostly based in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Austria. His ideal targets had capital, but minimal institutional support or regulatory awareness.
Narrative and Persuasion
He did not present himself as a banker or trader. Instead, he introduced himself as a strategic thinker, a creator of innovative financial tools. His promise was appealing: 12–14% fixed annual returns, backed by real assets and blockchain infrastructure. Ortiz crafted a compelling story of financial independence through technology, stability, and alternative assets.
Tools and Instruments
- Multilingual Zoom webinars (EN, DE, ES, FR) with professional subtitles
- Slick PDF brochures with performance charts and yield simulations
- Custom unsigned investment contracts (delivered via email)
- A polished LinkedIn profile featuring endorsements from fake or inactive accounts
- Company names that included modern financial jargon (e.g., Blockchain, Ventures, Capital)
Legal Structure and Drainage
Ortiz built a complex web of companies across multiple jurisdictions:
- Pinewood Investments AG (Switzerland)
- Ortiz Ventures DMCC (Dubai)
- TerraNova Blockchain AG (Zug)
- Luctar Holdings Ltd (Malta)
He used these companies to open bank accounts in Switzerland, Cyprus, Estonia, and Liechtenstein. Funds were received in one entity and transferred through others under the guise of ‘infrastructure costs’, ‘tokenization licenses’, or ‘external consulting’. The result: accounts were emptied and websites taken offline.
Contact Us
Chairman and CEO
Email: oswald.ortiz@pinewood-trading.com
Phone: +41 79 960 18 77
Overview 2024
• The Pinewood Group is a privately owned group established in 2011, specialising in
trading and investment.
• As part of its core business, the Pinewood Group specialises in the trading and
structuring of fixed income, precious metals and crypto assets.
• The Pinewood Group advises on asset management and investment opportunities from
four different countries.
• A sophisticated and exclusive network is at the heart of the company’s transactions, as
the Pinewood Group only works with internationally recognised commercial banks,
trading houses and/or general financial institutions.
Our structure
UAE company based in Dubai
PINEWOOD TRADING
- United Arabic Emirates company
- Based in Dubai – Al Quwain Free Zone
- Gold Trading License
- Licensed for capital transactions and
financial advisory services
Swiss company based in Pfäffikon
PINEWOOD INVESTMENTS AG
• Swiss Investment Company
• Based in Pfäffikon (Switzerland)
DYSART CAPITAL AG
• Swiss Family Office
• Based in Pfäffikon (Switzerland)
PINEWOOD TEAM
Oswald Ortiz CEO and Principal
20y of experience in investment business
Executive positions in telecommunications and entertainment companies Owner and consultant of several international companies CEO and chairman of the board of Qnective AG, Zürich
Avv. Gianfrancesco Beltrami
Attorney at law, Managing Director, Legal & Compliance
>20y of experience in legal services Family Office, Wealth Management, Asset Management, Fintech Long-term experience in civil law focusing on the fields of banks, tax, corporate and trusts
Andrea Marescalchi
Audit Expert Managing Director
>20y of experience in business advice and tax planning Owner Trust Company Chairman of the board of MTR Treuhand AG, Basel
Vanessa Ortiz
Business Development
Lead generation, prospect management, client onboarding assistance Family Office, Wealth Management Experienced Relationship Manager at Banque Pictet & Cie., Zürich
EXTERNAL LEGAL ADVISORY
Baker McKenzie
Advising clients on fintech matters including data protection, regulatory compliance, tax structuring, capital raising, consumer protection, commercial contracts, M&A, competition law and employment matters Focus on sovereign series, litigation intelligence and connected compliance
Pinewood Trading
Focus of our trading unit
Our Focus Core Business
• Precious metal trades
• Identification of precious metal opportunities
• Structuring current precious metal deals and portfolios
• Execution of precious metals trades
• Crypto asset services
Core Business
•• Precious metal trades, brokerage, and advisory
• LBMA Gold Bars
• LME Nickel Briquettes
• Cyrpto services
• Brokerage
• Advisory
Our Role
• Pinewood acts as a manager and broker for:
• Precious metal deals
• Gold Trading business
• Crypto assets and transactions
The Network
• Senior management team with
• Complementary Capabilities
• Excellent Access to suppliers
• Long-Term relationships with potential buyers including
• large global banks
• large global commodity trading firms
Pinewood Trading and Pinewood Investments AG Service Offering
An overview of our Dubai and Switzerland based service offering
Service Overview
Fixed Income Services
➢Yield Enhancement & Income Solutions
➢ Market Intelligence & Trade Execution
➢ Emerging Market & Global Fixed Income
Wealth & Asset Management Advisory
➢Yield Enhancement & Income Solutions
➢ Market Intelligence & Trade Execution
➢ Emerging Market & Global Fixed Income
Wealth & Asset Management Advisory
➢ Payment processing and disbursement
➢ Recordkeeping & asset reconciliation and end-to-end transaction support
➢ Cash Management and FX Services
Paying Agent & Asset Services
➢ Capital structuring and leverage provision
➢ Market research, trade structuring, and execution services
Crypto Services
➢Brokerage, deal orchestrating, and transaction facilitation
➢ Advisory services
➢ Custody & Security Solutions
Contact
Let’s get in touch
• Chairman and CEO
• Email: oswald.ortiz@pinewood-trading.com
• Phone: +41 79 960 18 77
Disclaimer
This presentation was prepared exclusively for the benefit and internal use of the recipient in order to indicate, on a preliminary basis, the feasibility of a possible transaction or transactions and does not carry any right of publication or disclosure to any other party. This presentation is incomplete without reference to, and should be viewed solely in conjunction with, the oral briefing provided by Pinewood Holding AG (“Pinewood”). Neither this presentation nor any of its contents may be used for any other purpose without the prior written consent of Pinewood. The information in this presentation is based upon public information and management forecasts and reflects prevailing conditions and our views as of this date, all of which are subject to change. In preparing this presentation, we have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information available from public sources or which was otherwise reviewed by us.
Additionally, all statements in this presentation do not have to be in line with the information of a potential future prospectus. Investors can without the expressive written agreement of the Company not take any reliance on any of the statements made in this presentation. In addition, our analyses are not and do not purport to be appraisals of the assets, stock, or business of the Companies contained in the presentation. The information in this presentation does not take into account the effects of a possible transaction or transactions involving an actual or potential change of control, which may have significant valuation and other effects.
