The alleged victims of missing financial planner Earl Jones met Friday morning at the Holiday Inn in Pointe Claire to explore their options.
The private meeting was publicized on a Facebook group called "SWINDLED BY EARL JONES".
It was second meeting at the hotel in less than a week.
Jones vanished last week, and is suspected of bilking investors out of as much as $50 million.
About 100 people showed up at the hotel to share their concerns, and seek answers.
Many who came have been left flat broke by a man that was seen as family.
"This man was my godfather," said one victim.
Investor Mary-Jane Taylor said she has been feeling completely overwhelmed by what's happened.
"I have no idea how to deal with social services, my taxes...any help that they can give me at this meeting, I would be very happy to have," Taylor said.
"Right now, I have to go to work and if I don't get work I'm going to lose my house. I'm 62 years old, and it's very difficult to find a job when you're 62," she added.
Ron Epps came to represent friends, a woman in a wheelchair and her brother who can't walk.
Earl Jones was supposed to be paying all their bills.
"They've cut the telephone line off and she has a lifeline on there. It doesn't work," said Epps.
A team of experts -- including accountants, lawyers and psycho-social community workers -- was on hand to offer advice.
Investors have learned how to remove Earl Jones as executor of their wills, and what social services are available.
But they did not learn more about the investigation
The investigation
Quebec's securities regulator reiterated it is not in a position to compensate victims
Lawyer Neil Stein says he is tracking the paper trail in an effort to find hidden funds.
"There are obviously families here that are destitute and it's a little disheartening that he has not shown up, or at least attempted to explain what's happened," said Stein.
West Island MNA's Yolande James and Geoff Kelley attended the meeting to listen to concerns, but investors' pleas for government help fell on deaf ears.
"We're here to be able to support them and offer the help that we can. That 's all the comments we'll be making this morning," said James as she walked away from a scrum of reporters.
"I think what we have to look at is emergency short term messages for people that are having problems with housing," said Kelley.
The SQ has confirmed that it has opened an investigation into the Jones affair, but refuses to comment while the investigation is underway.
Investigators urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud to contact their local police station or call 1-800-659-4264.
