2023-09-06 07:30:06
The Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) warns on Wednesday against 35 fraudulent trading platforms using aggressive methods to defraud their victims. In particular, they use fake online advertisements and mobile applications and sometimes contact consumers directly via fake social media accounts.
“These fake ads and mobile apps promote virtual currency, software or trading training. After clicking on the advertisement or downloading the mobile application and providing their contact details, the victims generally quickly receive a phone call from the scammers who present them with a concrete investment proposal (in shares, in alternative investment products, in virtual currencies, etc.)”, explains the FSMA.
Some platforms also reach out to consumers using fake social media accounts or using WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
“These platforms act very aggressively. To appear trustworthy, they claim to be regulated by a fake financial authority. Criminals go so far as to try to convince victims to let them take remote control of their computer so that they can make certain transfers,” adds the Financial Services and Markets Authority.
In order to avoid any fraud, the FSMA recommends that investors always check the identity of the company offering them an investment (corporate name, country of establishment, registered office, etc.). It is also possible to check whether the company in question has the required approvals, via an easy search on the FSMA website.
You should also be wary of fake companies that pretend to be existing companies.
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