Frauds and Scams

Find out what frauds and scams can look like, how you can protect yourself and what you should do if you have become victim of investment fraud.

How can I recognise a scam?

  • A scammer’s or fraudster’s aim is to mislead you and obtain your money. In order to achieve their goal, they might try to contact you by using multiple communication channels, such as email, phone calls, SMS, social media platforms. At first, these emails can seem too good to be true or are just unexpected.
     
  • You might be asked to provide personal information to allow money transfers and international payments. In other cases, you would be invited to transfer money from your own bank account; for example, to pay a so-called administrative fee. Thefraudsters often present themselves as ESMA officials and approach their victims on the pretext of helping them recover their funds. Others claim to work for ESMA and to be investigating an investment firm.
     
  • Fraudsters often use ESMA’s name and logo to promote scams. They might present themselves as ESMA employees, provide documents and certificates which are counterfeits or attempt to copy ESMA’s website.
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ESMA will never approach you and ask for your personal details under the pretext of helping you to recover funds that you lost or asking you to pay an administrative fee.

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How can I protect myself from being scammed?

  • Never reveal personal or financial data including usernames, passwords, bank details, addresses, or existing insurance/pensions/investment details.
  • Do not click on links or open emails from senders you do not already know.
  • Check ESMA’s official website: www.esma.europa.eu. Any other websites using ESMA’s logo, name or its interface are fake and used for fraudulent purposes.
  • Please use these steps to check whether you are really communicating with ESMA:
  1. Check the e-mail address.
    ESMA’s e-mails only end with @esma.europa.eu. All other e-mail addresses are fake.
  2. Check the office address (if provided).
    ESMA is only based in Paris, France. It has no affiliates or branch offices elsewhere. All other addresses are fake.
  3. Check the phone number (if provided).
    ESMA’s telephone numbers only start with +33 for France. All other phone numbers are fake.
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What can I do as a victim? 

  • Make sure you are aware of your rights as a victim of a crime by using the European e-Justice Portal. 
  • If you have already been in contact with the fraudsters, stop all interactions. 

As a next step, please consider the following:

  1. Report your case to local law enforcement authorities, such as the police.  
  2. Inform your National Competent Authority (NCA).
  3. Reach out to your financial services consumer organisations.
  4. Approach a lawyer to consider taking legal action against the firm.
  • ESMA is not able to deal with cases about handle investment fraud cases. Unfortunately, we cannot assist you in your matter. 
  • However, in case of doubts or suspicions about the authenticity of any correspondence received that claiming to be from or linked to ESMA or its representatives, you can reach please contact us by e-mail on: scamreport@esma.europa.eu
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How can I recognise scam? How can I protect myself from being scammed?
How can I protect myself from being scammed? What can I do as a victim?
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