MFSA Warning – Fraudulent Behaviour Linked to COVID-19 Situation
MARCH 12, 2020

The MFSA would like to draw the attention of its licence holders and the general public to possible fraudulent schemes or financial scams which may try to take advantage of COVID-19 outbreak to target entities and individuals with the aim of misappropriating funds and/or obtaining sensitive personal information. Such fraudulent schemes or financial scams may include advice in relation to investments in developing cures, requests for donations, medical and health insurance policies in relation to COVID-19, offers for sale of supplies, use of fake/phishing websites and/or emails with malicious content. The MFSA would like to remind consumers of financial services not to enter into any financial services transaction unless they have ascertained that the entity with whom the transaction is being made is authorised to provide such services by the MFSA or another reputable financial services regulator. A list of entities licensed by the MFSA can be viewed on the official website of the MFSA at https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/

Verżjoni bil-Malti

L-MFSA tixtieq tiġbed l-attenzjoni tal-entitajiet liċenzjati minnha u l-pubbliku in ġenerali għal possibbiltà ta’ skemi qarrieqa jew scams finanzjarji li qed jippruvaw japprofittaw mis-sitwazzjoni preżenti relatata mal-COVID-19 biex jattakkaw entitajiet u individwi bl-għan li jisirqu fondi u/jew jiksbu informazzjoni personali sensittiva. Dawn l-iskemi frodulenti jew scams finanzjarji jistgħu jinkludu pariri relatati ma’ investimenti għall-iżvilupp ta’ kuri, talbiet għal fondi, polzi mediċi jew tas-saħħa b’rabta mal-COVID-19, offerti għall-bejgħ ta’ provvisti, użu ta’ siti foloz/phishing u/jew emails b’kontenut malizzjuż. L-MFSA tixtieq tfakkar lill-konsumaturi ta’ servizzi finanzjarji biex ma jidħlu f’ebda transazzjoni ta’ servizzi finanzjarji sakemm ma jkunux ċerti li l-entità li magħha qed issir it-transazzjoni hija awtorizzata li tipprovdi dawk is-servizzi mill-MFSA jew minn xi regolatur ieħor tas-servizzi finanzjarji ta’ reputazzjoni tajba. Lista ta’ entitajiet liċenzjati mill-MFSA hija disponibbli fuq is-sit uffiċjali tal-Awtorità fuq https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/