The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA” or “the Authority”) has become aware that scammers are circulating email/s purporting to originate from the Authority. Although the following email address [email protected] purport to originate from the Authority, the MFSA hereby confirms that this is not the case.

The emails, allegedly sent by the MFSA, are requesting payment of a capital gains tax of the profits from investments conducted or processed through financial intermediaries, in order to release the funds. The emails include threats that that the funds would be blocked or returned to the originating institution.

The MFSA would like to clarify that:

• Official correspondence is issued on the MFSA’s official letterhead and sent via registered mail;
• Official Email correspondence is sent through email addresses ending with the MFSA’s official domain name (@mfsa.mt);
• The MFSA never requests urgent monetary deposits.

The MFSA urges the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution when receiving unsolicited emails, even if they appear to come from a legitimate or familiar source.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of indicators that a document or email may not be genuine:

• Unexpected or abnormal communication from the MFSA or other local authorities;
• Use of urgent, threatening, or demanding language requesting payments, personal or financial information, or urging you to click on suspicious links;
• Poor-quality logos or documents;
• Spelling or grammatical errors;
• Reference to unlicensed financial service providers;
• Use of email addresses not ending with the MFSA’s official domain name (@mfsa.mt) or those of other recognised authorities; and
• Communications through instant messaging applications or private numbers claiming to originate from the MFSA.

In case of doubt about the authenticity of a document, email, individual or entity claiming to represent the MFSA:

• Verify whether the entity is licensed to provide the alleged financial services on the MFSA’s official website at: https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/;
• Cease communication with and do not provide any further information or funds to the individual/entity until you confirm they are genuine;
• Contact the MFSA through our official channels to verify their authenticity at https://www.mfsa.mt/about-us/contact/.

The MFSA would like to remind the general public not to enter into any financial services transaction unless they have ascertained that the individual/entity with whom the transaction is being made is authorised to provide such services by the MFSA or another reputable financial services regulator. Investors should also be extra cautious when being approached with offers of financial services via unconventional channels such as telephone calls or social media.

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/. For more information on financial scams please refer to the MFSA scam awareness document to keep yourself informed on red flags which help consumers of financial services to identify such financial scams.

If you are a victim of a scam or think you might be dealing with an unauthorised entity or any other type of financial scam, first of all stop all transactions with the company and contact the MFSA at https://www.mfsa.mt/about-us/contact/ as soon as a suspicion arises.