By Sara Strijbosch Ali - Senior Manager, Communications, MFSA and Brian Chetcuti - Senior Client Relations and Creative Officer, Communications, MFSA
Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, frequent, and difficult to detect. Criminals are leveraging new technologies, including artificial intelligence, impersonation techniques, and social engineering tactics, to target consumers through a wide range of channels. The financial and emotional impact on victims can be significant, while scam activity also poses broader risks to trust in digital services and financial markets.
Recognising these evolving challenges, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the Malta Police Force, and the Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services have joined forces to launch ScamAlert.mt, Malta's first coordinated national platform dedicated to scam awareness and prevention.
The initiative represents an important shift from a largely reactive approach, where individuals seek help after becoming victims, towards a more proactive model centred on prevention, education, and early awareness. ScamAlert.mt will serve as a single, trusted national reference point where consumers can access reliable information on current scam trends, learn how to recognise warning signs, and understand the steps they can take to protect themselves.
The portal has been designed to bridge awareness and action. Through accessible and user-friendly content, visitors will be able to explore different scam typologies, access practical guidance, receive alerts about emerging threats, and identify the appropriate authority to contact depending on their circumstances. By bringing together information that is often dispersed across multiple sources, the platform aims to make scam prevention guidance easier to find, understand, and act upon.
For the MFSA, ScamAlert.mt further strengthens its commitment to consumer protection and financial education. The portal complements the Authority's ongoing efforts to raise awareness of investment scams, clone firms, unauthorised financial services, and other forms of financial fraud that can harm consumers and undermine confidence in the financial system.
Beyond its educational function, the platform is also expected to support a more evidence-based approach to awareness initiatives. Insights on emerging scam trends, consumer engagement, and areas of public concern can help inform future communication campaigns, while contributing to a broader understanding of risks facing consumers. Such intelligence may also provide valuable context to supervisory and enforcement activities undertaken by the relevant authorities.
The launch of ScamAlert.mt demonstrates the value of coordinated action in addressing a challenge that affects consumers across sectors and services. By combining the expertise of the MFSA, the Malta Police Force, and the Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services, the initiative seeks to empower consumers with the knowledge they need to recognise scams, make informed decisions, and take appropriate action when confronted with fraudulent activity.
As scam techniques continue to evolve, awareness remains one of the most effective forms of protection. ScamAlert.mt is intended to provide consumers with the tools, information, and confidence needed to stay one step ahead.
