MFSA warning: Phishing emails, private messages and documents

The Malta Financial Services Authority notes that individuals and/or entities could potentially be impersonating MFSA officials and are circulating documents, private messages and emails claiming to originate from the MFSA. The Authority encourages the general public to remain vigilant and exercise caution when receiving unsolicited emails, even if they appear to come from a familiar source.

The below is a non-exhaustive list of indications that denote that a document or email may not be genuine:

• Unexpected or abnormal communication from the Authority or any other local authority;
• Urgent, threatening, or demanding language requesting payments, personal information, financial details, or requests to click on suspicious links;
• Low-quality image logos;
• Spelling mistakes and/or grammatical errors;
• References to unlicensed financial service providers;
• Email address does not end with the MFSA’s official domain name being: ‘@mfsa.mt’ or any of the local authorities’ official domain names; and
• Text messages sent via messaging applications by private numbers claiming to originate from the MFSA.

In case of doubt, as to whether the MFSA or document or email is authentic, the Authority suggests that you:

• 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 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 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, messaging applications 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/.

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.