The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) announced that it continues to receive numerous complaints from retail investors about fraudulent automated trading offers related to Forex and crypto-assets, particularly through “clone” websites. The AMF urges investors to exercise extreme caution regarding Immediate Connect’s deceptive investment offers.
According to the AMF, warnings about fraudulent investment offers were previously issued on June 23, 2023, and again in a joint statement with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s office on November 17, 2023. Multiple retail investors reported encountering these offers online, often promoted through ads featuring well-known public figures and fake articles claiming to be from reputable news sources, falsely attributing endorsements to celebrities.
After submitting their information online, individuals were contacted by a fake financial adviser who urged them to invest in unauthorized platforms for Forex or crypto-assets. When they tried to withdraw their profits, they were asked to pay a “capital gains tax.” The fraudsters also used personal data for a “refund scam,” where previous victims were promised recovery of lost funds in exchange for more payments. Reported losses to the AMF from this scheme have reached several hundred thousand euros. Some of the fraudulent websites involved have been blacklisted, with others under investigation.
The AMF is an independent public authority in France that oversees financial markets, market participants, and investment products. It ensures that investors are informed and that markets operate in an orderly manner. The AMF also engages in regulatory development at European and international levels, focusing on areas such as sustainable finance and the impact of digital changes on the economy. It functions through two main bodies, the board and the enforcement committee, and works toward establishing consistent international standards in financial markets.
