Cyprus financial regulator The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has issued a statement that it has become aware of the website cysecgov.org, which has been maliciously created and does not belong to CySEC. Additionally, the email address supportcenter@cysecgov.org, mentioned on this website does not belong to CySEC. Moreover, the website cysecgov.cc has been maliciously created as well and does not belong to CySEC either.
CySEC would like to warn the public that through these websites and email, individuals are fraudulently presenting themselves as officers or representatives of CySEC, approaching investors and demanding fees in exchange for allegedly arranging the recovery of losses suffered by investors as a result of their investments in companies under CySEC’s supervision.
CySEC notes that there has recently been an increase in cases where individuals fraudulently present themselves as representatives of CySEC, both through email and fake accounts on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Viber and WhatsApp) and urges the public to be alert to these scams.
In order to help the public to identify and avoid malicious sites, CySEC wishes to remind the public that:
- CySEC never contacts individuals by telephone or sends unsolicited correspondence and does not request personal data, financial or other information.
- Investors are urged to contact CySEC to confirm the authenticity of communications by sending an email to info@cysec.gov.cy before taking any action, and to inform CySEC of any suspicious activity that comes to their attention.
- Genuine emails from CySEC include addresses ending in cysec.gov.cy — although, there have been cases where fraudsters have disguised their web addresses to copy these.
- CySEC has no authority or mandate to collect fees for any purpose from individual investors, nor does it have authority to appoint anyone to do so on its behalf.
- CySEC does not authorise, verify, monitor, or engage in any way in class actions, compensation schemes, payments between natural or legal entities or any public or private organisations.
- CySEC issues multiple regular warnings and updates regarding unregulated entities and impersonations of CySEC representatives.
- CySEC’s investor guide on how to spot scams can be found here Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | CYSEC GUIDE: HOW TO AVOID SCAMS.
CySEC urges the public to remain vigilant and cautious of any unsolicited communication claiming to be from CySEC, and to refrain from sending money to anyone claiming to represent it.
