Fraudsters are impersonating employees of Brussels Department of Finance (FSMA), the Belgian institution warns.
These individuals claim to assist investment fraud victims in regaining or unlocking lost funds, using this ruse to extract money and personal information.
The criminals request victims to pay a commission or tax to the FSMA to recover lost funds. This tactic, known as a “recovery room” operation, also allows them to secure personal or confidential data.
Scammers contact victims through phone or email, claiming to be an FSMA staff member or executive. To give weight to their assertions, they use the Authority’s logo in their documents.
Fraudsters are known to use the following email addresses: info@fsmacontact.online, support@billingfsma.com, and support@fsma.co. The institution specifies that official FSMA email addresses all end with @fsma.be.
“The FSMA will never unexpectedly contact you, nor ask you to transfer money. It will never ask for confidential information like your bank card’s PIN or a password,” the Financial Services and Markets Authority warns.
Additionally, it emphasises that, as a non-financial institution, it does not conduct unsolicited consumer contact and isn’t authorised to recover lost investments or ask for pay in return.
