Kenya's Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has identified 15 unlicensed entities illegally collecting money from Kenyans through fraudulent investment schemes without proper regulatory approval. The regulator warns the public against dealing with these operators and similar unlicensed platforms promising quick returns. Criminal investigation agencies are now investigating the firms.
Argentina's Banco Provincia has issued an urgent alert about the rise of investment fraud involving fake financial advisors. Scammers contact victims via social media, WhatsApp, and Telegram using fake identities of legitimate companies, promising high returns and quick profits to gain trust before stealing their funds.
A woman in Taiwan responded to a high-paying job offer on Threads and initially received small legitimate payments. After lowering her guard, she was lured into a cryptocurrency investment scheme promising 90% returns, ultimately losing approximately 4 million TWD before reporting the fraud to police.
Spanish authorities arrested Carlos García Roldán, the mastermind behind the Balearic Islands' largest real estate fraud, who had been hiding in his mother's home in Barcelona. The fugitive had defrauded 240 victims of approximately €3.38 million through a fake property development scheme and was sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison.
A citizen from Crotone, Italy lost over €125,000 in three months after being lured by investment promises on social media. Eight suspects from Rome operated a fake trading website and transferred funds abroad to conceal the money trail.
A man in Taichung lost over 2.5kg of gold to investment fraud. Police report that as cash withdrawals face increased anti-fraud scrutiny at banks, scammers are shifting tactics to demand gold and property collateral. Authorities warn against unofficial apps and stock investment group solicitations on social media.
A scam scheme called 'Phuc An Club' in Vietnam is targeting elderly people, promoting investment in 'AKG Gold,' a points-based system resembling cryptocurrency. Hundreds of elderly residents, many with limited tech knowledge, have invested millions. One 70-year-old woman withdrew her entire life savings of 200 million Vietnamese dong (approximately USD 8,000) to participate.
Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, originally from Landshut, Bavaria, has been placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list for allegedly defrauding US investors of approximately $35 million through his technology company "Starclub Inc." Fritsch misrepresented contracts and diverted investor funds for personal expenses. He is suspected of being in or near Munich after fleeing Mexico in October 2025.
A 61-year-old man in Bibai, Hokkaido was targeted by an SNS-based investment scam, having already transferred over 1 million yen. Bank staff at Hokuyō Bank detected the fraud when the man attempted to withdraw an additional 900,000 yen, preventing further losses and demonstrating how vigilant financial institutions can help protect vulnerable customers.
An investment fraud case involving Indonesian celebrity Ruben Onsu has been settled through compensation of 3.5 billion rupiah to the victim. His ex-wife Sarwendah expressed relief that the matter was resolved peacefully, avoiding prolonged legal proceedings that could impact their children.
Spain's regulatory authorities warn of increasing investment scams perpetrated by unregulated financial operators. These schemes employ sophisticated tactics ranging from social media recruitment to fake investment platforms and cryptocurrency fraud. This article explains how to identify warning signs and what steps to take if you become a victim.
Aichi Prefectural Police arrested five people, including a marriage consultation company CEO, for investment fraud. The suspects lured women who responded to side job advertisements onto dating apps, then posed as men to recommend investments and defraud them of cryptocurrency.
Indonesian celebrity Ruben Onsu was accused of fraud and embezzlement after allegedly soliciting investment funds from a victim but failing to return either profits or capital. Police are facilitating settlement negotiations between the parties, and if both agree, the investigation will be closed.
Egypt is witnessing a surge in "Money Window" investment scams, where fraudsters promise monthly returns of 10-80% to collect funds from citizens, then disappear without repaying. Thousands of victims have lost millions of pounds. Legally distinct from traditional fraud, these schemes are prosecuted as unlicensed fund collection crimes carrying sentences up to 15 years imprisonment.
Turkish police have dismantled an investment fraud ring centered in Bursa that deceived citizens through online investment schemes. In simultaneous operations across six cities, authorities arrested 16 suspects; eight were remanded in custody while others were released under court supervision.
A high-ranking Indonesian police commissioner has been accused by a Malaysian investor of investment fraud related to a gold mining venture worth approximately 5.85 billion rupiah. Experts suggest the investigation should consider not only fraud charges but also potential abuse of official position and influence.
An 80-year-old man from northeastern Italy fell victim to an online investment scam that defrauded him of approximately €80,000. Fraudsters impersonating financial consultants used a digital platform to display fictitious gains, convincing him to make successive wire transfers to foreign accounts. Following suspicious banking activity alerts and police investigation, a 69-year-old suspect in Catania was identified and charged.
Hanoi's People's Court convicted two members of an organized fraud ring that operated illegal foreign exchange investment schemes, defrauding victims of over 40 billion Vietnamese dong. The scheme involved posing as legitimate investment advisors and directing clients to unregulated trading platforms.
The Consumer Support Association has disclosed scam cases where victims are lured from social media through LINE and Discord with promises of side income, eventually being pressured to send cryptocurrency. Victims report being asked for additional fees under the guise of taxes and technical charges during withdrawal attempts, while displayed account balances do not guarantee actual withdrawable funds.
A new scam targeting car buyers has emerged in Russia. Fraudsters post advertisements for vehicles at significantly below-market prices, create artificial urgency by claiming multiple buyers are waiting, pressure victims into paying deposits, and then dramatically raise the price after receiving payment.
Investment Scams
