FSMA Alert: Scammers Use Fake Bank CEO Interviews to Promote Illicit Trading Platforms

Belgium's Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) has issued a public warning regarding the rise of fraudulent trading platforms that target consumers with promises of rapid and effortless financial gains. According to the regulator, scammers are actively deploying staged and fabricated interviews featuring images of major bank CEOs alongside celebrity endorsements to deceive prospective investors. In these deceptive promotions, staged scenarios show a host or journalist criticizing conventional bank loans while asserting that trading on an innovative automated system offers superior returns, often starting with a modest deposit of just 250 euros. The regulator stresses that these interviews are completely fabricated and the advertised investment products are entirely illegitimate. Scammers utilize multiple channels to capture victims, including fraudulent celebrity ads, fake news interviews with banking executives, recruitment websites, fake profiles on dating applications (such as Tinder, Bumble, and Happn), and unsolicited trading groups on WhatsApp and Telegram. Once an individual registers and makes an initial deposit, operators frequently request remote screen access under the pretext of assisting with transactions, allowing them to install spyware or viruses. After funds are transferred, the platforms display fabricated dashboards showing substantial, non-existent trading profits. The fraudsters then apply aggressive sales tactics, high-pressure calls, time-sensitive deals, and threats to extract larger sums. When victims attempt to withdraw their funds, the operators demand additional payments under the guise of taxes or administrative fees, or refuse communication entirely. Some platforms also operate as pyramid schemes, collapsing entirely once recruitment halts. The FSMA identified the following onboarding and lead-generation websites used to funnel victims to illicit platforms: Azaliumbit (azaliumbit.com), Beinveron (beinveron.com), Eminix Fintrion (eminix-fintrion.com), Impuls Crescente (impulscrescente.com), Ivelis Trade 7.2 (ivelistrade72.com), Juste Patrimòire (justepatrimoire.com, justepatrimoireai.com), Quantex Belgica (immediaterevolution360.nl, quantexbelgica.com, quantex-belgica.net), Riche Fondois (riche-fondois.com), Steen Luxeris (steen-luxeris.com, steenluxeris.net), Sterk Fundalis (sterkfundalis-be.com), Stevig Valtrion (500-intal.com, stevig-valtrion.com), Sûreté Valflux (surete-valflux.com), Vénitance (venitance.com, venitance-ai.com), and X Trade Grok 9.1 Nova (xtradegrok91-nova.com). Additionally, the FSMA strongly advises against engaging with the following blacklisted trading platforms and clone operations: 222-Trade (222-t.com), Alivio Finances (aliviofinances.com, platform.aliviofinances.com), Arko Group (arko-group.com), Aventor Partners (aventorpartners.com, platform.aventorpartners.com), Axstera (axstera.com), CF Trading (cf-trading.com), CrystoVision (crystovision.net, crystovision.co), Eha Markets (ehamarkets.com), Exodus AI (exo-futures.com), Exovate Markets (exovate-markets.com), Fx-Ln (fx-ln.com), Genesisarbit (genesisarbit.pro, webtrader.genesisarbit.io, webtrader.genesisarbit.top, genesisarbit.one), Globera-Fx (globera-fx.com), Grand Gate Agency (grandgateagency.net, grandgateagency.co), Infinity Max Edge (infinitymaxedge.com), Innovate X Capital (Clone) (innovatexcapital.trade), Invest Capital World (investcapitalworld.com, live.investcapitalworld.com, investcapitalworld.co), Lotment Capital (lotmentcapital.com, trading-area.lotmentcapital-v2.com, trading-area.lotmentcapital-v3.com, trading-area.lotmentcapital-v5.com), MSF (msf.global), NewRockwood (newrockwood.ai), Nova Trade Core (novatradecore.com), NowWeTrade (nowwetrade.com, now-wetrade.com, now-we-trade.com, nowwetrade1.com, now-wetrade.com/platform), Plustrade (plustrade.io), Promorion Group (pro-morion.net), PrymexEnergy (prymexenergy.com, prymexenergy.net), Rockpoint Partners (rockpointpartners.ai), SPO, Mttzoq (mttzoq.icu), Suisse Equity (suisseequity.com), Swissquote (Clone) (swissquote-es.com), Sybbex Limited (sybbex.com), TheGainForge (thegainforge.com, trading.thegainforge.com), Volia Invest AG (voliainvest-ag.com), and Yureplex (webtrader.revolnys-mumbtyx.com, yureplex.com). Victims who have already transferred funds are urged to halt all transactions, cut off communication, notify their bank immediately, and file an official complaint with law enforcement and the FSMA. The regulator also warns victims to remain vigilant against recovery room fraud, where secondary scammers pose as legal or recovery agents demanding upfront fees to retrieve lost capital.