The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) published new statistics on consumer enquiries and investor warnings, identifying deepfake celebrity videos, WhatsApp groups and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots as emerging techniques used in investment fraud in 2025, alongside record reported losses. The FMA received 843 fraud reports in 2025 involving total losses of EUR 19.6 million, with the largest single loss around EUR 830,000, compared with 853 reports and around EUR 15.5 million the previous year. It issued 97 warning notifications about providers acting without authorisation, mostly related to trading platforms. Analysis highlighted WhatsApp-group schemes that build trust through “exclusive” tips and simulated community activity using AI-powered chatbots, before pushing victims in private chats into fraudulent platforms or apps and directing funds to overseas accounts; the FMA also flagged that perpetrators’ anonymity and the shift to private social media channels can impede attribution, investigations and the timely publication of warnings. The FMA set out consumer red flags and reporting actions, and said it will tackle the investigation and reporting challenges linked to private social media channels in the year ahead; its “Let’s talk about money” consumer education formats, including an Instagram channel and podcast launched in 2025, will continue in 2026.

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