The National Commission for Financial Markets (CNPF) issued a public warning about a fast-spreading fraud scheme promoted via WhatsApp and Telegram groups and amplified across social media, where victims are lured into purported “investment” and crypto trading opportunities. The scheme uses fake messaging groups in which activity is largely simulated by bots and false “experts” who advertise quick profits and encourage participants to recruit friends and family in exchange for “rewards”. Victims are directed to transfer funds to fictitious “trading accounts” that display fabricated gains to build trust, and are later charged invented fees when attempting to withdraw funds. CNPF noted that available information suggests a pyramid-like structure, with payouts driven by continuous recruitment rather than real economic activity, and flagged adolescents as particularly vulnerable to the promised rapid gains and rewards. CNPF recommended verifying the authorisation status of any investment firm, avoiding disclosure of personal or financial information via messaging apps, and exercising extreme caution toward offers of easy or rapid returns. The regulator also encouraged reporting suspected cases to CNPF and blocking suspicious contacts, and pointed to using official registers for checks on entities claiming authorisation abroad.

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