The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the websites renvio(.)icu and renvio(.)pro. BaFin has information that these websites are being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
On 10 March 2026, BaFin imposed an administrative fine amounting to €1,650,000 on Barclays PLC. The reason for this fine was a breach of supervisory duties in connection with contraventions of the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz - WpHG). Between June 2022 and March 2023, Barclays PLC failed in 26 cases to submit voting rights notifications regarding a single issuer within the prescribed period.
BaFin imposed a €1.65 million administrative fine on Barclays PLC on March 10, 2026, for failing to submit 26 voting rights notifications within the required four-trading-day deadline between June 2022 and March 2023. This enforcement action demonstrates BaFin's commitment to enforcing transparency requirements under the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG) and highlights the critical importance of robust internal controls for voting rights notification compliance.
What Changed
The enforcement action does not introduce new regulatory requirements but rather clarifies BaFin's enforcement posture regarding existing obligations under sections 33 et seq. of the WpHG. The key regulatory framework remains:
Notification thresholds: Shareholders must notify when voting rights reach, exceed, or fall below 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50%, or 75%
Notification timeline: Notifications must be submitted to both the issuer and BaFin within four trading days of the threshold event
Scope expansion: Notifications apply to direct share holdings and certain financial instruments...
What You Need To Do
- *Audit existing processes
- *Strengthen monitoring systems
- *Enhance organizational controls
- *Verify submission records
- *Train relevant personnel
Key Dates
June 2022 – March 2023 Period during which Barclays failed to submit 26 notifications
Four trading days Maximum period to submit notifications after threshold event occurs
March 10, 2026 Date BaFin imposed the €1.65 million fine
March 27, 2026 Publication date of BaFin enforcement announcement
Compliance Impact
Urgency: HIGH
Broker DealerAsset ManagerBank
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website panda-financial.com. BaFin has information that the operators are offering banking business and/or financial services as well as cryptoasset services on this website without the required authorisation. The operators of the website are not supervised by BaFin and have no connection to the licensed institution Bitpanda Financial Services GmbH.
BankCrypto ExchangeFintech
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns about offers from the website festgeldplan(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators of the website are offering financial services without the required authorisation. They give the impression that their offers originate from WPV Advisory & Asset Management GmbH & Co. KG, which is supervised by BaFin. It is a case of identity fraud. WPV Advisory & Asset Management GmbH & Co. KG has no connection with the ...
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the websites wertede(.)com and wertede(.)cc. According to information available to BaFin, the operator is providing financial and investment services on this website without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about WhatsApp groups directing consumers to the MORRISONBOOST platform. In these WhatsApp groups, consumers are encouraged to use the MORRISONBOOST platform to trade in financial instruments. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of conducting banking business and/or offering consumers financial services without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
FintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website tradealles(.)com. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website panthera-gmbh(.)com. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website of offering consumers financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website gfi-hold(.)com. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has sufficient grounds to suspect that High Performance Battery Holding AG, Switzerland, is offering securities in the form of company shares to the public in Germany without the required prospectus. There are no indications that the conditions for exemption from the prospectus requirement are met.
BankAsset ManagerBroker Dealer
According to information available to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), “Fides Ventures” is using WhatsApp groups and chats to contact German investors. The company, which claims to be based in the US, also operates under the name “Fides Ventures Business School”. The unknown provider advertises by promoting a so-called “FIVS token”, claiming that the token can be obtained on the cooperating crypto exchange “Nexquant”. The crypto exchange, also operating under the name “Nex...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about a series of almost identical websites. According to information available to BaFin, the operators use these websites to conduct banking business and/or provide financial services without the required authorisation. The operators of the websites are not supervised by BaFin.
BankCrypto ExchangeFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about MBS Point and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website mbspoint(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the website alijz(.)com and WhatsApp groups operated under the company name AL Konzept GmbH & Co. KG. In these WhatsApp groups, consumers are encouraged to use an app called alijzspro to invest in financial instruments. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of offering consumers financial services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechPayment Provider
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the Börsenblick A-001 WhatsApp group. In the WhatsApp group, consumers are encouraged to use the Gainorex Investment app to trade in financial instruments. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of offering consumers banking business and/or financial services without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankFintechAll Firms
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against offers made by Prometheus Investment Alliance (PIA), which claims to be based in the United States of America and Frankfurt am Main, on the website prometheus-alliance(.)de and in various WhatsApp groups. In the WhatsApp groups run by the alleged Achim Falkenberg and his assistant Bertha, consumers are tricked into trading financial products via the QVTcoinese-Pro app using the ‘Genialer Intelligenter Roboter 5.0’ trading system.
BankFintechAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers in WhatsApp groups, which are operated by alleged company VYNEX Trade. According to information available to BaFin, recommendations for the purchase of financial instruments and cryptocurrencies are offered in various WhatsApp groups, which can allegedly be traded via Lirunex Trading app and the following platforms:
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website mjolnex-ltd(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the company Mjolnex, allegedly based in Frankfurt, is offering financial or investment services and crypto asset services without the required authorisation.
BankCrypto ExchangeFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website europecapitalmarkets(.)com. BaFin has information that the operators are offering banking business and/or financial services on this website without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has evidence indicating that TGI AG, domiciled in Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein, is offering capital investments to the public in Germany called “discounted gold purchases” (Goldkauf mit Rabatt). In return for the temporary provision of money, these investments grant interest and the physical delivery of gold. In contravention of section 6 of the German Capital Investment Act (Vermögensanlagengesetz - VermAnlG), no prospectus has been...
BankWealth ManagerAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about a series of almost identical websites. According to information available to BaFin, this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation. The operators of the website are not supervised by BaFin.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website mexassetexchange(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the operator MEX Eychange, allegedly based in Eschborn, Germany, is providing financial, investment and crypto asset services without the required authorisation. The operator falsely claims to be regulated by BaFin. There is no link to an authorised investment firm from Eschborn, Germany.
BankCrypto ExchangeAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website exomarkets(.)pro. According to information available to BaFin, this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about a series of almost identical websites. According to information available to BaFin, the operators are offering cryptoasset services on these websites without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the website aurenbridge(.)com and WhatsApp groups operated under the company name Aurenbridge Alliance (e.g. “Aurenbridge Alliance (ABA)”). In these WhatsApp groups, consumers are encouraged to use an app called Cryplus to trade in financial instruments and cryptoassets. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company FinrocketPro and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website finrocketpro(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
FintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website unzerfinanzpro(.)de. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website of conducting banking business without the required authorisation. Specifically, the website advertises loans.
BankFintechAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website imc-point(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the operators are offering cryptoasset services on this website without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankCrypto ExchangeFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website optinomic(.)co. According to information available to BaFin, the operator is providing financial, investment and crypto asset services without the required authorisation.
BankCrypto ExchangeFintech
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns about offers from the websites watchvestvermittlung(.)com and wv-vermittlung(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators of the website are offering banking services, in particular fixed-term deposits, and financial services without the required authorisation. They give the impression that their offers originate from Watchvest GmbH. It is a case of identity fraud. Watchvest GmbH has no connection with the w...
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website capitalfm(.)io. According to information available to BaFin, the operator is providing financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about job offers for a “part-time payment assistant” (Teilzeit-Auszahlungsassistent) appearing on the website metaflows(.)work. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website metaflows(.)work of offering consumers payment services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechPayment Provider
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website goldingfx(.)com. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website of offering consumers financial and investment services without the required authorisation. Contrary to the claims on the website, the services offered do not originate from Golding Capital Partners GmbH, which has its registered office in Munich. This is a case of identity fraud.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website viforex(.)com. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Capitalis and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators, who purportedly have their registered office in France, of using the website capitalisgroup(.)site to offer loans to consumers and thus conduct banking business without the required authorisation.
BankFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Financiamas and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators, who purportedly have their registered office in Madrid, Spain, of using the website financiamas-cs(.)com to offer loans to consumers and thus conduct banking business without the required authorisation.
BankFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website axoria(.)ai. According to information available to BaFin, the operator is providing financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns customers about online trading platforms that use the name “Sofortiger Aimex/ Sofortiger Saimex”. According to information available to BaFin, operators are providing financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website midv-lim(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the operator Midvest Limited from Manchester, UK, is providing financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankWealth Manager
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website ultramarin-capital(.)com. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website of offering consumers financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankWealth Manager
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website trade.amlin-limited(.)info. According to information available to BaFin, financial or investment services and crypto asset services are being offered on this platform without the required authorisation. According to the current state of knowledge, there is no connection to MS Amlin Investment Management Ltd., based in London, UK. This is likely to be a case of identity fraud.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website personalcontrol-room(.)com and against fake investment contracts sent by alleged financial experts from Clearstream Holding AG. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators are providing financial or investment services and crypto asset services without the required authorisation. The offers do not originate from Clearstream Holding AG or any other legal entities of Clearstream. This is...
BankWealth ManagerFintech The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has issued a warning regarding offers available at the website krf-mbh(.)com, purportedly operated by Gesellschaft für Kryptoregisterführung GmbH based in Willich. However, these offerings do not originate from Gesellschaft für Kryptoregisterführung GmbH nor any of their staff members; it's a clear instance of identity fraud. Unauthorized individuals are providing unauthorized financial and cryptocurrency-related services through this...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the websites weisbergadvisors(.)inc and weisbergadvisors(.)ai. According to information available to BaFin, these websites are being used to offer financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The financial supervisory authority BaFin is warning about a dubious job advertisement on the website vios-beratung(.)de which allegedly operates from the VIOS Consulting GmbH, Bielefeld. However, the offers on this site do not come from the VIOS Consulting GmbH or its employees. This is identity fraud. Unknown operators are advertising private individuals with seemingly lucrative job opportunities that involve opening accounts for testing purposes and transferring money or cryptocurrencies a...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against the WhatsApp groups „Tethys Investment Alliance 771“ and „Tethys Investment Alliance-S62“, the websites „tethys-alliance.de“ and „tethys-uberblick.com“ as well as the apps „QVTCoinese“ und „QVTCoinese Pro“, which are allegedly operated by the Baku/Boston/Dubai-based company Tethys Investment Management LLC. In the WhatsApp groups consumers are enticed to trade financial products via the respective apps. It is suspected that the ...
BankWealth ManagerFintech The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Dukas-Global and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website dukas-global(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website referral.mnlo(.)app. BaFin has information that Next Level Church Global Hub, Inc., New Orleans, USA, is using this website to offer banking business and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against the website omenyxgroup(.)com, which entices consumers to trade crypto assets. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators of the website are offering crypto asset services without the required authorisation.
Crypto ExchangeFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers in WhatsApp groups, which are allegedly operated by Intermediate Capital Group (ICG). According to information available to BaFin, recommendations for the purchase of financial instruments and cryptocurrencies, which can allegedly be traded via ICG GEF app, are offered in various WhatsApp groups. The offers do not originate from ICG Europe S.à.r.l. - Frankfurt Branch or any other company belonging to Intermediate Capital G...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against fixed-term deposit offers sent from the email address info[at]lgimeu(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown providers are conducting banking transactions without the required authorisation. The offers do not originate from LGIM Managers (Europe) Limited. This is a case of identity theft.
BankAsset ManagerWealth Manager
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about a series of similarly designed websites. According to information available to BaFin, the operators are providing banking business and/or financial services on these websites without the required authorisation. The operators of the website are not supervised by BaFin.
BankBroker DealerFintech
finanzpluss, allegedly based in Frankfurt am Main, offers loans on its website for high fees, without the necessary authorisation, which are not paid out.
BankFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Volfor and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website volfor(.)co of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
According to the information available to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), unknown persons are using WhatsApp groups and chats to contact German investors. The initiators of such WhatsApp groups claim to be Bank of America or its branch in Frankfurt am Main. This is a case of identity fraud misusing names of former employees of the institution.
BankFintechAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Tradeshark24 and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website tradeshark24(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and crypto-asset services without the required authorisation. These offers are not provided by Frankfurt Financial Solutions GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurt, which has no connection to the website tradeshark24(.)com. This is a case of identity fraud.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website hashxcapital(.)com. BaFin has information that the website’s operators are using it to offer banking business and/or financial services without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) suspects the unknown operators of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation. Verto is currently offering its services via the website ajadetrpe(.)life.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website wefi(.)co. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer banking business and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
In the WhatsApp groups, investors are recommended by “Harrison T Blake” and “Francesca Müller” to invest in financial instruments that can then be traded via the aforementioned app or the platform pc-asset-management[.]com.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has issued its “Guidance on ICT Risks in the Use of Artificial Intelligence at Financial Entities”. The guidance will help entities manage ICT risks in accordance with the requirements under DORA.
BaFin's "Guidance on ICT Risks in the Use of Artificial Intelligence at Financial Entities," published December 18, 2025, provides non-mandatory advice to help financial entities manage ICT risks from AI under DORA across the AI lifecycle. It matters because it integrates AI explicitly into existing ICT risk frameworks, emphasizing security, resilience, and third-party risks for supervised institutions, aligning with RTS on ICT risk management (EU 2024/1774) and subcontracting (EU 2025/532). This clarifies supervisory expectations amid growing AI adoption in finance, reducing ambiguity in DORA compliance.
What Changed
The guidance does not introduce new binding rules but clarifies AI as ICT systems requiring DORA-compliant treatment, including:
AI strategy: Management-approved, aligned with overall strategy, defining responsibilities, competencies, and interdisciplinary collaboration for critical functions.
ICT risk management integration: Cover identification, protection, detection, response, recovery, training; apply to AI lifecycle (data acquisition, development, operation, retirement).
Development and testing: Robust standards, documentation, testing proportionate to criticality; special focus on...
What You Need To Do
- Develop and approve AI strategy integrated with ICT roadmap and governance
- Embed AI in existing ICT risk framework, ensuring lifecycle coverage with safeguards (e
- Conduct third-party due diligence and contractual reviews for AI/cloud providers, including exit/portability testing
- Implement AI-specific testing, documentation, and incident processes proportionate to criticality
- Ensure management accountability for oversight, training, and interdisciplinary controls
Key Dates
18 December 2025 - Guidance issuance date.
01 February 2024 - Related BaFin/Bundesbank supervisory notice on cloud outsourcing (contextual reference).
2026 " possibly indicating update/display date, but issuance confirmed Dec 2025).
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – DORA is live (effective Jan 17, 2025), and AI use is widespread; this guidance operationalizes ICT requirements for AI, exposing non-compliant firms to supervisory scrutiny, fines, or remediation orders under CRR/Solvency II. It heightens focus on third-party/cloud risks amid EU AI Act rollout, demanding immediate gap assessments to avoid operational resilience failures.
BankInsuranceAll Firms
Opening Statement by Mark Branson
BankFintechCrypto Exchange The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website skyvault(.)ltd. BaFin has information that the operators are offering banking business and/or financial services on this website without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankCrypto ExchangeFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered by Aureus Trade. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website aureus-trade(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website bxforex(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankBroker DealerWealth Manager The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Rostock24 Limited and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website rostock24(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation. Rostock24 Limited, which purportedly has its head office in Nuremberg, claims to be registered with the British Companies House. This is not the case.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against fixed-term deposit offers sent from the email address info[at]vcgmanagement.de. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown providers are conducting banking transactions without the required authorisation. The offers do not originate from VC Germany Management GmbH. This is a case of identity theft.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website bb-consults(.)com. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
FintechCrypto ExchangeAll Firms
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns about offers from the website two-five-management(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators of the website are offering banking services, in particular fixed-term deposits, and financial services without the required authorisation. They give the impression that their offers originate from TwoFive Management GmbH, which is registered with BaFin as an AIF asset management company, Section 2 (4) of the Germa...
BankAsset ManagerWealth Manager
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website whiterock-financial(.)eu and against the alleged operator White Rock Financial Consultancy Limited from London, United Kingdom. According to information available to BaFin, the operator is providing financial and investment services without the required authorisation.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against fixed-term deposit offers sent from the email address bancosantander.es-kundenservice[at]outlook.com. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown providers are conducting banking transactions without the required authorisation. The offers do not originate from Banco Santander S.A. This is a case of identity theft.
BankFintechPayment Provider
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about “Paragonix Edge” and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the websites paragonixedge(.)org, hhessel(.)com, funkmp(.)com und altenweerth(.)com of offering consumers cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
Crypto ExchangeBankFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on website fragfinanz(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, banking transactions, especially fixed-term deposits, financial or investment services are being provided by FragFinanz without the required authorisation.
BankFintechAll Firms
Alleged employees of Brookfield Asset Management GmbH are contacting investors unsolicited by telephone and email without the necessary permission to offer them alleged fixed-term deposits and alleged pre-IPO shares. In the past, they have also used the website deu-brookfield(.)com, which is no longer accessible. They give the impression that they are cooperating with licensed banks and issuers of pre-IPO shares. This is not the case.
Asset ManagerWealth ManagerBank
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the websites ubpmanagement(.)co, commerzglobal(.)com, longsharks(.)com and paribasgroup(.)net. According to information available to BaFin, the companies UBP Management and Commerz Global, allegedly based in Frankfurt, and Longsharks Capital and Paribas Group, allegedly based in London, are offering financial or investment services and crypto asset services without the required authorisation. The offers do not originate...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website parex-am(.)com. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Own Mood Space and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of the website ownmoodspace(.)com of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
FintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website fidelity-ag(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, banking transactions, especially fixed-term deposits, financial or investment services are being provided on this website without the required authorisation. The fixed-term deposit offers are sent, among others, from the email address festgeld[at]fidelity-ag(.)com. The offers do not originate from the Swiss company Fidelity Treuhand und Verwaltu...
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) suspects the unknown operators of the website fivepillarstoken(.)com of offering consumers cryptoasset services in Germany without the required authorisation. The offers include “crypto debit cards” and staking using Five Pillars Tokens.
Crypto ExchangeFintech
According to information available to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), unknown persons are using Telegram groups and chats to contact German investors. The initiators of these messenger groups purport to be the US company “MacKay Shields”. This is a case of identity fraud.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
According to information available to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), unknown persons are using WhatsApp groups and chats to contact German investors. The initiators of these WhatsApp groups purport to be the US company “Payden & Rygel”. This is a case of identity theft misusing the names of real employees.
BankFintechPayment Provider
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website givhalbank(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, this website is being used to offer banking business and financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
BankCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website blitz365finance(.)org. According to information available to BaFin, the operators are offering financial and cryptoasset services on the website without the required authorisation. The unknown operators of the website are not supervised by BaFin. This is a case of identity fraud against a Swiss company.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against fixed-term deposit offers sent from the email address wise[at]wisefestgeldkonto(.)com. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown providers are conducting banking transactions without the required authorisation. The offers do not originate from Wise Europe SA. This is a case of identity theft.
BankFintechPayment Provider
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website ellis-ag(.)net. According to information available to BaFin, financial or investment services and crypto asset services are being offered on this platform without the required authorisation. According to the current state of knowledge, there is no connection to the Swiss company Ellis AG, Zurich. This is likely to be a case of identity fraud.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
In the WhatsApp groups, investors are recommended to invest in financial instruments that can then be traded via the platform h5.bluealphasystem(.)net or the aforementioned app.
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers in WhatsApp groups, which are allegedly operated by Cantor Fitzgerald and led by Leopold Schneider. BaFin is not aware of the existence of this person. According to information available to BaFin, recommendations for the purchase of financial instruments and cryptocurrencies, which can allegedly be traded via CDAfin app, are offered in various WhatsApp groups. According to the current state of knowledge, there is no connec...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns about offers on the website capitalholdings(.)icu. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators of the websites are offering banking transactions and financial services without the required authorisation.
BankFintechAll Firms
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns about fixed-term deposit offers from the website sicherangelegt(.)de. According to information available to BaFin, the unknown operators of the website are offering banking services, in particular fixed-term deposits, without the required authorisation.
BankFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers in WhatsApp groups, which are allegedly operated by Baird Capital and led by a Thomas Becker. BaFin is not aware of the existence of this person. According to information available to BaFin, recommendations for the purchase of financial instruments and cryptocurrencies are offered in WhatsApp groups and the so-called Baird Capital Investment Program III is being promoted. According to the current state of knowledge, there ...
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website blauline(.)ai. BaFin has information that this website is being used to offer financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
FintechCrypto ExchangeAll Firms
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the services offered on the website bit500(.)eu. BaFin has information that the operators are offering banking business and/or financial services on this website without the required authorisation. The operators are not supervised by BaFin.
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against WhatsApp groups such as „S373 Robeco Kernmitgliedergruppe“, “M2 Robeco Value Investing Kreis“ and „999 Robeco Investment Strategiezentrum - Blockhandel“, which are allegedly operated by the Frankfurt a.M.-based company Robeco Deutschland, Zweigniederlassung der Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. („Robeco“). In the WhatsApp groups consumers are enticed to trade financial products via the app „RBC NL“. It is suspected that...
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about “bearer bonds” being offered for subscription by Marketplace24-7 GmbH on the website non-dom(.)group. BaFin suspects the company of conducting banking business without the required authorisation. The company is furthermore suspected of making an unauthorised public offer of securities without a prospectus. Under the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz - WpPG), a prospectus is required for an offer...
BankFintechAll Firms
On 16 December 2025, BaFin imposed two administrative fines amounting to €560,000 on flatexDEGIRO Bank AG. The company had contravened obligations under the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz - WpHG). At the beginning of 2022, flatexDEGIRO Bank AG advertised free investment services on two of its websites without clearly indicating that a processing fee would be charged on a regular basis. flatexDEGIRO Bank AG adapted its practices to comply with the legal requirements in ...
BaFin imposed €560,000 in administrative fines on flatexDEGIRO Bank AG on December 16, 2025, for misleading marketing of investment services that advertised free offerings without clearly disclosing mandatory processing fees. This enforcement action underscores BaFin's strict interpretation of fair and transparent marketing requirements under the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG) and demonstrates that even corrective action taken by firms does not eliminate regulatory penalties for past violations.
What Changed
The enforcement action clarifies BaFin's expectations regarding fair and clear marketing communications for investment services:
Investment services providers must explicitly and unambiguously disclose all material costs, including processing fees, when advertising services as "free"
Marketing materials must present both benefits and risks of services in a balanced manner, with relevant risks highlighted alongside advantages
These obligations apply across all marketing channels, including company websites
The requirements are grounded in the WpHG and further specified in EU regulations and...
What You Need To Do
- *For flatexDEGIRO Bank AG (already completed)
- Modify marketing materials to clearly and explicitly disclose all material costs and fees
- Ensure balanced presentation of benefits and risks across all marketing channels
- *For all investment services providers (preventive compliance):
- *Implement clear disclosure protocols requiring that:
Key Dates
Beginning of 2022 – flatexDEGIRO Bank AG violated WpHG requirements by advertising free services without disclosing processing fees
2022 – flatexDEGIRO adapted its practices to comply with legal requirements
December 16, 2025 – BaFin imposed two administrative fines totaling €560,000
December 22, 2025 – BaFin publicly announced the enforcement action
Compliance Impact
Urgency: HIGH
Broker DealerBankFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns customers about online trading platforms that use the slogan “[...] invest your money in the world of cryptocurrencies with [...]”. BaFin suspects the unknown operators of offering consumers cryptoasset services without the required authorisation. The websites have the same text design and layout.
Crypto ExchangeFintech
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers, in particular offers to purchase shares and alleged pre-IPO shares, which are purportedly brokered by Ambassador. According to information available to BaFin, Ambassador Management GmbH, supposedly based in Frankfurt am Main, Ambassador Financial Group Ltd. and Ambassador Global Systems LLC are providing financial or investment services without the required authorisation. According to the current state of knowledge, there...
BankWealth ManagerFintech
The financial supervisory authority BaFin is warning against WhatsApp and Telegram groups where consumers are lured into trading cryptocurrencies via the fraudulent trading platform TradeNova, which can currently be accessed through the website m.tradenovaeo(.)com. According to their findings, the trading platform TradeNova provides financial services, securities transactions, as well as cryptocurrency-related services without authorization.
Crypto ExchangeFintech
The Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin has issued warnings regarding offerings found on websites maxfuledge(.)com and trading-area.maxfuledge-v2(.)com/auth/register. Based on its investigations, the purportedly London or Singapore-based trading platform MaxFulEdge offers unauthorised financial services, securities transactions, and cryptocurrency-related services. The platform promotes its offerings through supposed customer service representatives (maja.weis(at)maxfuledge.team and sophia....
BankFintechCrypto Exchange
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against offers on the website senvix(.)de. According to information available to BaFin, the trading platform Senvix, allegedly based in Frankfurt, is providing financial, investment and crypto asset services without the required authorisation.
Crypto ExchangeFintech