AMF Warns Against Unauthorized Firms Offering Miscellaneous Asset Investments

The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), the financial market regulator in France, issued a warning against several companies proposing atypical investments without being authorised to do so. According to the regulator, the list of the new websites recently identified in the atypical investments category includes www.flaconseil.com, www.fla-conseil.com, www.sasinef.com and www.sa-sinef.com.

In terms of unauthorized entities proposing atypical investments, there has been 25 websites in AMF's lists since January 1, 2021. Compared with 78 for the entire year 2020, indicating a significant decline in fraudulent offers in the miscellaneous asset area.

The AMF created the black list in 2017, which identified websites that were illegally offering diamonds for investment. Since the creation of the list, 361 unauthorised internet addresses has been added to it, in various categories such as livestock, wines or champagne, and more recently, luxury watches. The regulator stated that these websites may change very quickly and these lists, which are organized alphabetically or by theme, are not intended to be exhaustive.

The AMF warns that all entities offering investment in miscellaneous assets in France must be authorised or registered by it, and strongly advises the public to check the white list of offers recorded in miscellaneous assets on the AMF website and only deal with financial firms that has been authorized.