France’s financial markets regulator, the Autorité des Marchés
Financiers (AMF), issued a public warning about a growing number of fraudulent
schemes operating through cloned news websites. Scammers are increasingly
copying the visual identities and branding of major media outlets, such as Le
Monde, Le Figaro, France Info and TF1, to publish fabricated
articles promoting illegitimate get-rich-quick opportunities, including an
unauthorised entity operating under the name BitKeltTrade. These articles use deepfake content and fabricated quotes attributed to
high-profile political figures, business executives and sports celebrities,
claiming that they discovered automated, AI-driven trading platforms during
live interviews.Beyond
France: A Worldwide Scam NetworkThis
model is far from unique to France and represents a growing global problem. In
Australia, law enforcement agencies and investigative journalists recently
exposed an extensive fraud network that used similar fake-news campaigns to
target more than 4,000 Australian victims. According to findings reported by
the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and local media,
the network directed potential victims through fabricated media websites and
promises of AI-assisted trading, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars
in losses. The operation reportedly involved a network of international call
centres spanning several countries, including Israel, Bulgaria, Ukraine,
Cyprus, South Africa and the Philippines.AMF: Scale of Impersonation ScamsAn analysis of AMF enforcement data between 2010 and 2026 shows that
identity usurpation and brand impersonation have become dominant tactics among
fraudsters targeting retail investors. Of all impersonation-related warnings
issued by the French regulator during this period, corporate and brand
impersonation accounted for 85.1%, or 1,317 warnings. Fraudsters also targeted
the regulator itself, with direct AMF impersonation representing 10.9%, or 168
warnings. Smaller categories included impersonation involving tangible assets
or gold platforms at 1.6% (24 warnings), foreign exchange brokers at 0.6% (9
warnings), and miscellaneous categories accounting for the remaining 1.9% (30
warnings). The figures demonstrate the value fraudsters place on established brands:
borrowing the credibility of recognised media organisations, financial
companies or public authorities can make fraudulent offers appear significantly
more trustworthy.Monthly
data for 2025 and 2026 further illustrate the persistence and volatility of
these campaigns. You can find full analysis with data at Finance Magnates Intelligence portal.
This article was written by Sylwester Majewski at www.financemagnates.com.
