Italy’s financial regulatory body has taken decisive action against a series of unauthorized investment websites by mandating their blockade. In a recent move, the organization identified and ordered the suspension of access to four illegal financial intermediary platforms, along with one site that was promoting a fraudulent brokerage.
The decision to implement these website blockades stems from regulations outlined in the “Growth Decree,” which was converted into law in June 2019, as well as powers legislated under the “Capital Act” enacted in March 2024. These laws grant the authority the ability to incapacitate platforms that operate unlawfully and those that endorse do-not-use platforms.
The websites that faced closure include:
1. Guru4Invest (with links to www.guru4invest.com and https://platform.pltf-tchg.io)
2. Sectorcapitals.com (with URLs https://www.sectorcapitals.com and https://clientarea.w1e2b3tr4d3r.com)
3. Aifactor Group (available at https://vipaifactorvip.com)
4. Apollo Trade FX linked to Affidabiletop.com (which includes urls https://apolloinvestfx.com, https://cfd.apolloinvestfx.com, and advertising site https://affidabiletop.com)
Since gaining authority in July 2019 to block fraudulent financial websites, the total number of sites taken down has reached 1,252.
The actual implementation of these blocks will be carried out by internet service providers, and may take a few days due to technical requirements.
Investors are strongly urged to approach investment opportunities with extreme caution. The regulatory body emphasizes the importance of making well-informed decisions and adopting sensible practices to protect personal finances. This includes verifying the legitimacy of financial service providers before engaging, along with ensuring that any financial product offerings come with a published prospectus.
To assist in this initiative, there is a dedicated section on the official regulatory website titled “Watch for Scams!” This segment provides vital information to help investors recognize unauthorized financial initiatives and enhance their awareness of potential risks.
Overall, this proactive measure reflects the ongoing commitment to safeguarding investors and maintaining a safe financial environment, by combatting fraudulent online activity and ensuring that only properly regulated platforms operate within the market.