The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) alerts the financial services community and members of the public to a scam where an Authorised Firm, HF Markets (DIFC) Limited, has had its website cloned. HF Markets (DIFC) Limited’s legitimate website is available at this link: https://www.hfmarkets.ae/ae/en/index.html
In an attempt to make the scam seem authentic, the scammers have set up a number of fake websites that copy the look of HF Markets (DIFC) Limited’s website where they purport to be authorised by the DFSA. The fake websites include a group structure of companies similar to the HF Markets group of companies, some of which the scammers purport to be authorised by other financial services regulators. The scammers are fraudulently using the following without permission:
· websites with a very similar look to HF Markets (DIFC) Limited’s website and/or the same or similar content; and
· the DFSA reference number of HF Markets (DIFC) Limited.
The contact telephone numbers that appear on the fake websites are numbers outside the UAE.
The DFSA informs you that the following companies included on the fake websites are neither registered in the DIFC, nor authorised by the DFSA:
· CT Markets (DIFC) Ltd;
· EliteFx Trader (DIFC) Ltd; and
· Fina First Capital (DIFC) Ltd.
The DFSA strongly advises you not to communicate with CT Markets (DIFC) Ltd, EliteFx Trader (DIFC) Ltd or Fina First Capital (DIFC) Ltd.
On 23 April 2020, the DFSA issued an alert to consumers warning about scams in which scammers falsely claim to be Authorised Firms, based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and regulated by the DFSA. The original alert can be viewed by going to: DFSA CAUTIONS AGAINST FAKE DIFC FIRMS
The DFSA has a page on its website dedicated to alerts which it has issued about scams. All alerts issued by the DFSA may be accessed by going to: ALERTS
The DFSA has also issued warnings and guidance about the common types of scams perpetrated on consumers. For more information on these scams, please go to: HOW TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED
The DFSA encourages consumers to refer to the list of regulated Firms and Authorised Individuals licensed by the DFSA that is available on the DFSA's: PUBLIC REGISTER
If you have any concerns about the authenticity of any correspondence or documents that purport to be issued by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), DFSA or a DFSA regulated Firm, you should direct your concerns to the DIFC on Tel:+971 4 362 2222 and to the DFSA via the DFSA Complaints function on: COMPLAINTS
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