The National Bank of Moldova (NBM) advises citizens to inform themselves before making investments to avoid fraud schemes that are spreading worldwide in the field of information technologies, our country not being an exception.

The central bank states that scammers mainly use social media to spread fake ads and taking advantage of people's lack of caution lure them into so-called investment schemes with the promise of fabulous profits in a short time.

Fraudsters use the names of well-known companies or national and international institutions, using the brands and logos of central and commercial banks or images of state dignitaries, fictious web pages, also by resorting to the forgery of stamps or their documents. Once they manage to attain the financial means from the people involved in the scheme, the scammers disappear without a trace. At the same time, the schemes are changed from case to case, which makes it difficult to detect them and increases the number of victims.

In this context, the National Bank urges citizens to get information from official websites and to be cautious when promises of big and quick profits are made to them. Extreme caution is also advised against people who claim to have knowledge and offer exclusive investment opportunities or who demand payments for investment purposes, especially if the other party comes with the initiative to make investments.

The central bank also advises citizens not to discuss investment matters with suspicious persons who use aggressive sales techniques, not to send money to people with whom they have only interacted online. In particular, the NBM states that bank details, copies of identity documents or any other sensitive information should not be provided on web pages that promote obtaining large or quick profits and whose authenticity cannot be verified.

At the same time, the NBM repeatedly warns about the risks of investing in cryptocurrencies, which are not regulated in the Republic of Moldova. Therefore, user funds are not protected.