Misleading advertising materials have circulated online and on social media, imitating the visual identity of media institutions and unlawfully using the names and images of public figures, including former President Mircea Snegur, President Maia Sandu, and Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.
The materials promoted alleged investment opportunities through fraudulent platforms such as Harmony Bitspire and Nexura AI.
The National Commission for Financial Markets of Moldova (CNPF) stated that the information is false and represents online fraud attempts.
“These schemes use the images of well known public figures, combined with deceptive marketing techniques and psychological pressure, to create a false appearance of credibility and gain public trust. The goal is to persuade individuals to transfer money or disclose personal and financial data. Key signs of potential investment fraud include incomplete or hard to verify information about the platform, promises of guaranteed profits or unrealistic returns, and the lack of authorization or supervision by a competent authority,” the CNPF said.
Fraudsters commonly use several manipulation tactics:
- Building trust: They present false elements as facts, such as a supposed will or innovative financial support programs, and refer to fake government initiatives.
- Creating urgency and psychological pressure: They promise quick profits, advertise limited time offers, and pressure victims to transfer money immediately to avoid missing out.
- Invoking AI based technological innovation: They claim that new financial IT breakthroughs make the promised profits possible.
- Attracting victims: They use fabricated images, videos, documents, and cloned versions of official websites.
Authorities urge citizens to verify the authenticity of any platform or entity that contacts them. People should never provide banking details, personal information, or confirmation codes to unknown individuals or on suspicious websites, and should avoid transferring money to investment platforms without thorough verification.
Citizens who encounter such platforms should immediately notify the CNPF or the Police. Victims of fraud should contact the authorities. To prevent the spread of these schemes, people should inform their family and friends.
For additional information or to report suspicious activities, citizens can contact the CNPF at +373 22 85 95 95 or by email at office@cnpf.md.