Regulators pull the plug on rogue ‘finfluencers’

This post was originally published on Finextra (Security)

As described by the UK’s FCA, finfluencers are “social media personalities who use their platform to promote financial products and share insights and advice with their followers.”

Editorial

This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community.

While many financial influencers, or finfluencers, are not breaking any laws, others are promoting financial products and services without authorisation through online videos and social media posts, where they leverage their falsified lavish lifestyle. 

Led by the FCA, the following regulators participated in the ‘global week of action against unlawful finfluencers’:

Australia, Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC); Canada, Alberta Securities Commission (ASC); Canada, Autorité des marchés financiers (QAMF); Canada, British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC); Canada, Ontario Securities Commission (OSC); Hong Kong, Securities and Futures Commission (SFC); Italy, The Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB); and United Arab Emirates, Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).

In the UK, the FCA has made three arrests, authorised criminal proceedings against three individuals, invited four finfluencers for interview, sent seven cease and desist letters, and issued 50 warning alerts. The regulator also revealed that the warning alerts will result in “over 650

Read the rest of this post, which was originally published on Finextra (Security).

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