What are regulator warnings?

Regulator warnings are alerts or notices issued by regulatory authorities to inform the public about potential risks, frauds, or misconducts related to financial services or products. Regulator warnings may also target specific firms or individuals that are operating without authorisation, or that are impersonating authorized entities.

For example, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK publishes a warning list of unauthorized and clone firms that may be scamming consumers or investors. The FCA also issues press releases, statements, and speeches to raise awareness of emerging issues or trends in the financial sector, such as crypto assets, greenwashing, or financial inclusion.

Some other examples of regulator warnings are:

  • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US issues investor alerts and bulletins to educate investors about investment frauds, risks, and practices. The SEC also maintains a list of entities that falsely claim to be registered, licensed, or regulated by the SEC or other authorities.
  • The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issues warnings on high-risk investment products, such as contracts for differences (CFDs), binary options, or speculative foreign exchange products. ESMA also publishes opinions and advice on various topics related to securities markets and investor protection in the EU.
  • The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issues consumer alerts on unregulated persons who may have been wrongly perceived as being licensed or authorized by MAS. MAS also issues alerts on fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and phone calls that solicit personal or financial information from consumers.

Regulator warnings are important for protecting consumers, enhancing market integrity, and promoting competition in the interests of consumers. They also help to deter and prevent financial crime, misconduct, and harm. Regulator warnings may vary in format, content, and frequency depending on the jurisdiction, the type of regulation, and the nature of the risk.

Sources:

  1. https://www.fca.org.uk/
  2. https://www.fca.org.uk/news
  3. https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/blog/global-regulatory-brief-digital-finance-october-2023/
  4. https://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts
  5. https://www.esma.europa.eu/investor-corner/warnings-and-publications-investors 
  6. https://www.mas.gov.sg/regulation/consumer-alerts