Reporting Unlicensed Investment Schemes to Regulators
Financial regulators investigate unlicensed investment schemes and publish warnings. Which regulator to contact in different countries, and what to include in your report.
Reporting an investment scam to the financial regulator does more than record your loss. It can lead to public warnings, investigations and action that stops others losing money.
Which regulator
| Country | Regulator |
|---|---|
| United States | SEC (securities), CFTC (forex and commodities), and state securities regulators. |
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority, via ScamSmart. |
| Australia | ASIC, alongside Scamwatch. |
| India | SEBI for securities; the Reserve Bank of India for deposit-taking and lending. |
| Ghana | Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana; Bank of Ghana for deposit-taking. |
| Nigeria | Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria. |
| Elsewhere | Your securities regulator or central bank. |
What to include
- The scheme's name, website, apps and social media.
- Names and contact details of people involved.
- How you were approached and what was promised.
- Payments made, with transaction IDs. See evidence to keep.
Report to the police too. See reporting financial fraud.
Related: checking an investment licence. For more, see what to do if money is taken.
Frequently asked questions
Why report to a regulator as well as the police?
Regulators can issue public warnings, investigate firms and coordinate with other authorities, which helps protect others.
Will the regulator get my money back?
Usually not directly, but their actions can support recovery efforts and prevent further losses.
What if the scheme is based abroad?
Report to your own regulator and, if you can identify it, the regulator where the scheme claims to be based.
Sources
- Ponzi Scheme, Investor.gov (US SEC)
- ScamSmart, UK Financial Conduct Authority
- Learn & Protect, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Search ASIC registers, Australian Securities and Investments Commission
