Fraud alerts
Fake ESMA recovery letters: how to recognise them
EU authority logos and official-looking certificates can be used to disguise a scam.
By Block Claim Group Editorial Team · Published 4 October 2026
AI-generated conceptual artwork; not a real case, client, employee or investigation.
The short answer
ESMA warns that fraudsters use its name, logo and staff identities to promote investment and recovery scams. The approach may include counterfeit certificates, a copied website or a request for an administrative fee. A regulator's logo is not evidence that a private recovery service is approved or that funds have been recovered.
What to check and preserve
Read the substance of the request: does it ask you to pay, disclose personal financial information or follow an unexpected link? ESMA states that it will never approach you for personal details under the pretext of recovering lost funds or request an administrative fee. Do not use the sender's phone number to verify the letter.
Limits and important distinctions
Preserve the full email, attachment and sender details without opening suspicious executable files. Visit the authority's real website yourself and use its published reporting channel. Reporting an impersonation may help the authority issue warnings, but it is not itself a reimbursement procedure.
Checklist
- Do not pay an alleged ESMA recovery fee.
- Verify through esma.europa.eu independently.
- Keep the original message and attachment.
- Report locally if money or identity data was lost.
Official sources
This article is general educational information, not legal, financial or tax advice. Every situation differs, and no outcome, including recovery of funds, can be guaranteed. Consider speaking with a qualified professional and your local authorities.
AI-assisted educational content based on the linked official sources. It is not individual legal, financial or tax advice. Rules and provider procedures may change.
Written by the Block Claim Group Editorial Team under our editorial policy.
