MFSA Warning - UMarkets – Unlicensed Exchange
APRIL 21, 2020

The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA”) has become aware of an entity operating under the name of UMarkets which has an internet presence at https://www.umarkets.com/. The entity purports to be an online trading broker owned by Market Solutions Limited, which offers Forex, commodities, CFDs and indices.

Umarkets also claims to have “substantial relationships in Europe and Asia with major banks, such as HSBC”.

The MFSA wishes to alert the public, in Malta and abroad, that UMarkets is NOT a Maltese registered Company NOR licensed or otherwise authorised by the MFSA to provide the service of an exchange or other financial services which are required to be licensed or otherwise authorised under Maltese law. The public should therefore refrain from undertaking any business or transactions with the above-mentioned entity.

The MFSA also makes reference to warnings that have been issued by a number of foreign Regulatory Authorities against UMarkets and Market Solutions Ltd, including Belgium, Spain and Australia. The MFSA would therefore like to remind consumers of financial services not to enter into any financial services transaction unless they have ascertained that the entity with whom the transaction is being made is authorised to provide such services by the MFSA or another reputable financial services regulator.

Investors are advised to be extra cautious when being approached with offers of financial services via unconventional channels such as telephone calls or social media.

A list of entities licensed by the MFSA can be viewed on the official website of the MFSA at http://www.mfsa.com.mt/pages/licenceholders.aspx.

Verżjoni bil-Malti

L-Awtorità għas-Servizzi Finanzjarji ta’ Malta (“MFSA”) ġiet infurmata b’entità li qed topera bl-isem ta’ UMarkets u li għandha preżenza fuq l-internet fis-sit https://www.umarkets.com/. L-entità ssostni li hija broker kummerċjali online, proprjetà ta’ Market Solutions Limited, li toffri Forex, komoditajiet, CFDs u indiċijiet.

Umarkets tiddikjara wkoll li għandha “substantial relationships in Europe and Asia with major banks, such as HSBC”.

L-MFSA tixtieq tinforma lill-pubbliku f’Malta u barra mill-pajjiż, li UMarkets MHIX kumpanija rreġistrata hawn Malta u LANQAS M’HI liċenzjata jew awtorizzata mill-MFSA biex tipprovdi servizz ta’ skambju jew servizzi finanzjarji oħra li huma meħtieġa li jkunu liċenzjati jew bi kwalunkwe mod ieħor awtorizzati taħt il-liġi Maltija. Għalhekk il-pubbliku m’għandux jidħol f’negozju jew jagħmel tranżazzjonijiet ma’ din l-entità.

L-MFSA tagħmel referenza wkoll għal avviżi li nħarġu minn numru ta’ Awtoritajiet Regolatorji barranin kontra UMarkets u Market Solutions Ltd, inkluż fil-Belġju, Spanja u l-Awstralja. L-MFSA għalhekk tixtieq tfakkar lill-konsumaturi ta’ servizzi finanzjarji biex ma jidħlu f’ebda transazzjoni ta’ servizzi finanzjarji qabel ma jkunu ċerti li l-entità li magħha qed issir it-transazzjoni hija awtorizzata li tipprovdi dawk is-servizzi mill-MFSA jew minn xi regolatur ieħor tas-servizzi finanzjarji ta’ reputazzjoni tajba.

Investituri għandhom ukoll jaġixxu b’kawtela massima meta jsirulhom offerti ta’ servizzi finanzjarji b’metodi mhux konvenzjonali bħal telefonati jew permezz tal-midja soċjali.

Lista ta’ entitajiet liċenzjati mill-MFSA hija disponibbli fuq is-sit uffiċjali tal-MFSA fuq http://www.mfsa.com.mt/pages/licenceholders.aspx.