Malta launches new ScamAlert portal as authorities step up fight against financial fraud

A new national online platform aimed at helping people in Malta recognise, avoid and respond to scams has been launched as authorities seek to amplify the country's response to increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud.

ScamAlert.mt brings together the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services (OAFS) and the Malta Police Force, providing a central point of reference for information on scams, warning signs and what victims should do.

The bilingual portal covers a range of scams and explains how they operate, while directing users towards the appropriate authority when they need to report an incident or seek assistance.

Unlike a reporting platform itself, ScamAlert.mt acts as a guide. Depending on the circumstances, users may be directed towards the Police for suspected criminal activity, the MFSA for concerns involving financial services, or the OAFS for complaints involving financial service providers.

Speaking at the launch on Monday (today), presenter and former journalist Keith Demicoli recalled a case from his time working in a newsroom which illustrated the impact scams can have on their victims.

He said an elderly woman had contacted the newsroom after losing €120,000 to a scammer who had impersonated a soldier. At the time, he recalled feeling that there were limited resources available to direct her towards.

The new platform, he said, provides people facing similar situations today with clearer resources and information.

Paul Zahra, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Finance, said the website is intended to serve as a point of reference for the public, with the aim of making the process of understanding and responding to scams simpler rather than adding further complexity.

Joyce Dimech, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Home Affairs and Security, meanwhile highlighted how convincing fraudulent messages can appear by recounting a recent experience of her own.

She said she had received a text message just days earlier which appeared legitimate and claimed she needed to file for a tax refund.

“Although I wish that I could get a tax return someday, I stopped and didn’t open anything – that’s what people need to do, stop and assess,” she said.

Deputy Police Commissioner Sandro Gatt focused on the psychological manipulation employed by scammers, an increasingly important element of fraud as perpetrators attempt to persuade victims to transfer money, provide information or take other actions themselves.

The human cost of such scams was also highlighted by Geoffrey Bezzina, Chairman of the Board of Management and Administration at the Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services.

He recounted the case of a 70-year-old man who approached the OAFS after losing €70,000 to a scam while his wife was terminally ill.

Mr Bezzina stressed the importance of ensuring that victims know where they can turn for assistance, including the services available through the Arbiter's office.

The MFSA CEO Kenneth Farrugia then described ScamAlert.mt as part of a unified national response to scams, applauding the collaboration between the different authorities and the work involved in developing the platform.

The website is designed around simplicity, practicality and accessibility, with information intended to be understandable to a broad audience ranging from students to elderly users.

It is available in both Maltese and English and provides explanations of different forms of fraud alongside practical guidance. Users who believe they have fallen victim to a scam are advised to stop communicating with the suspected scammer, immediately contact their bank or payment provider where relevant, secure their accounts and devices, preserve evidence and report the incident to the appropriate authority.

The platform also seeks to clarify the different roles played by the three participating authorities. While the MFSA raises awareness and issues warnings concerning potentially unauthorised or fraudulent financial services, the regulator itself does not investigate fraudsters, which falls within the remit of the Police.

The OAFS, meanwhile, provides an independent mechanism through which eligible consumers can pursue complaints involving financial services providers.