IOSCO Launches New Investors Alerts Portal I-SCAN to Combat Investment Fraud

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has introduced its new investors alerts portal - the International Securities & Commodities Alerts Network (I-SCAN). I-SCAN serves as a global warning system, enabling any investor, online platform provider, bank, or institution to verify whether financial regulators worldwide have flagged a company for suspicious activities.

According to IOSCO, the surge in investment fraud shows no signs of slowing down. With billions of dollars being lost to scams and misleading statements every year, IOSCO emphasizes that due diligence is more important than ever when making investment decisions.

I-SCAN consolidates alerts from financial regulators worldwide, allowing investors and stakeholders to identify firms or potential investments flagged as unlicensed or fraudulent in their country to avoid falling victim to scams. Financial regulators will directly upload alerts to I-SCAN, making them accessible to investors worldwide.

Rodrigo Buenaventura, Secretary General of IOSCO, said: “Our new centralized hub, which will bring together alerts from over 150 regulators worldwide, is a critical enabler of IOSCO’s objective to enhance investor protection. I-SCAN will help our members in their enforcement activities and online service providers in addressing online harm for the protection of retail investors.”