The Malta Financial Services Authority (“MFSA” or “the Authority”) has become aware of an entity operating under the name of Rizzo Investment which has an internet presence at https://rizzoinvestment.com/ and at https://www.rizzoinvestmentltd.com/ however, the websites are currently offline. The websites are making use of the details of an MFSA licenced company Rizzo, Farrugia & Co (Stockbrokers) Ltd. (C 13102). Fraudsters are using the details of this genuine company in an effort to deceive the public.

The MFSA wishes to alert the public, in Malta and abroad, that Rizzo Investment is NOT a Maltese registered company NOR is it licensed or otherwise authorised to provide any investment services or any other financial services which are required to be licensed or otherwise authorised under Maltese law. Additionally, the Authority confirms that Rizzo Investment has NO association with the MFSA licensed company Rizzo, Farrugia & Co (Stockbrokers) Ltd. (C 13102).

The websites https://rizzoinvestment.com/ & https://www.rizzoinvestmentltd.com/ therefore appear to be a clone of the legitimate entity and the public should therefore refrain from undertaking any business or transactions with the false entity.

Furthermore, information available to the MFSA suggests that https://rizzoinvestment.com/ and https://www.rizzoinvestmentltd.com/ are likely to be a scheme of dubious nature with a high risk of loss of money. The public should therefore refrain from undertaking any business or transactions with the above-mentioned entity.

The MFSA would 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. A list of entities licensed by the MFSA can be viewed on the official website of the Authority at https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/.

For more information on clone companies please refer to the Scam Detection Guidelines issued by the MFSA. If you are a victim of a scam or think you might be dealing with an unauthorised entity or any other type of financial scam, first of all stop all transactions with the company and contact the MFSA as soon as a suspicion arises.