Fake emails purporting to be from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have been sent to thousands of potential market participants around the world, according to an FCA statement.

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The mass email scam appears to be from webmaster@fca.org.uk. The regulator also has alerted investors to another fake email entitled “FCA Regulation 2017” which appeared to be sent from press.office@fca.org.uk.

Typically, the fraudsters use special software to make the message appear genuine. Recipients are often invited to click on a link that appears to take them to the watchdog’s website. Instead, they go to a false website that tries to steal sensitive information of those targeted, which can be used later without their knowledge to commit fraud or so.

In a notification on its website, the FCA recommends that recipients should delete the scam emails without opening. FCA has provided details on how to identify spoof emails in a dedicated section on its website.