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Report the fraud to the Malta Police Force immediately at any police station or, in some cases, remotely. Provide all available evidence: contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and identity information for the counterparty. The police report is a prerequisite for prosecution and unlocks investigative tools including bank record production, platform disclosure, and cross-border cooperation.
If the fraud involves an investment firm, CASP, forex platform, bank, or other regulated financial services provider, file a complaint with the MFSA. Complaints must first be raised with the provider directly. The MFSA also accepts reports on unlicensed activity and breaches of financial law. Regulatory notification creates an enforcement record and may trigger supervisory investigation.
Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to block compromised accounts and cards and initiate recall, chargeback, or dispute procedures for fraudulent transactions.
Check the counterparty’s registration, status, and any insolvency records through the Malta Business Registry (MBR). For real estate intermediaries, verify licensing through the Real Estate Licensing Register. Insolvency or dissolution entries inform the enforcement strategy and determine whether asset preservation measures are necessary.
Save all communications, contracts, invoices, payment confirmations, website screenshots, email headers, and transaction records without alteration. Digital evidence is critical for both criminal investigation and civil proceedings and may become inaccessible if platforms delete accounts or the counterparty destroys records. Evidence preservation should begin immediately upon discovery of the fraud.
Criminal complaints filed with the Malta Police Force and prosecuted through the Attorney General initiate formal investigation under Maltese criminal law. Relevant offences include fraud, computer fraud, document fraud, identity fraud, money laundering, and fraudulent trading. Criminal proceedings provide access to investigative tools unavailable in civil litigation – bank record production orders, platform identity disclosure, telecommunications data, and international judicial cooperation through mutual legal assistance treaties and EU instruments.
Civil proceedings before the Civil Court are available for contractual claims, damages, restitution, unjust enrichment, and rescission of fraudulent transactions. Freezing measures and interim relief can be obtained to prevent dissipation of assets during proceedings. Bankruptcy proceedings may be filed before the Civil Court, First Hall. Civil litigation targets the fraudster and, where applicable, institutions that failed to prevent the fraud – including claims against banks and financial services providers for breach of their obligations.
The Office of the Arbiter for Financial Services (OAFS) provides independent dispute resolution for complaints against financial services providers where the provider’s internal complaint response is unsatisfactory. The OAFS accepts complaints and supporting documents in Maltese or English. This mechanism provides resolution for qualifying financial services disputes without the full cost and duration of court proceedings.
Complaints to the MFSA create enforcement records that contribute to supervisory action against the entity. Regulatory proceedings can result in licence suspension or revocation, fines, public warnings, and mandatory corrective measures. Regulatory findings may support civil claims by establishing that the entity breached its obligations under Maltese financial law.
Criminal complaints filed within hours of discovery give investigators the best chance of tracing funds before they are moved or layered through intermediary accounts. Bank recall mechanisms are most effective when initiated on the same day as the fraudulent transaction. Regulatory notifications filed promptly create contemporaneous records that strengthen both criminal and civil proceedings.
Named counterparties with identifiable assets in Malta – bank accounts, real property, registered companies, vehicles – are the most viable targets for civil recovery and enforcement. Where the fraudster operated anonymously or through shell structures, criminal investigation through the Malta Police Force is the primary identification tool through bank records, platform data, and telecommunications records.
Where a regulated institution – bank, investment firm, forex platform, or CASP supervised by the MFSA – failed to comply with its supervisory obligations, institutional liability claims provide an alternative recovery path against a solvent, regulated defendant. These claims do not depend on the fraudster’s identifiability or asset position and are particularly relevant where the fraudster has absconded or dissipated assets.
Contracts, payment records, communications, transaction references, and digital forensic evidence form the foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil recovery. Incomplete evidence – missing transaction references, deleted communications, unrecorded oral agreements – weakens both the criminal case and the civil enforcement position. Immediate, comprehensive evidence preservation at the point of discovery is the single most important step a victim can take to support recovery.
Fraud recovery in Malta operates through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, arbiter dispute resolution, and regulatory complaints – each channel serving a distinct function in identifying the fraudster, preserving assets, and achieving financial recovery. The MFSA regulates investment firms, banks, and crypto-asset entities under Malta’s MiCA framework. The Malta Police Force handles criminal investigation and prosecution across all fraud types. The OAFS provides independent dispute resolution for financial services complaints after the provider’s internal process. The MCCAA handles consumer complaints regarding goods and services. The Real Estate Licensing Board and Property Market Agency regulate property intermediaries.
Speed of reporting determines outcomes across all channels. Criminal complaints filed immediately preserve the investigative window for fund tracing and asset identification. Bank recall and chargeback mechanisms lose effectiveness with each day of delay. Evidence preserved at the point of discovery – contracts, communications, transaction records, digital forensic data – forms the foundation for every recovery action. The OAFS accepts complaints in Maltese or English, and MFSA materials are in English, making these channels accessible for international clients – though early engagement of local counsel is recommended for court proceedings.
If you suffered financial losses through fraud involving Maltese companies, institutions, or counterparties, contact Veritas Advisory Group to have your legal position assessed.
Veritas Advisory Group provides professional legal and advisory services to victims of investment and trade fraud in Europe. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
