"Celebrity Endorsements" with "AI Crypto Trading"? France's AMF Warns of New Fraud

As Artificial Intelligence becomes the ultimate buzzword in financial markets, fraud syndicates have wasted no time in upgrading their technical arsenal. France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) recently issued an urgent warning, revealing that a platform named "Immediate Connect" is using fake celebrity interviews and AI-automated trading as bait to harvest retail investors globally. This "high-tech" deception not only plagues Europe but also mirrors the fraudulent app scams in Singapore recently reported by BrokersView. It signals a new stage of retail trading fraud characterized by sophisticated "asymmetric deception."

Vanishing Celebrities and Fabricated "AI Miracles"

In the cases exposed by the AMF, scammers demonstrated advanced psychological manipulation. They begin by flooding social media and counterfeit news websites with fake interviews involving prominent politicians or business leaders. Within this meticulously scripted content, these celebrities "accidentally" reveal their secret to financial freedom: an AI-powered automated trading software called Immediate Connect.

The software is touted as capable of utilizing high-frequency algorithms and AI deep learning to achieve a "100% win rate" in cryptocurrency and forex markets. However, once investors are lured by this technological halo and deposit funds, they find no automated profits awaiting them. The AMF explicitly stated that such platforms hold no financial service licenses, and the purported automated trading programs are often nothing more than a digital illusion—funds are siphoned off the moment they are deposited.

The Commonalities of Cross-Border Scams

This tactic of weaponizing cutting-edge concepts was also evident in the S$1.7 million loss case in Singapore previously reported by BrokersView. In early December, Singapore police warned that scammers used similar social media advertisements to induce victims into downloading apps like FPTUP and FPTEX, which appeared to be professional trading applications.

The core logic of both scams is strikingly consistent: using a sense of trust to neutralize suspicion. The Singapore cases exploited gaps in the review processes of official app stores, leading users to believe that "if it's in the store, it's legitimate." Meanwhile, the Immediate Connect case leverages the public's blind faith in AI technology and the social credibility of celebrities. Whether it is a fictional AI algorithm or a "shell app" disguised in an official store, the essence remains the same—creating a visual feast of profit curves on a victim's screen to mask a "deposits only" financial black hole.

Year-End 2025 Warning: Recognizing Sophisticated Deception

As these tactics evolve, traditional methods of regulatory verification face new challenges. These fraudulent platforms are often registered in offshore jurisdictions beyond the reach of major regulators and frequently change their domain names to evade detection.

The AMF emphasizes that legitimate AI trading tools are never promoted through illicit news advertisements or unverified social links. Any automated trading service promising "guaranteed high returns" without a verifiable regulatory license is, in essence, a Ponzi scheme. BrokersView reiterates that the apps identified in the Singapore alert—such as FPCAP and SDXA—have already caused at least 20 cases of severe financial loss, leaving shattered families behind the data.

As we reach the end of the year, market complexity has reached unprecedented levels. Whether you are enticed by the high win rate of an "AI bot" or see a "guru" sharing wealth secrets in a WhatsApp group, you must remain rational:

• Refuse to click on unofficial promotional links: Compliant brokers do not seek clients through hijacked news pages.

• Beware of "too advanced" technology: If a trading tool is described as being as magical as a "money printing machine," you are likely the only fuel keeping it running.

BrokersView Reminds You

If you encounter any suspicious AI trading platforms or investment invitations requiring the download of unknown apps, please preserve all evidence and submit a complaint to BrokersView.