One out of every three financial scams detected in the digital environment are already identity thefts. The most common pattern affects individuals, who account for 45.5% of cases, ahead of private entities such as banks, with 27.3%, and public bodies, with 15.2%.
The paradox described by the new study from the Col·legi d'Economistes de Catalunya is that economic disinformation not only circulates more, but also influences the decisions of citizens and companies while gaining an appearance of legitimacy. The report, prepared with the Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences of the University of Girona, maintains that this false content is growing in sophistication and already conditions financial decision-making.
The College of Economists creates an observatory with a direct channel to the CNMV and the Mossos
To respond to that increase, the CEC has launched the Observatory of Economics and Business Fakes. The new body will have a reporting channel with dialogue with the National Securities Market Commission and will also open a direct channel with the Mossos d'Esquadra to transfer the cases it receives.
De Travy has explained that the observatory will activate economic education and content verification measures. The college also plans to promote digital verification tools, including solutions based on artificial intelligence, and to strengthen agile channels for reporting and institutional collaboration.
The report adds that scams linked to this false content can cause economic losses, confusion, and reputational risks. This impact is not limited to consumers, but also extends to companies that make decisions with manipulated information.
Frauds use taxes, inheritances, and false investments to attract victims
Among the false content analyzed, 23% corresponds to unauthorized or unsupervised investment services. Another 13% is related to misleading taxation, especially on inheritances, which concentrate 75% of that block, and donations, with 25%.
Furthermore, the CNMV has detected a high presence of financial parasols. Among the examples is the crypto-asset trading platform HTX, whose activity led the Austrian stock exchange to send a letter to the CNMV.
In the tax sphere, disinformers draw attention with messages that paying taxes is foolish. Then, they impersonate the Tax Agency and use its corporate image to give credibility to the deception.
Cases of phishing and financial crime have also been identified. Faced with this scenario, the college recommends exercising extreme caution on the internet, reviewing the CNMV's list of unauthorized companies, and cross-referencing information on websites such as TrustPilot or Rankia, in addition to relying on artificial intelligence tools and verification systems.
Víctor Bottini, president of the Marketing and Communication Commission of the CEC, has requested that the disinformation detected through the CNMV's complaint form be forwarded to the Mossos d'Esquadra and also on social networks.