CyberCriminal.com

Euro Capital FX

We are investigating Euro Capital FX for allegedly attempting to conceal critical reviews and adverse news from Google by improperly submitting copyright takedown notices. This includes potential violations such as impersonation, fraud, and perjury.

Euro Capital FX

PARTIES INVOLVED: Euro Capital FX

ALLEGATIONS: Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation

INCIDENT DATE: 19 Oct 2021

INVESTIGATED BY: Ethan Katz

TOOLS USED: Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails

CASE NO: 2824/A/2024

CRIME TYPE: Intellectual Property Scam

PUBLISHED ON: 21 Nov 2024

REPORTED BY: FakeDMCA.com

JURISDICTION: USA

A summary of what happened?

Euro Capital FX is an online trading platform that claims to offer services in forex, commodities, indices, and other financial instruments. However, multiple reviews and analyses have raised significant concerns regarding its legitimacy and operational practices.

Major Concerns and Complaints:

  1. Lack of Regulation:
    • Euro Capital FX lists addresses in Dubai and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Investigations reveal that it is not registered with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the regulatory authority for financial entities in Dubai. Additionally, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is known for not regulating forex trading, making it a haven for unlicensed brokers. This absence of proper regulatory oversight suggests that Euro Capital FX operates without valid authorization, posing significant risks to investors.
  2. Omission of Legal Documentation:
    • The platform reportedly lacks essential legal documents, such as terms and conditions or a client agreement. This omission means that there are no binding guidelines governing the relationship between the broker and its clients, allowing the company to act without accountability.
  3. Ambiguous Trading Conditions:
    • Information on trading conditions, including spreads and leverage, is either unclear or misleading. For instance, the platform mentions spreads ranging from 25 to 30, without specifying the unit of measurement, leading to confusion about actual trading costs.
  4. Questionable Payment Methods:
    • While the website displays logos of popular e-wallets, there is no concrete evidence that these payment methods are genuinely available. This discrepancy raises concerns about the transparency and reliability of the platform’s financial transactions.
  5. Potential Scam Indicators:
    • The combination of being unregulated, lacking legal documentation, and providing unclear trading conditions are common red flags associated with fraudulent brokers. Such platforms often entice users to deposit funds and then make it difficult or impossible to withdraw, leading to financial losses for unsuspecting investors.

Recommendations:

Given these concerns, it is strongly advised to avoid engaging with Euro Capital FX. Investors should prioritize brokers that are regulated by reputable authorities, such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). These regulators enforce strict standards to protect investors, including compensation schemes that can reimburse clients if a broker becomes insolvent.

In summary, the lack of regulation, absence of legal documentation, and other concerning practices make Euro Capital FX a high-risk platform for potential investors.

 

Euro Capital FX Fake DMCA

 

 

 

Analyzing the Fake Copyright Notice(s)

Our team collects and analyses fraudulent copyright takedown requests, legal complaints, and other efforts to remove critical information from the internet. Through our investigative reporting, we examine the prevalence and operation of an organized censorship industry, predominantly funded by criminal entities, oligarchs, and disreputable businesses or individuals. Our findings allow internet users to gain insight into these censorship schemes’ sources, methods, and underlying objectives.

 

 

 

What was Euro Capital FX trying to hide?

Euro Capital FX‘s attempts to hide unfavourable content through the misuse of copyright notices while allegedly engaging in perjury present serious legal concerns. These actions suggest a calculated attempt to manipulate legal systems to suppress free speech, a fundamental violation of copyright law principles and an abuse of legal processes. The use of such tactics not only undermines the integrity of copyright protection but also potentially constitutes perjury, further entangling Euro Capital FX in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Euro Capital FX may be trying to remove from the internet –

Investigative Report: The Alarming Case of Euro Capital FX

Introduction: Euro Capital FX portrays itself as a sophisticated online trading platform, offering financial instruments such as forex, commodities, indices, and shares. On the surface, the platform appears to provide an opportunity for global investors to engage in lucrative trading ventures. However, a closer examination reveals a troubling pattern of allegations, regulatory inconsistencies, and user complaints that cast a dark shadow over its operations. This investigative report delves deep into the adverse news, allegations, lawsuits, sanctions, complaints, and negative reviews surrounding Euro Capital FX, revealing a web of deceit and exploitation.


A False Facade of Legitimacy

Euro Capital FX claims to operate out of Dubai and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, two regions with starkly different reputations in the financial world. Dubai, as part of the United Arab Emirates, is governed by stringent financial regulations under the oversight of the Central Bank of the UAE. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, by contrast, is widely recognized as a hotspot for unregulated financial entities due to its lax regulatory requirements.

Dubious Regulatory Claims

Despite its purported base in Dubai, Euro Capital FX is not registered or regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE, a clear violation of the region’s financial laws. Similarly, while it lists Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as another operational base, the country explicitly does not regulate forex trading, offering a loophole for fraudulent brokers to operate unchecked. Such discrepancies raise significant concerns about the authenticity of the platform’s operations.

Regulation by Reputable Authorities?

Investigative research into Euro Capital FX’s claims of regulatory compliance found no evidence of the broker being authorized by respected financial regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Instead, the company leverages its association with loosely regulated jurisdictions to foster an illusion of legitimacy.


Operational Red Flags

A deeper analysis of Euro Capital FX’s operations exposes several troubling practices that point to unethical, if not outright fraudulent, behavior.

Opaque Trading Conditions

Transparency is a cornerstone of trustworthy financial operations, yet Euro Capital FX fails to provide clear and concise information regarding its trading conditions. For instance:

  • The platform advertises spreads ranging from 25 to 30 but fails to specify whether these figures refer to pips, points, or another measure.
  • Leverage is offered up to 1:500, a level far exceeding the limits imposed by reputable regulators to protect retail investors. Such high leverage magnifies potential losses, disproportionately impacting inexperienced traders.

Misleading Payment Options

The website prominently displays logos of trusted e-wallets and payment providers, suggesting that these methods are available for deposits and withdrawals. However, user testimonials and investigative reviews reveal that many of these payment methods are either non-functional or entirely absent. This tactic misleads potential investors into believing the platform offers secure and reliable financial transactions.


A Trail of Complaints

Euro Capital FX’s questionable practices have generated a litany of complaints from users worldwide. These grievances shed light on the extent of the platform’s misconduct.

Aggressive Marketing and High-Pressure Tactics

Multiple users have reported receiving relentless calls and emails from Euro Capital FX representatives, urging them to deposit more funds. This aggressive sales strategy is designed to exploit the trust of investors, particularly those with limited experience in financial trading.

False Promises of Guaranteed Returns

A recurring theme in user complaints is the broker’s promise of unrealistic returns with little to no risk. These claims are not only misleading but also violate basic principles of financial trading, where risk is inherent.

Withdrawal Blockades

The most alarming accusation against Euro Capital FX is its refusal to process withdrawal requests. Investors have reported being met with arbitrary delays, unreasonable conditions, or outright denials when attempting to withdraw their funds. This behavior is consistent with the modus operandi of fraudulent brokers who aim to retain investor funds indefinitely.


Key Indicators of a Scam

Euro Capital FX exhibits several hallmarks commonly associated with fraudulent brokers:

  1. Absence of Legal Documentation: The platform fails to provide critical legal documents, such as terms and conditions or client agreements. Without these, investors have no contractual protections or clear recourse in the event of disputes.
  2. Unrealistic Profit Projections: Promises of guaranteed profits are often used as bait to lure unsuspecting victims. Such claims disregard the inherent risks of trading and serve as a red flag for potential scams.
  3. Unregulated Operations: By exploiting the regulatory void in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Euro Capital FX operates without accountability, leaving investors vulnerable.
  4. Use of High Leverage: Offering leverage as high as 1:500 entices traders with the prospect of amplified returns while exposing them to catastrophic losses. This practice is heavily restricted in regulated markets to protect investors.

Potential Legal Repercussions

While no lawsuits or sanctions have been publicly disclosed as of this report, the growing number of complaints and the platform’s blatantly unethical practices suggest that regulatory bodies may take action in the near future. Several watchdog organizations and review sites have already flagged Euro Capital FX as a high-risk entity, advising potential investors to steer clear.


Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale

Euro Capital FX presents a classic case of a broker that operates on the fringes of legality, exploiting regulatory loopholes and misleading its clients. The lack of transparency, refusal to process withdrawals, and aggressive marketing tactics highlight its predatory nature.

For prospective investors, the lessons are clear:

  • Due Diligence is Crucial: Before investing, verify the regulatory status of any broker with recognized financial authorities.
  • Avoid Unregulated Platforms: Unregulated brokers often operate with impunity, putting investors at risk.
  • Heed the Warnings: The numerous negative reviews and complaints against Euro Capital FX serve as a stark warning to steer clear.

The financial trading world is rife with opportunities, but also with risks. Platforms like Euro Capital FX remind us that the promise of quick profits often comes at a devastating cost.

 

 

 

How do we counteract this malpractice?

Once we ascertain the involvement of Euro Capital FX (or actors working on behalf of Euro Capital FX), we will inform Euro Capital FX of our findings via Electronic Mail.

Our preliminary assessment suggests that Euro Capital FX may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Euro Capital FX, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Euro Capital FX to provide details regarding their communications with the agency or expert, as well as the identification of the individual(s) responsible for executing these false DMCA notices.

Failure to respond in a timely manner will necessitate a reassessment of our initial assumptions. In such an event, we will be compelled to take appropriate legal action to rectify the unlawful conduct and take the following steps –

 

 

Since Euro Capital FX made such efforts to hide something online, it seems fit to ensure that this article and sensitive information targeted online by these events get a lot more exposure and traffic than what it would have received originally

We hope this becomes an excellent case study for the Streisand effect…The key idea behind the Streisand effect is that efforts to restrict information can backfire, often causing the information to gain more attention than it would have otherwise. This effect is widespread in the digital age, where users quickly notice and spread censorship efforts on social media and other platforms. Trying to suppress something can unintentionally lead to it becoming more visible, which Euro Capital FX is finding out the hard way.

Potential Consequences for Euro Capital FX

Under Florida Statute 831.01, the crime of Forgery is committed when a person falsifies, alters, counterfeits, or forges a document that carries “legal efficacy” with the intent to injure or defraud another person or entity.

Forging a document is considered a white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also include passing along copies of documents that are known to be false. In many states in the US, falsifying a document is a crime punishable as a felony.

 

 

Additionally, under most laws, “fraud on the court” is where “a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of fact or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.”  Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998) (quoting Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989)).

Is Euro Capital FX Committing a Cyber Crime?

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Euro Capital FX have gone to extreme lengths to fraudulently claim copyright ownership over a negative review in the hopes of taking it down.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. Euro Capital FX is certainly keeping interesting company here….

CompanyNames Fake DMCA

The DMCA takedown process requires that copyright owners submit a takedown notice to an ISP identifying the allegedly infringing content and declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the content is infringing. The ISP must then promptly remove or disable access to the content. The alleged infringer can then submit a counter-notice, and if the copyright owner does not take legal action within 10 to 14 days, the ISP can restore the content.

Since these platforms are predominantly based in the U.S., the complaints are typically made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires online service providers and platforms to react immediately to reports or violations. Big Tech companies rarely have systems in place to assess the merit of each report. Instead, all bad actors need to do is clone a story, backdate it, and then demand the real thing be taken down.

 

Reputation Agency's Modus Operandi

The fake DMCA notices we found always use the “back-dated article” technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a “true original” article and back-dates it, creating a “fake original” article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original.

Then, based on the claim that this backdated article is the “original,” the scammers send a DMCA to the relevant online service providers (e.g. Google), alleging that the ‘true’ original is the copied or “infringing” article and that the copied article is the “original,” requesting the takedown of the ‘true’ original article. After sending the DMCA request, the person who sent the wrong notice takes down the fake original URL, likely to make sure that the article doesn’t stay online in any way. If the takedown notice is successful, the disappearance from the internet of information is most likely to be legitimate speech.

As an integral part of this scheme, the ‘reputation management’ company hired by Euro Capital FX creates a website that purports to be a ‘news’ site. This site is designed to look legitimate at a glance, but any degree of scrutiny reveals it as the charade it is.

The company copies the ‘negative’ content and posts it “on the fake ‘news’ site, attributing it to a separate author,” then gives it “a false publication date on the ‘news’ website that predated the original publication.

The reputation company then sent Google a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice claiming the original website infringed copyright. After a cursory examination of the fake news site, Google frequently accepts the notice and delists the content.

 

 

In committing numerous offences, Euro Capital FX either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Euro Capital FX, ignorance does not excuse this wrongdoing.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. FSMSmart is certainly keeping interesting company here.

 

The Reputation Laundering

Rogue Reputation agencies use spurious copyright claims and fake legal notices to remove and obscure articles linking clients to allegations of tax avoidance, corruption, and drug trafficking. Most of these reputation agencies are based offshore, mainly in Russia, India, and Eastern Europe, and they do not worry about complying with US-based laws.

The content in all of the articles for which the fraudulent DMCA notices have been sent relates to allegations of criminal allegations, including corruption, child abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking and financial fraud against businesses and individuals with ultra-high net worth.

 

 

In addition to the misuse of the DMCA takedown process, there is a notable absence of enforcement concerning perjury violations. The statutory requirement related to perjury is designed to deter copyright holders from submitting fraudulent or knowingly false takedown requests, as they may face legal consequences for making false declarations under penalty of perjury. However, to date, there have been no known instances of any individual being prosecuted for perjury in connection with the submission of false DMCA takedown notices.

This lack of enforcement has emboldened copyright holders to exploit the DMCA takedown process to suppress dissent, criticism, or other unfavorable content, without fear of legal repercussions.

Some of the people and businesses who have employed this tactic to remove legitimate content from Google illegally include a Spanish businessman-turned-cocaine-trafficker, Organised crime, an Israeli-Argentine banker accused of laundering money for Hugo Chávez’s regime, a French “responsible” mining company accused of tax evasion, child molesters and sexual predators. Euro Capital FX is in great company ….

What else is Euro Capital FX hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Euro Capital FX] + {Negative Keyword, such as Scam, Fraud, Complaints, Lawsuit, Sanction, etc} on Google. It’s likely if you scroll down to the bottom of this Google search results, you’ll stumble upon this Legal Takedown notice (pictured below)

 

 

To make such an investigation possible, we encourage more online service providers to come forward and share copies of content removal requests with industry experts and researchers. If you have any information on Euro Capital FX that you want to share with experts and journalists, kindly email the author directly at [email protected].

All communications are strictly confidential and safeguarded under a comprehensive Whistleblower Policy, ensuring full protection and anonymity for individuals who provide information.

Authorities we may contact and share this report with for further actions

GOOGLE LEGAL HEAD

Halimah DeLaine Prado

NEWS DESK

Washington Post & NY Times

The above decision-makers and authorities will be provided a comprehensive dossier of our findings, including anonymously submitted evidence and tips. We invite journalists to contact us to receive a copy of our complete investigation here

Credits and Acknowledgement

16/10/2024

Many thanks to FakeDMCA.com and Lumen for providing access to their database.

Photos and Illustrations provided by DALL-E 3 – “a representation of Euro Capital FX censoring the internet and committing cyber crimes.”

  • We’ve reached out to Euro Capital FX for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.

    • Our investigative report on Euro Capital FX‘s efforts to suppress online speech is significant, as it raises serious concerns about its integrity. The findings suggest that Euro Capital FX has engaged in questionable practices, including potential perjury, impersonation, and fraud, in a misguided attempt to manage or salvage its reputation.

    • We intend to file a counternotice to reinstate the removed article(s). While this particular instance is relatively straightforward, it is important to note that, in other cases, the overwhelming volume of automated DMCA takedown notices can significantly hinder the ability of affected parties to respond—especially for those not large media organizations.

    • You need an account with fakeDMCA.com and Lumen to access the research data. However, accounts are not widely available since these non-profit organisations manage large databases that could be susceptible to misuse. Nevertheless, they do offer access to non-profits and researchers.

    • It’s unclear why U.S. authorities have yet to act against these rogue reputation agencies, whose business model seems rooted in fraudulent practices.

  • We’ve reached out to Euro Capital FX for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.

About the Author

16/10/2024

The author is affiliated with Harvard University and serves as a researcher at both Lumen and FakeDMCA.com. In his personal capacity, he and his team have been actively investigating and reporting on organized crime related to fraudulent copyright takedown schemes. Additionally, his team provides advisory services to major law firms and is frequently consulted on matters pertaining to intellectual property law. He can be reached at [email protected] directly.

USER FEEDBACK ON Euro Capital FX

0/5

Based on 0 ratings

Trust
0%
Risk
0%
Brand
0%

Add Reviews

  • Trust
  • Risk
  • Brand

PROS

+
Add Field

CONS

+
Add Field
Choose Image
Choose Video

Leave feedback about this

  • Trust
  • Risk
  • Brand

PROS

+
Add Field

CONS

+
Add Field
Choose Image
Choose Video

WEBSITE AUDITS

Stop fraud before it happens with unbeatable speed, scale, depth, and breadth.

RECENT AUDITS

INVESTIGATIONS

Uncover hidden digital threats and secure your assets with our expert cyber investigation services.

RECENT CASES

THREAT ALERTS

Stay ahead of cyber threats with our daily list of the latest alerts and vulnerabilities.

THREAT ALERTS

LATEST NEWS

Your trusted source for breaking news and insights on cybercrime and digital security trends.

LATEST NEWS