Gennaro Lanza

Full Report

Key Points

• Subject: Gennaro Lanza, an Italian entrepreneur accused of operating unregulated forex and brokerage schemes through offshore entities.

• Alleged Scams: Runs multiple forex companies (e.g., DBInvesting, NewFX, DBFX) that allegedly violate EU regulations, including ESMA and FCA rules, and lack proper authorization.

• Regulatory Warnings: Companies linked to Lanza, such as DBFX Trades, have received warnings from regulators like Spain’s CNMV for fraudulent practices.

• Defamation Claims: Lanza claims to be a victim of online defamation and extortion by platforms like Gripeo and Fintelegram, alleging they publish false articles and demand payment to remove them.

• Business Ventures: Operates DBX Consultants, a Dubai-based firm offering banking and company incorporation services, with a new branch in Cyprus, and Karma Group, a real estate company.

• No Legal Convictions: No lawsuits, convictions, or bankruptcy records are explicitly documented, but regulatory actions against his companies raise concerns.

Overview

Gennaro Lanza is an Italian entrepreneur based in Dubai, known for his involvement in financial services, particularly forex trading and banking consultancy. He is the CEO of DBX Consultants, a Dubai-based firm providing company incorporation, banking support, and PSP merchant account services, with a recent expansion to Cyprus. Lanza also operates Invest Group Global Ltd, a Seychelles-based entity, and Karma Group, a real estate company in Cyprus. His forex ventures include brands like DBInvesting, NewFX, and DBFX, which are accused of operating without regulatory approval in the EU. Lanza presents himself as a seasoned financial consultant, but allegations of running boiler room scams and unregulated brokers have tarnished his reputation. He claims to be a victim of online defamation and extortion, alleging that platforms like Gripeo and Fintelegram publish false accusations to extort money.

Allegations and Concerns

• Unregulated Forex Operations: Lanza’s companies (e.g., DBInvesting, NewFX, DBFX) are accused of offering financial services without authorization in the EU, violating ESMA and FCA regulations. They allegedly allow deposits without identity verification and offer high leverage (1:200), far exceeding EU limits of 1:30.

• Regulatory Warnings: DBFX Trades, linked to Lanza, received a warning from Spain’s CNMV for being a scam. Other brands, like OnspotBNK, have been blocked by Italy’s Consob for unauthorized operations.

• False Advertising: DBInvesting is accused of falsely claiming to offer MetaTrader 4 to attract clients, a deceptive practice to boost sign-ups.

• Boiler Room Operations: Lanza is described as a “boiler room veteran,” operating high-pressure sales schemes through offshore entities like Capital Solutions Ltd in Malta.

• Defamation Counterclaims: Lanza alleges that Gripeo and Fintelegram publish “80% fake and manipulated” articles, demanding payments to remove them. He claims they targeted the wrong Gennaro Lanza on social media and sent threatening emails.

• Offshore Obfuscation: His companies, often registered in Seychelles or other weakly regulated jurisdictions, are criticized for using European addresses or phone numbers to appear legitimate, raising concerns about transparency.

Customer Feedback

• Negative Feedback: No direct consumer reviews are quoted in the source, but Warsaw Point and Fintelegram report widespread concerns about Lanza’s forex companies. Victims are implied through regulatory warnings and scam allegations, suggesting clients may have lost funds due to high minimum deposits ($200 vs. industry standard $10) and fraudulent practices.

• No Positive Reviews: The sources do not provide positive customer feedback. Promotional content from Yahoo Finance and PRLog portrays Lanza’s DBX Consultants as innovative, but these lack specific client testimonials and appear self-promotional.

• Example Concern: The Warsaw Point article notes that Lanza’s websites block EU customers or display popups disclaiming ESMA compliance, potentially misleading users about regulatory protections.

• Defamation Context: Lanza claims Gripeo’s negative articles are fabricated, but no independent customer reviews corroborate his services’ legitimacy or quality.

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risk: Engaging with Lanza’s forex companies poses a high risk of financial loss due to their unregulated status, high leverage, and high minimum deposits, which are designed to maximize client losses.

• Reputational Risk: Lanza’s association with alleged scams and regulatory warnings could damage the reputation of anyone doing business with him or his companies, especially in regulated markets like the EU.

• Legal Risk: Operating without proper licenses exposes Lanza’s companies to regulatory actions, and clients may face difficulties recovering funds. Lanza’s use of offshore entities complicates legal recourse.

• Defamation Uncertainty: Lanza’s claims of being extorted by Gripeo and Fintelegram introduce uncertainty, as it’s unclear whether allegations are entirely accurate or part of a smear campaign. This complicates trust assessments.

• Operational Risk: Frequent changes in company names and domains (e.g., OnSpotBKN, DubaiFXM) suggest instability and potential efforts to evade scrutiny.

Business Relations and Associations

• Key Companies: Lanza controls Invest Group Global Ltd (Seychelles), DBX Consultants (Dubai and Cyprus), Karma Group (Cyprus real estate), and previously Capital Solutions Ltd (Malta).

• Former Associates: Italo Mainofli and Massimiliano Moroni were directors of Capital Solutions Ltd until 2020, when they sold their shares to Invest Group Global Ltd. No current ties are confirmed.

• Legal Representation: Lanza is associated with Artemis Antoniou, a Cyprus law firm that made DMCA claims against Fintelegram. The firm’s website is now inaccessible, raising questions about its legitimacy.

• Banking Networks: DBX Consultants claims partnerships with banks in Lithuania and the UK, but no specific institutions are named, and these claims lack verification.

• No Other Notable Ties: No additional partners or high-profile associates are documented in the sources.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Regulatory Actions: DBFX Trades received a CNMV warning, and OnspotBNK was blocked by Consob for unauthorized operations. No direct lawsuits against Lanza personally are noted, but his companies face regulatory scrutiny.

• No Bankruptcy or Debt Records: No evidence of bankruptcy, liens, or unpaid debts is mentioned in the sources.

• DMCA Disputes: Lanza’s firm made fake DMCA claims against Fintelegram, and he allegedly used a fake Fintelegram account on X to counter allegations, indicating potential legal overreach.

• Offshore Operations: The use of Seychelles and other offshore jurisdictions for Invest Group Global Ltd suggests potential tax evasion or regulatory avoidance, though no specific charges are documented.

• Defamation Lawsuits: Lanza’s claims of defamation by Gripeo and Fintelegram have not resulted in documented lawsuits, but he alleges extortion attempts via email and Google Drive threats.

Risk Assessment Table

Notes: “High” financial and reputational risks stem from regulatory warnings and scam allegations. “Medium-High” legal risk reflects potential for future actions, though no convictions are noted. “High” trustworthiness risk is due to conflicting narratives and lack of transparency.

Gennaro Lanza presents himself as a successful entrepreneur in banking consultancy and real estate, but serious allegations of operating unregulated forex scams cast significant doubt on his legitimacy. His companies, such as DBInvesting and DBFX, are accused of violating EU regulations, using deceptive practices, and operating from weakly regulated jurisdictions like Seychelles. Regulatory warnings from CNMV and Consob reinforce these concerns, suggesting potential harm to clients. Conversely, Lanza’s claims of being a victim of defamation and extortion by Gripeo and Fintelegram introduce a counter-narrative, but the lack of independent evidence supporting his innocence undermines his credibility. The frequent rebranding of his companies and use of offshore entities suggest an intent to evade scrutiny, a common tactic in boiler room scams. However, without documented convictions or lawsuits, the allegations remain unproven in a legal sense, creating a complex risk profile.