The news in brief
FSCA warns that individuals are using a fake website to impersonate First World Trader, trading as EasyEquities, and solicit investments.
The FSCA has warned about a fake website impersonating First World Trader, which trades as EasyEquities. The genuine, authorised business confirmed that it has no connection with the website or its administrators (FSCA, 14 October 2026). The warning is about the impersonators; it is not a finding of misconduct against EasyEquities.
The regulator says the site was used to solicit investments and that it could not reach the impersonators through the contact details available to it. The warning therefore has clear limits: it does not establish who the operators are, nor a final criminal outcome, nor a refund scheme (FSCA warning).
The FSCA lists several warning signs: pressure to pay urgently, exaggerated returns, and requests for more money before investments can be returned. Do not rely only on a logo, a provider number or a link supplied by the person making the offer. Check the business through the official provider search, then confirm independently that the particular website and contact belong to it.
If money has already left a bank account, contact the bank promptly through a channel you have verified, and keep the website address, messages and payment records. The separate NFO banking complaints route covers eligible disputes with participating banks once their internal complaint process has run its course; it does not guarantee that a loss from impersonation will be reimbursed.
Going further
This news item is part of a broader topic, which our page South Africa: personal data, romance scams and identity theft covers in detail.
Read the page: South Africa: personal data, romance scams and identity theft