France's financial markets authority, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), has issued a stark warning to retail investors regarding the proliferation of fraudulent investment schemes on social media platforms.
The regulator emphasized that relying on unverified advice from online influencers exposes individuals to significant financial risks, including scams and manipulated stock promotions.
The alert arrives as the demographic profile of equity investors continues to shift.
According to data cited by the AMF, the average age of individual investors in equities has fallen from 51 in the third quarter of 2024 to 48 in the same period last year.
This influx of younger, often less experienced participants has coincided with a surge in trading activity, reaching levels not seen since 2020.
The regulator's caution aligns with a broader trend of institutional skepticism toward current market dynamics.