BaFin warns of fake justTRADE WhatsApp groups

Germany’s financial regulator BaFin has issued a consumer warning about WhatsApp groups that allegedly present themselves as being operated by justTRADE and led by “Tobias Albrecht” and an assistant “Lieselotte Thalheim.” BaFin states it is not aware of these individuals' existence and assesses the situation as identity fraud. 

According to BaFin, these WhatsApp groups circulate recommendations to buy financial instruments and cryptocurrencies, claiming that trading can be conducted via the website h5.ecoinf(.)vip and via fake justTRADE apps. BaFin is explicit that these offers do not originate from justTRADE, JT Technologies GmbH, or Sutor Bank. 

BaFin also notes that in some groups (for example, “VIP justTRADE”), operators promote participation in a purported special investment programme and advertise a project described as “GreenTech Invest.” BaFin’s warning frames this as a consumer-protection issue linked to unauthorised business: the unknown operators are said to be providing financial, investment, and crypto-asset services in Germany without the required authorisation. 

The practical impact is clear: messaging app channels are being used to impersonate legitimate brands and direct consumers to high-risk, unverified pathways (including fake apps and websites). BaFin reiterates that anyone conducting banking business or providing financial, investment, or crypto-asset services in Germany generally requires BaFin authorisation, and points consumers to BaFin resources to check whether a firm is authorised and to recognise and respond to financial fraud. 

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BaFin - Warnings & latest news - justTRADE: BaFin warns against identity fraud in WhatsApp groups and …