BaFin warns of alleged fixed-deposit offers on novafestfinanz.com run without authorisation
On 23 October 2026 Germany's financial regulator BaFin warned about alleged fixed-deposit (Festgeld) offers on the website novafestfinanz.com. BaFin says it suspects the unknown operators are providing financial and/o…
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Source: bafin.de · published
What happened
On 23 October 2026 Germany's financial regulator BaFin warned about alleged fixed-deposit (Festgeld) offers on the website novafestfinanz.com. BaFin says it suspects the unknown operators are providing financial and/or securities services without the required authorisation, and that the operators of the website are not supervised by BaFin. BaFin reminds consumers that anyone offering banking, financial, securities, crypto-asset or payment services in Germany needs its authorisation, and warns against dubious fixed-deposit offers.
What the warning means
In Germany, anyone offering banking business or financial services commercially needs authorisation, and BaFin publishes warnings when it finds offers without it. A BaFin warning is a statement of the regulator's findings that the offer is being made without the required licence; it is not a court judgment. Fraudulent trading and investment websites often reach people through online ads, social media and unsolicited calls, show professional-looking dashboards with rising balances, and pressure customers to add more money. Withdrawals are then delayed or blocked, often with demands for fees, taxes or 'release' payments, and the operators may disappear or move to a new domain.
BaFin and German police advise consumers to be extremely careful when investing money online and to research thoroughly to recognise fraud attempts early. Before investing, check BaFin's company database to see whether a provider is authorised, and be wary of claimed links to real companies, which fraudsters copy to gain trust. Anyone who has transferred money should contact their bank immediately and file a report with the police. Fixed-deposit (Festgeld) offers are a popular cover because they sound safe and simple: a fixed interest rate for a set term, often a little higher than at real banks. Fake deposit sites may claim deposit protection or name a real bank as a partner, and the money is then sent to accounts the operators control. BaFin's notice is based on §37(4) of the German Banking Act (KWG).
Source
BaFin, "Novafestfinanz(.)com: Bafin ermittelt gegen die Betreiber der Website und warnt vor angeblichen Festgeldangeboten" (23 October 2026).
Red flags
- An investment or banking offer from a website that isn't in BaFin's company database.
- Claims of a connection to a real, authorised company that can't be confirmed through that company directly.
- Fixed-deposit rates noticeably higher than those offered by established banks.
- Claims of deposit protection that can't be verified with the bank or deposit guarantee scheme named.
- Fees or taxes demanded before a withdrawal.
If you were targeted
- 1Don't open a deposit or transfer money through novafestfinanz.com.
- 2Check whether a provider is authorised in BaFin's company database before investing.
- 3Contact any genuine company through details you find yourself, not those on the website.
- 4If you have transferred money, contact your bank immediately and report the matter to the police.
- 5Be wary of 'recovery' offers that ask for fees to return lost money.