BaFin warns unauthorised financial services offered on themayerbrown.com, not linked to Mayer Brown
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warned on 20 October 2026 that the operators of the website themayerbrown.com are offering financial services without the required permission and are not super…
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Source: bafin.de · published
What happened
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warned on 20 October 2026 that the operators of the website themayerbrown.com are offering financial services without the required permission and are not supervised by BaFin. BaFin says the offer has nothing to do with the law firm Mayer Brown LLP and describes the case as identity misuse; the real Mayer Brown is not involved. BaFin states its information is published under section 10(7) of the German Crypto Markets Supervision Act (Kryptomärkteaufsichtsgesetz).
What the warning means
Anyone offering financial or securities services in Germany needs permission from BaFin. BaFin says some companies offer such services without the required permission, and it publishes warnings like this one when it identifies them; whether a company is authorised can be checked in BaFin's company database. Here, BaFin says the operators of themayerbrown.com offer financial services without permission and are not supervised by it.
BaFin also says the offer has nothing to do with Mayer Brown LLP, an international law firm, and calls the case identity misuse. Scam sites often borrow the name of a real law firm, bank or investment house because it makes an unfamiliar offer look established. Using a real firm's name does not mean the firm is involved; the safe step is to reach that firm through contact details you find independently, not through the website or messages that made the offer. BaFin's warning is based on section 10(7) of the German Crypto Markets Supervision Act, which suggests the offer relates to crypto-asset services, although BaFin's notice does not describe the products offered.
BaFin, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the state criminal police offices warn generally about online financial fraud, and advise being extremely careful and researching thoroughly before investing money online. BaFin's 'Finanzbetrug erkennen' (recognising financial fraud) pages list its current warnings.
Source
BaFin, "Themayerbrown(.)com: BaFin warnt vor Website und weist auf Identitätsmissbrauch hin" (published 20 October 2026).
Red flags
- A financial or crypto offer using the name of a well-known law firm or bank.
- A website address that adds words like 'the' to a real firm's name.
- A provider you can't find in BaFin's company database.
- Unsolicited investment offers online.
If you were targeted
- 1Don't send money or personal details to themayerbrown.com.
- 2Check providers in BaFin's company database before investing.
- 3Contact Mayer Brown only through details you find independently if you've been approached in its name.
- 4If you have paid, contact your bank and report it to the police.
- 5Keep emails, messages and payment records.