BaFin Warns Against Prometheus Investment Alliance WhatsApp Offers
Summary
BaFin has issued a warning against Prometheus Investment Alliance (PIA) for allegedly offering unauthorized financial and cryptoasset services in Germany via WhatsApp groups and a website. Consumers are being tricked into trading via a specific app using a trading system, and BaFin suspects the operators lack the required authorization.
What changed
The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has issued a warning concerning Prometheus Investment Alliance (PIA), which is allegedly operating without authorization in Germany. PIA is reportedly targeting consumers through WhatsApp groups and the website prometheus-alliance(.)de, promoting trading in financial products via the QVTcoinese-Pro app using a 'Genialer Intelligenter Roboter 5.0' trading system. BaFin suspects that the operators, including individuals named Achim Falkenberg and Bertha, are providing banking and cryptoasset services without the necessary authorization, which is a violation of the German Banking Act (KWG) and the German Cryptomarkets Supervision Act (KMAG).
This warning serves to alert consumers to potential financial fraud and to inform them that any entity providing financial, investment, or cryptoasset services in Germany must obtain authorization from BaFin. Consumers are advised to check BaFin's company database for authorized firms and to be aware of common financial scams. While no specific penalties are detailed in this notice, operating without authorization can lead to significant enforcement actions by BaFin.
What to do next
- Review BaFin's company database to verify authorization status of any financial service provider.
- Educate consumers about recognizing financial fraud and unauthorized offers, particularly those originating from social media or messaging apps.
- Report any suspected unauthorized financial services activity to BaFin.
Source document (simplified)
Erscheinung: 12.03.2026 | Topic Unauthorised business, Consumer protection Prometheus Investment Alliance: BaFin warns against offers in WhatsApp groups
The German Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against offers made by Prometheus Investment Alliance (PIA), which claims to be based in the United States of America and Frankfurt am Main, on the website prometheus-alliance(.)de and in various WhatsApp groups. In the WhatsApp groups run by the alleged Achim Falkenberg and his assistant Bertha, consumers are tricked into trading financial products via the QVTcoinese-Pro app using the ‘Genialer Intelligenter Roboter 5.0’ trading system.
It is suspected that the unknown operators are offering banking and financial services without the required authorisation.
Anyone providing financial, investment or cryptoasset services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin ’s database of companies.
BaFin is issuing this warning on the basis of section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG) and section 10 (7) of the German Cryptomarkets Supervision Act (Kryptomärkteaufsichtsgesetz – KMAG).
Please be aware:
In the section “ Recognising financial fraud ”, you will find current warnings from BaFin about unauthorised companies and learn how you can protect yourself from further scams on the financial market.
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