FMA Warns on Terrorist Financing and Urges Caution with Donations

Austrian FMA News

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has issued new consumer guidance on preventing terrorist financing. The guidance, titled 'Funding Terrorism? Not with My Money!', educates consumers on how they might unwittingly be involved in terrorist financing through donations or online payments, especially via social media or crypto-assets.

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What changed

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has released a new consumer information brochure, "Funding Terrorism? Not with My Money!", as part of its "Let's talk about money" series. This guidance aims to educate the public about the risks of unwittingly participating in terrorist financing through donations and online payments, particularly those made via social media platforms or using crypto-assets. It highlights that terrorist financing often occurs indirectly through associations or small monetary amounts, making prevention crucial.

Consumers are urged to exercise caution when making donations or payments, especially in response to apparent humanitarian calls on social media. The brochure provides tips on critically assessing donation requests and choosing well-known, transparent organizations, also mentioning the Austrian Quality Seal for Donations. Financial entities' legal obligations to check for money laundering and terrorist financing risks are also explained, noting that customers may be asked for additional information to prevent the financial market's misuse for criminal or terrorist purposes.

What to do next

Review the FMA's consumer guidance on terrorist financing.
Educate consumers on the risks of unwitting involvement in terrorist financing.
Advise caution with donations and online payments, particularly on social media and with crypto-assets.

Source document (simplified)

Terrorist financing begins unnoticed. The FMA urges caution when donating and making online payments

March 2026

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- Press Release
The new issue of the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) consumer information series “Let’s talk about money” (Reden wir über Geld) addresses the issue of terrorist financing. The current edition, entitled “Funding Terrorism? Not with My Money!” explains how people may also unwittingly become involved with terrorist financing – for example if responding to apparent humanitarian calls for donations, misleading collections or payments on social media. The brochure shows why the topic is also relevant for consumers and what to watch out for when making donations and other payments.

Terrorist financing is often difficult to detect, as it is not always conducted openly, but in many cases indirectly through associations, assisting structures or small individual monetary amounts. This is precisely what makes prevention so important. Financial entities are legally obliged to check the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing; this is why customers may be required to provide additional information about the purpose of a payment to the recipients in an everyday context. The new edition explains how checks contribute to ensuring that the financial market is not misused for criminal or terrorist purposes.

The brochure provides answers to issues like what constitutes terrorist financing, how well-meaning donations can be misused, why particular caution is needed regarding calls for donations on social media, and why particular care is needed when making payments in crypto-assets. Furthermore, it gives specific tips about how consumers can check calls for donations critically and how they can chose well-known and transparent organisations. It also mentions the Austrian Quality Seal for Donations (österreichische Spendengütesiegel).

The current edition of “Let’s talk about money” can be found in English, along with all past editions on the website https://redenwiruebergeld.fma.gv.at/en. “Reden wir über Geld” is also active on Instagram: @redenwiruebergeld