With a focus on protecting investors from emerging digital risks and strengthening their financial resilience, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) participated in the World Investor Week (WIW 2026) for the eighth consecutive year.
As part of the campaign, an initiative of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), CySEC carried out a series of public awareness activities aimed at raising awareness of investment risks, helping investors recognise the warning signs of fraud and encouraging responsible investment decisions.
Emphasis was placed on digital investment risks, especially fraudulent practices involving misleading online advertisements, false investment recommendations and deceptive content generated using artificial intelligence (AI). A key message of the campaign was the importance of staying informed, carefully evaluating investment options and verifying the credibility of investment service providers.
The campaign's messages were promoted through targeted daily posts on CySEC's social media accounts and appearances on television news and current affairs programmes. CySEC also encouraged its supervised entities to contribute to the dissemination of these messages.
As part of the campaign, CySEC also produced the Smart Investor Booklet, highlighting the key messages of WIW 2026, and an Investor Guide entitled "Knowledge, Protection and Safer Investment Decisions". Both publications form part of CySEC's broader financial education programme.
Educational Activities Continuing Until December
Financial education for young people remains a key pillar of CySEC's initiatives. The school lectures, now in their sixth cycle, have already begun and will continue until December 2026, extending the campaign's reach beyond World Investor Week. University lectures are also being planned.
The presentations are designed for primary schools, lower and upper secondary school students, as well as students attending technical schools. To support these activities, CySEC has developed new educational material tailored to the needs of students at each educational level, along with an accompanying presenter’s guide to ensure the consistent and effective delivery of key financial education messages.
The aim is to equip school and university students with essential financial knowledge and, through practical examples, help them recognise investment risks and protect themselves against potential fraud. The initiative also seeks to develop their critical thinking skills when assessing information and investment proposals encountered online.
This educational initiative has now become an established part of CySEC's activities. During the previous five cycles of school lectures, CySEC officials visited 88 schools across Cyprus, providing financial education to more than 3,400 students.
Knowledge as a Tool for Protection
Commenting on this year's campaign, CySEC Chairman George Karatzias stated: "Investment fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. This is why investor protection requires not only effective supervision but also continuous public awareness and education. Through our initiatives, we aim to strengthen people's ability to recognise risks and make informed decisions, while systematically investing in the financial education of the younger generation."
Financial education and investor protection remain long-standing priorities for CySEC. Its initiatives are aligned with the National Strategy for Financial Literacy in Cyprus, and CySEC actively contributes to the work of the Cyprus Financial Literacy and Education Committee (CyFLEC).
CySEC's information and educational materials, including the new resources developed for World Investor Week 2026, are available through CySEC's Financial Education Portal.
