The President of the Polish competition authority has determined that Aforti Holding engaged in unlawful practices by promoting its 'bill of exchange' investment offer. This decision is part of ongoing actions against misleading practices in the alternative investment market.

Aforti Holding, which operates in currency exchange, business loans, debt collection, and factoring, misled consumers by claiming that the investment was safe with guaranteed returns. Complaints received by the authority indicated that the company assured potential investors of a secure investment with fixed interest rates and regular payouts, while in reality, the product was high-risk and unsecured.

The investigation revealed that Aforti used the bill of exchange inappropriately, transferring the entire risk of its operations onto consumers. The authority found that the company provided false assurances about the safety of the funds entrusted to it, misleading consumers about the risks involved and the nature of the investment.

During the investigation, scripts used by Aforti's consultants were uncovered, confirming the misleading nature of the information provided to consumers. The company presented the investment as a safe option with returns of up to 9% annually, without disclosing the associated risks. This practice was deemed highly harmful by the authority.

In January 2021, Aforti ceased issuing bills of exchange. The authority imposed a fine of over 790,000 PLN and mandated several informational obligations. Consumers who invested will receive notifications about the decision, which will also be published on the company's website and social media.

The decision is not final and can be appealed to the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection. Additionally, due to potential criminal activity, the authority has reported the case to the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw.

In April 2023, similar allegations were made against Assay Management and Assay Management Alternative Investment Company, which also used investment bills. Both companies face significant penalties, and their management may be held financially liable.