Support contract on financial scams Study

The European Commission, specifically DG CNECT, is preparing for a negotiated procedure regarding a support contract for a study on online financial scams. This initiative is part of the efforts to enhance enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The study aims to map different types of online financial scams such as investment fraud, impersonation, romance scams, and marketplace deception, and to assess current and emerging mitigation strategies. This will provide a detailed analytical overview to support supervisory functions under the DSA without evaluating compliance by Very Large Online Platforms or Very Large Online Search Engines.

The maximum budget for the contract is set at 142,000 EUR, with a project duration of six months. The opportunity is characterized as a service contract for research services, falling under the classification code CPV 73000000. The tender is not a call for applications at this point, but an announcement of intent to publish a forthcoming negotiated procedure. The relevant procedure identifier is EC-CNECT/2025/MVP/0070-EXA.

Interested parties will have the opportunity to express their interest electronically between July 16, 2025, and July 31, 2025, with the negotiated procedure expected to launch around August 1, 2025. The applicant types are not explicitly stated but are likely to include legal entities capable of conducting this research, such as consultancies, research institutes, or universities.

Overall, this study aims to strengthen the European Commission's understanding of online financial scams, providing valuable insights that can aid in fostering consumer protection in the digital space.

The European Commission, DG CNECT Communications Networks, Content and Technology, is planning a negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract regarding a support contract on financial scams. This is not a call for tenders but an announcement of the contracting authority's intention to publish a future negotiated procedure. The procedure identifier is EC-CNECT/2025/MVP/0070-EXA.

The subject of the contract is a study on online financial scams. Online financial scams are defined as deceptive practices carried out through online platforms that aim to mislead users into disclosing financial data or transferring funds, often in breach of platforms’ terms and conditions and user safety obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Examples include investment fraud, impersonation, romance scams (such as sextortion), and marketplace deception involving fake or undelivered products. These scams fall within the systemic risk categories set out in Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, relating to the dissemination of illegal content and risks to fundamental rights, including consumer protection. The study will support the Commission’s supervisory and enforcement tasks under the DSA by providing a typological mapping of financial scam formats across online platforms and assessing existing and emerging mitigation strategies. The study will not evaluate compliance by Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) but will offer a high-quality analytical overview of the current landscape.

The maximum amount for this contract is 142,000 EUR. The duration of the contract is 6 months. The nature of the contract is for services. There is no framework agreement associated with this procedure.

The milestones are as follows:
Start date for expression of interest: 2025-07-16 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for expression of interest: 2025-07-31 04:59 Europe/Brussels
Indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure: 2025-08-01 Europe/Brussels

Expressions of interest must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below. The method of expression of interest is electronic. To express interest, use the "Express interest" link.

The main classification (CPV) code for this contract is 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services.

A frequently asked question (FAQ) is: Where can I find the procurement documents for calls for tenders with ‘ExA' in the reference? The answer is: References that feature an ‘ExA’ are not calls for tenders. They are a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intent to launch in the future a low or middle negotiated procedure. This was published on 2024-10-03 16:32.

In summary, the European Commission is planning a study to map and analyze online financial scams on digital platforms to better enforce the Digital Services Act. This study aims to classify different types of scams, assess current mitigation strategies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the online scam landscape. The project has a budget of 142,000 EUR and will last for 6 months. Companies interested in participating in the upcoming negotiated procedure should express their interest electronically between July 16, 2025, and July 31, 2025. The actual call for the negotiated procedure is expected to be launched around August 1, 2025. This initiative is designed to enhance the Commission's understanding of online financial scams and improve its ability to protect consumers in the digital environment.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly state eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the contract (services, research and development), eligible applicants could include research institutes, consultancy firms, universities, or other organizations with expertise in the relevant fields.

Funding Type: The funding type is a service contract, specifically a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not specify whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. This will likely be detailed in the future call for tenders.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity details do not explicitly state geographic eligibility. Given that it is an EU funding opportunity, it is highly likely that entities from EU member states are eligible.

Target Sector: The program targets the sector of online financial scams and their mitigation, which falls under the broader categories of ICT, security/cybersecurity, and consumer protection. It also relates to the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its implementation.

Mentioned Countries: Ireland is explicitly mentioned due to the Central Bank of Ireland being designated as a trusted flagger. The opportunity is an EU initiative, so implicitly covers all EU member states.

Project Stage: The project stage is research and development, specifically a study to provide a typological mapping of financial scam formats and assess mitigation strategies.

Funding Amount: The maximum funding amount is 142,000 EUR. This is categorized as being in the €50k–€200k range.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure, which will be launched after an expression of interest phase.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically the delivery of the study.

Application Stages: There are at least two stages: an expression of interest, followed by a negotiated procedure.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text. As this is a negotiated procedure, the success rate will depend on the number of entities invited to negotiate and the quality of their proposals.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not specify whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a pre-announcement for a future negotiated procedure for a low to middle value contract, with procedure identifier EC-CNECT/2025/MVP/0070-EXA. The European Commission, specifically DG CNECT, intends to commission a study on online financial scams. The study aims to support the Commission’s supervisory and enforcement tasks under the Digital Services Act (DSA) by providing a typological mapping of financial scam formats across online platforms and assessing existing and emerging mitigation strategies. The study will not evaluate compliance by VLOPs or VLOSEs but will offer a high-quality analytical overview of the current landscape. The maximum budget for this contract is 142,000 EUR, and the duration is 6 months. The expression of interest phase is scheduled to begin on 2025-07-16 and end on 2025-07-31, with the negotiated procedure indicatively launching on 2025-08-01. Interested parties should express their interest electronically via the provided link. The contract falls under the category of research and development services and related consultancy services. The study will cover online financial scams, including investment fraud, impersonation, romance scams, and marketplace deception, all of which fall under the systemic risk categories defined in the DSA. The study will generate insights into the scale and scope of fraudulent activities online and help identify best practices for early risk detection and mitigation, strengthening the Commission’s capacity for data-driven decision-making.