Ecuador’s SEPS has warned of 134 entities outside its authorised register and highlighted scams using instant-loan promises and advance deposits.
Why the number needs context
Ecuador’s Popular and Solidarity Economy Superintendency, SEPS, announced on October 21, 2026 that 134 entities were absent from its register of organisations authorised to carry out certain financial activities. Being listed is not the same as receiving a criminal conviction. For consumers, the useful question is whether a specific provider is licensed for what it is offering.
SEPS linked the warning to a public-awareness campaign about scams. Reported tactics include “instant loans” that require a payment in advance, calls requesting security codes and websites using the word “cooperative” without approval.
A safer way to verify an offer
Open the regulator’s official website yourself and check the current institutional register and warnings. A professional-looking logo, a WhatsApp link or customer testimonials on the provider’s own page are not proof of authorisation. If someone demands money to “unlock” a loan, stop and seek independent verification before transferring anything.
Anyone who has already disclosed confidential information should contact their actual bank promptly and use the appropriate official reporting channels. Posting full account details or identity documents on social media can create additional risk.
A warning list is not a verdict
SEPS’s finding concerns registration and authorisation for specified activities. Criminal investigations and judgments are separate matters, and the list may be updated. Linking directly to the live official source gives readers a more reliable check than reproducing a static list that could soon become outdated.
Sources and documents
Editorial verification: based on reporting available October 22, 2026. Recheck developments before release.