Common Frauds

Impersonation / cloned firms

This is where fraudsters will use a genuine investment company’s name and regulator registration number but their own contact information. This means that the fraudulent company will appear genuine when you verify them on a regulators website. More recently, fraudsters are also providing company fund prospectuses enhancing their ability to appear genuine.

If you are ever in doubt over the legitimacy of a company, please used the contact information provided on the regulators register. In the UK, we are regulated by the FCA, please click here for the register of authorised firms.

Bogus funds

Bogus funds are set up which have the same or similar name to genuine funds provided by legitimate companies. Individuals who invest this way following a cold call are not investing in legitimate funds and are likely being defrauded.

Investment fraud

Fraudulent companies have also been contacting members of the public offering to transfer investments into legitimate funds. Individuals who invest following a cold call from such fraudulent companies are likely to be victims of investment fraud.

Boiler room scams

Boiler room fraud involves the mis-selling of worthless, overpriced or even non-existent stocks and shares for the sole purpose of defrauding unsuspecting investors. Organised criminals run ‘boiler rooms’ with a sales pitch designed to play to an innocent investors desire to make a return. Further information is available on the FCA website, please click here.

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