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Report an unauthorised firm
Published: 11/04/2014 Find out how to report an unauthorised firm and what information can help us.
If you think you have been approached by an unauthorised financial services firm, or you have been dealing with one, you should contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
We also have reporting forms that you can use to tell us about an unauthorised firm or broker involved in certain business areas, such as:
Please provide as much information as you can about what has happened, including about the firm or person involved, their contact details and ’firm reference number’ (FRN).
The more information we have, the better our chances of assessing whether we can intervene, such as where the firm is offering investment opportunities without our authorisation – or even blatantly running a scam.
We can also act where a firm or individual has been accepting investment money or deposits without our authorisation.
However, we can not resolve individual disputes you have with a firm or arrange compensation. If you are unhappy with a financial product or service you should find out how to complain.
You can also find out how to protect yourself from unauthorised firms.
Consumer Helpline
t: 0800 111 6768
e: consumer.queries@fca.org.uk
See more ways to contact us
Unauthorised firms and individuals to avoid
Almost all firms offering financial services in the UK must be authorised by us. Search our list of unauthorised firms and individuals to be especially wary of.
You should only deal with a financial services firm that is authorised by us, and check the Register to ensure it is. If you deal with an unauthorised firm you will not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong.
Unfortunately there are firms that operate without our authorisation and some knowingly run scams like share fraud.
If a firm does not appear on the Register but claims it does, search for it in the list below and contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
You should also beware of fraudsters pretending to be from a firm authorised by us, as it could be what we call a 'clone firm'. If you are cold-called by a financial services firm always ring them back on the switchboard number given on the Register.
We add firms to this list as soon as possible but it is not exhaustive. Do not assume a firm is legitimate just because it does not appear in this list – these firms frequently change their name and it may not have been reported to us yet.
You should take more steps to protect yourself from unauthorised firms and check our list of warnings from foreign regulators. You can also find out about share fraud and other investment scams.
Search for an unauthorised firm below or see the most recently added firms.
View and subscribe to our RSS feed to get regular updates on unauthorised firms.
Published: 11/04/2014 Find out how to report an unauthorised firm and what information can help us.
If you think you have been approached by an unauthorised financial services firm, or you have been dealing with one, you should contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
We also have reporting forms that you can use to tell us about an unauthorised firm or broker involved in certain business areas, such as:
- consumer credit
- mortgages and home finance
- insurance products
- payment services institutions
- share fraud
Please provide as much information as you can about what has happened, including about the firm or person involved, their contact details and ’firm reference number’ (FRN).
The more information we have, the better our chances of assessing whether we can intervene, such as where the firm is offering investment opportunities without our authorisation – or even blatantly running a scam.
We can also act where a firm or individual has been accepting investment money or deposits without our authorisation.
However, we can not resolve individual disputes you have with a firm or arrange compensation. If you are unhappy with a financial product or service you should find out how to complain.
You can also find out how to protect yourself from unauthorised firms.
Consumer Helpline
t: 0800 111 6768
e: consumer.queries@fca.org.uk
See more ways to contact us
Unauthorised firms and individuals to avoid
Almost all firms offering financial services in the UK must be authorised by us. Search our list of unauthorised firms and individuals to be especially wary of.
You should only deal with a financial services firm that is authorised by us, and check the Register to ensure it is. If you deal with an unauthorised firm you will not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong.
Unfortunately there are firms that operate without our authorisation and some knowingly run scams like share fraud.
If a firm does not appear on the Register but claims it does, search for it in the list below and contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
You should also beware of fraudsters pretending to be from a firm authorised by us, as it could be what we call a 'clone firm'. If you are cold-called by a financial services firm always ring them back on the switchboard number given on the Register.
We add firms to this list as soon as possible but it is not exhaustive. Do not assume a firm is legitimate just because it does not appear in this list – these firms frequently change their name and it may not have been reported to us yet.
You should take more steps to protect yourself from unauthorised firms and check our list of warnings from foreign regulators. You can also find out about share fraud and other investment scams.
Search for an unauthorised firm below or see the most recently added firms.
View and subscribe to our RSS feed to get regular updates on unauthorised firms.
