Fraud alerts
Clone investment firms: why a real registration number can mislead
A scammer can borrow a legitimate firm's identity while changing its contact details.
By Block Claim Group Editorial Team · Published 4 October 2026
AI-generated conceptual artwork; not a real case, client, employee or investigation.
The short answer
A clone firm uses details belonging to a real business to create an impression of legitimacy. The legal name or registration number may be genuine while the domain, phone number or payment destination belongs to a fraudster. Checking only the name is therefore an incomplete verification.
What to check and preserve
Locate the actual firm's record through the appropriate authority, then use the recorded contact channel to ask whether the offer and person are genuine. Compare the full website address, not just its logo. Preserve suspicious documents and identify where the payment instructions differ from verified information.
Limits and important distinctions
ESMA notes that fraudsters can counterfeit official documents and copy websites. A professional site cannot substitute for independent checks. Absence from a warning list is not a positive approval, and authorisation of one firm does not authorise an impersonator using its name.
Checklist
- Compare the complete domain and contact details.
- Contact the real firm through official records.
- Verify the individual and specific service offered.
- Preserve copied documents for reporting.
Official sources
This article is general educational information, not legal, financial or tax advice. Every situation differs, and no outcome, including recovery of funds, can be guaranteed. Consider speaking with a qualified professional and your local authorities.
AI-assisted educational content based on the linked official sources. It is not individual legal, financial or tax advice. Rules and provider procedures may change.
Written by the Block Claim Group Editorial Team under our editorial policy.
