The FCA has warned that scammers have tried to clone the FCA website and are also regularly using fake emails to target regulated firms.

The watchdog says scammers are also attempting to trick firms by pretending to work for the FCA.

Crooks have been using fake emails but also the phone or post with “convincing communications” that appear genuine, the FCA warned.

The FCA has urged all firms to take care when replying to any emails and check carefully they are genuinely from the FCA, particularly if unexpected.

The FCA said: "Fraudsters are believed to be creating copies of FCA websites and changing the information. These cloned websites can be very convincing, with links and contact information that are the same as (or similar to) the real thing."

Some fake versions of the FCA’s website have only small changes in the domain name. For example, 'register-fca.org.uk' instead of the genuine website 'register.fca.org.uk'.

Genuine FCA websites and online systems have addresses that start with:

• https://www.fca.org.uk/
• https://register.fca.org.uk/s/
• https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/
• https://connect.fca.org.uk/
• https://mutuals.fca.org.uk/
• https://marketsecurities.fca.org.uk/
• https://regdata.fca.org.uk/
• https://fees.fca.org.uk
• https://fca.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/FCA_Careers
• https://societyportal.fca.org.uk/account/login
• https://data.fca.org.uk/

Fake FCA emails:

Genuine FCA emails are sent from addresses ending in:  

• @fca.org.uk 
• @fcanewsletters.org.uk 
• @fcamail.org.uk 

The following are suspicious email addresses used by scammers. The FCA says emails from these addresses should alway be deleted without opening.

Fake letters:

There have also been reports of a fake letter from an FCA director. The letter claims to relate to a review by the FCA of the 'Star Like project' (September 2022). The FCA warned firms to look out for fake FCA certificates using our name and logo.

Social media accounts:

The main FCA accounts include:

• Facebook (ScamSmart) www.facebook.com/FCAScamSmart 
• LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/financial-conduct-authority and www.linkedin.com/showcase/transforming-culture
• Twitter twitter.com/TheFCA, twitter.com/FCACymru 
• YouTube www.youtube.com/user/TheFCAtv 

The FCA also uses TikTok and Instagram for campaigns and ads from time to time. It warned that if firms see another social media account claiming to represent the FCA, it’s probably a scam.

• Reports of fake FCA communication can be made to: 0300 500 0597 or use the FCA contact form.