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Is this firm FCA authorised, or a clone?
Type a firm’s name or its FCA reference number (FRN). You’ll see whether it is authorised on the FCA Register, and whether the FCA has warned about an unauthorised firm or a clone using the name.
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About clone firms and the Register
- What is a clone firm?
- A clone firm copies the name, reference number or details of a real FCA-authorised firm to make a scam look legitimate. The FCA lists the clones it knows about on its Warning List. The giveaway is usually contact details (phone, email, website) that differ from the ones on the FCA Register.
- How do I check a firm is not a clone?
- Find the firm on the Register, then contact it only through the phone number, email or website shown there, not the details you were given. If the name also appears on the Warning List, read the warning before going further.
- What does "no longer authorised" mean?
- The firm was authorised by the FCA in the past but is not now, so it should not be carrying on regulated activities such as investments, lending or insurance.
- Is this lookup free?
- Yes, up to 10 lookups a day, with no sign-up. It reads the FCA Register and the FCA Warning List directly.
Source: the FCA Financial Services Register and the FCA Warning List. See our editorial policy.