Co name, reg no & address used fraudulently

Company name, registered number and address has been used by 'villains' to create a fake website

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My husband has a limited company consultancy business registered to our home address (1 man band). 

We have just found out that someone has set up a website using the company details and address and is making out that the company is a registered investment company inviting investments of 10,000USD upwards.

There is also a facebook group set up for potential investors in the company (closed group) which has nearly 1,000 members - this was set up in July 2020.

We have reported the facebook group to facebook and they have not upheld our complaint.  My husband has also contacted the website host company to get the website taken down - he has to send them more information to prove his case.

We have no idea what jurisdiction this falls under as the facebook group admins are from Ireland, US and Australia (although they may have nothing to do with it or be false profiles).

Does anyone have any ideas as to where we go from here?  Thank you

Replies (16)

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RLI
By lionofludesch
04th Nov 2020 17:57

Police. Trading Standards.

Folk take more notice of them.

I wouldn't waste a lot of time waiting for Facebook to act. I can't imagine what excuse they made to turn down your complaint.

Might be worth transferring your company's engagements to another company. Speak to your accountant about doing this pronto.

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By Matrix
04th Nov 2020 18:15

This is a legal question. Lion has provided the accounting perspective in his last para but I assume you have already spoken to your accountant.

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Replying to Matrix:
RLI
By lionofludesch
04th Nov 2020 18:25

Just looking at nipping problems in the bud.

If anybody searching Companies House finds that the company is being struck off, they might think twice about investing.

A more interesting question - what do we think about TAAR ? Would it be fair to say that the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, is not tax avoidance ?

I know we've few facts to go on but it could be an interesting debate.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By Matrix
04th Nov 2020 18:31

Yes it was good advice.

Sorry Ticktock you are a longtime member. Let us know what assets in case Lion’s suggestion is a goer.

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Replying to Matrix:
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By TickTock
04th Nov 2020 20:35

Thanks both, I am the accountant! I am trying to work out the best route out. Company only has bank account balance and is not currently generating funds (COVID), we have checked the bank isn't compromised (as yet). I think they are using the fact that it is an established company to persuade people to invest - but if the investors look at the accounts filed with Companies House then they would be silly to invest but we all know there are vulnerable people who may fall for it especially as they are being promised good returns on investment by the fraudsters.

Maybe the best route is to have the company struck off - it is probably the easiest solution. I don't really want people turning up on my doorstep looking for their lost investment funds ...

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Replying to TickTock:
RLI
By lionofludesch
04th Nov 2020 21:51

TickTock wrote:

Maybe the best route is to have the company struck off - it is probably the easiest solution. I don't really want people turning up on my doorstep looking for their lost investment funds ...

If that's the address on the website, that'll probably happen anyway.

You need some help from a regulatory body.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By TickTock
04th Nov 2020 22:02

lionofludesch wrote:

You need some help from a regulatory body.

Any idea which one(s)? I'm not sure my accountancy/tax body will be much help!

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Replying to TickTock:
RLI
By lionofludesch
04th Nov 2020 23:03

TickTock wrote:

lionofludesch wrote:

You need some help from a regulatory body.

Any idea which one(s)? I'm not sure my accountancy/tax body will be much help!

Yes - the one the fake invesco claims to be registered with.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By TickTock
05th Nov 2020 11:30

Thanks lionofludesch, they do not have any on the website (another red flag for any potential investors) but we will contact the FCA.

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By Justin Bryant
05th Nov 2020 08:55

Amazing how many mugs are out there. Just look at how many voted for Trump!

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Replying to Justin Bryant:
RLI
By lionofludesch
05th Nov 2020 10:19

Justin Bryant wrote:

Amazing how many mugs are out there. Just look at how many voted for Trump!

But we have Boris. How can we be smug ?

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By Justin Bryant
05th Nov 2020 12:27

True, but not such a good comparison considering the alternative at the time to Boris.

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Replying to Justin Bryant:
RLI
By lionofludesch
05th Nov 2020 12:33

The paucity of talent was, indeed, remarkable.

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By lesley.barnes
05th Nov 2020 09:26

Have you tried contacting the FCA and speaking to them? They encourage people to report scams whether the business is regulated or not. In the short term I would close the company down and hope people checked Companies House.

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Replying to lesley.barnes:
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By TickTock
05th Nov 2020 11:28

Thanks Lesley, I was hoping not to have to close the company down (only from an admin point of view) but I think that is the most sensible route for us. Luckily it is a very small company with few assets to consider.

I looked on the FCA website this morning & my husband is going to do a report to them - the trouble is that this scenario doesn't fit into the normal fraud parameters. Action fraud have replied to say they will keep it on file but it is not enough for a police report.

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By Calculatorboy
05th Nov 2020 11:27

I'd say report Police fraud squad and FCA, they should do all the running not you

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