Fraudsters copy the details of firms we authorise to try and convince people that their firm is genuine. Find out why you shouldn’t deal with this clone firm.
Almost all firms and individuals must be authorised or registered by us to carry out or promote financial services in the UK.
This firm is not authorised by us but has been contacting people pretending to be an authorised firm. We call this a clone firm[1].
Search our Warning List[2] for other unauthorised and clone firms we're aware of.
Clone firm details
Fraudsters are using the following details to scam people:
Name: Equistone Volkswagen AG (clone of FCA authorised firm)
Address: One New Ludgate, 60 Ludgate Hill, London, UNITED KINGDOM, EC4M 7AW
Website: https://www.uk-investmentbond.com/
Scammers may give out other false details, including email addresses, telephone numbers, postal addresses and Firm Reference Numbers.
They may mix these details with the genuine details of authorised firms.
They may also change their contact details over time.
What this means for you
If you deal with this firm, you won't have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service[4] if you want to complain.
You also won't be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)[5] if things go wrong. This means it's unlikely you'd get your money back if the firm goes out of business.
If you sent money to a fraudster on or after 7 October 2024, you may be covered by protections introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR). Find out what to do if you've been tricked into making a payment[6] to a scam account.
How to protect yourself
You should only deal with financial firms that are authorised by us. If a financial firm is authorised by us, it gives you greater protection if things go wrong.
You can use the FCA Firm Checker[7] to make sure a financial firm is authorised by us and has our permission to provide the services you're looking for.
You'll also be able to find:
- information on how you're protected
- contact details for authorised firms
If you're contacted unexpectedly by a financial business, make sure you reply using the contact details on the Firm Checker.
Find out more about how to protect yourself from scams[8].
Report a clone firm
If you think you've been approached by an unauthorised or clone firm, call us on 0800 111 6768, or use our contact form[9].
