Alreford DAC (Clone of an EEA authorised firm) -
Warnung FCA UK - 2020-May-05
Alreford DAC (Clone of an EEA authorised firm)
Warnings Published: 05/05/2020 Last updated: 05/05/2020
Fraudsters are using the details of firms we authorise to try to convince people that they work for a genuine, authorised firm. Find out more about this ‘clone firm’.
Almost all firms and individuals carrying out financial services activities in the UK have to be authorised or registered by us. This firm is not authorised or registered by us but has been targeting people in the UK, claiming to be an authorised firm.
This is what we call a 'clone firm'; and fraudsters usually use this tactic when contacting people out of the blue, so you should be especially wary if you have been cold called. They may use the name of the genuine firm, the 'firm reference number' (FRN) we have given the authorised firm or other details.
You can find out more about this scam tactic and how to protect yourself from clone firms.
Clone firm details
Fraudsters are using or giving out the following details as part of their tactics to scam people in the UK:
Alreford DAC (Clone of an EEA authorised firm)
Address: 415 Aldford Street, Mayfair, London W1K 2AG
Telephone: 0800 862 0973
Email: info@alreforddac.com
Website: www.alreforddac.com
Be aware that scammers may give out other false details or mix these with some correct details of the registered firm. They may change contact details over time to new email addresses, telephone numbers or physical addresses.
FCA authorised firm details
This FCA authorised firm that fraudsters are claiming to work for has no association with the ‘clone firm’. It is authorised to offer, promote or sell services or products in the UK and its correct details are:
Firm Name: Alreford DAC
Firm Reference Number: 203257
Address: Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd 3rd Floor, The Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street Dublin 1 IRELAND
Passport In: Ireland
How to protect yourself
We strongly advise you to only deal with financial firms that are authorised by us, and check the Financial Services Register to ensure they are. It has information on firms and individuals that are, or have been, regulated by us.
If a firm does not appear on the Register but claims it does, contact our Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
There are more steps you should take to avoid scams and unauthorised firms.
If you use an unauthorised firm, you won’t have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service(link is external) or Financial Services Compensation Scheme(link is external) (FSCS) so you’re unlikely to get your money back if things go wrong.
If you use an authorised firm, access to the Financial Ombudsman Service and FSCS protection will depend on the investment you are making and the service the firm is providing. If you would like further information about protection, the authorised firm should be able to help.
Report a clone firm
If you think you have been approached by an unauthorised or clone firm, or contacted about a scam, you should contact us. If you were offered, bought or sold shares, you can use our reporting form.
What to do if your firm is cloned
If you think your authorised firm has been cloned or scammers are fraudulently using your name or other details, contact our Firm Helpline on 0300 500 0597.
2020-07-13,
Public warning by CBI Ireland against Alreford DAC (CLONE):
Warning on unauthorised firm - Alreford DAC (CLONE)
13 July 2020 Press Release
Warning
It has come to the attention of the Central Bank of Ireland (‘Central Bank’) that a firm, calling itself Alreford DAC (Ireland and United Kingdom) - https://www.alreforddac.com has been operating as an investment firm/investment business firm in the State in the absence of an appropriate authorisation.
This unauthorised firm has cloned the details (Central Bank of Ireland registration number) of a company called Alreford DAC, which is authorised by the Central Bank.
It should be noted that there is no connection whatsoever between the company authorised by the Central Bank and the unauthorised entity that has cloned its details.
A list of unauthorised firms published to date is available on the Central Bank website.
It is a criminal offence for an unauthorised firm to provide financial services in and from Ireland that would require an authorisation under the relevant legislation for which the Central Bank is the responsible body for enforcing. Consumers should be aware, that if they deal with a firm that is not authorised, they are not eligible for compensation from the Investor Compensation Scheme.
Fraudsters are increasingly using legitimate firms’ details to add an air of legitimacy to their fraud. The fraudsters will 'borrow' some or all of the legitimate information of an authorised/legitimate firm for the purpose of this fraud. They may quote authorisation numbers/company registration numbers and links to seemingly legitimate websites and even provide the real address of an authorised/legitimate firm. Consumers are advised to check our register to verify a firm’s details and to call the firm back directly using its advertised phone number.
For further information, please visit the Avoiding Scams and Unauthorised Activity section of the Central Bank’s website.
Any person wishing to contact the Central Bank with information regarding such firms/persons may telephone (01) 224 4000. This line is also available to the public to check if a firm is authorised. Since obtaining the necessary legal powers in August 1998, the names of 424 unauthorised firms have been published by the Central Bank.
Notes to Editors
The name of the above firm is published under the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013.
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