FCA Warns of Arbion Assets Clone Firm Impersonating Authorised Broker

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned that Arbion Assets and Arbion Assets Management are unauthorised clone firms contacting people while pretending to represent an authorised financial business. The firms use the websites arbionassets.com and arbionassetsmanagement.com, along with the telephone number +44 7351 881747 and the email addresses [email protected] and [email protected]. The fraudsters are claiming an association with ARBION LIMITED, the genuine FCA-authorised firm with Firm Reference Number 513138. ARBION LIMITED is based at 1 Connaught Place, London, W2 2ET, United Kingdom, and can be contacted through +44 20 7298 6060, [email protected] and www.arbion.com. The FCA says the authorised firm has no connection with the clone operation. Scammers may also combine genuine firm details with false phone numbers, email addresses, websites, postal addresses or Firm Reference Numbers, and may change those details over time. People who deal with the clone firm may not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if they need to complain. They would also not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), meaning they are unlikely to recover their money if the firm fails. People who sent money to a fraudster on or after 7 October 2024 may be covered by protections introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator, depending on the circumstances. The FCA advises consumers to check financial businesses through its Firm Checker and confirm that a firm has permission to provide the specific services offered. Anyone contacted unexpectedly should use the contact details listed on the Firm Checker rather than those supplied by the caller or website. Suspected unauthorised or clone firms can be reported to the FCA on 0800 111 6768 or through its contact form.