FCA Warns of Callassists.com Clone Impersonating CALL ASSIST LIMITED

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned that callassists.com is an unauthorised clone firm pretending to be CALL ASSIST LIMITED. The regulator says the clone has been contacting people and may use copied details from the authorised business to appear genuine. The warning identifies callassists.com as the website and lists [email protected] and [email protected] as contact addresses used by the clone. The genuine firm, CALL ASSIST LIMITED, is authorised by the FCA under Firm Reference Number 304838. Its listed contact details are www.call-assist.co.uk, +44 1206 771771 and Axis Court, North Station Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UX. The FCA says the authorised firm has no connection with the clone. It also cautions that scammers may combine genuine firm details with false phone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses or reference numbers, and may change their contact information over time. Consumers who deal with the clone would not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service to complain and would not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme if the business failed. The FCA says people who sent money to a fraudster on or after 7 October 2024 may be covered by protections introduced by the Payment Systems Regulator, and directs affected consumers to its guidance on payments to scam accounts. The FCA advises checking a business and its permissions through the FCA Firm Checker, then using the contact details shown there when responding to an unexpected approach. Anyone who believes they have been contacted by an unauthorised or clone firm can report it to the FCA on 0800 111 6768 or through the regulator's contact form.