The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned about a clone firm using the Plus500 name. The warning is genuine, but it is not new: the FCA first published it on 1 February 2021 and records the page as last updated on the same date.
The firm identified by the FCA used the name “Plus-500 (Clone of FCA authorised firm)”. It was not authorised by the FCA and had been contacting people while pretending to be the legitimate Plus500 business.
Anyone approached by a website, phone number or email associated with the warning should not send money or personal documents until the firm and its permissions have been checked independently.
What the FCA warning says
The FCA’s warning concerns a clone firm impersonating Plus500UK Ltd, the genuine business authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number (FRN) 509909.
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The FCA says the clone firm was not authorised and had no connection with the genuine Plus500UK business. A clone firm copies the identity of a legitimate financial firm to make an unauthorised operation appear trustworthy.
The warning recorded these details as being used by the fraudsters:
| Detail | Information in the FCA warning |
|---|---|
| Name | Plus-500 (Clone of FCA authorised firm) |
| Telephone | 07476547304 and +44 7476547304 |
| Websites | plus-500.ltd and plus500.ltd |
| The FCA warning displays two email addresses, although they are masked in the retrieved page text |
Scammers can change phone numbers, email addresses and domains. The details above are useful indicators, but a different contact detail does not make an approach genuine.
This is a 2021 warning, not a new FCA alert
Some reports may describe the Plus500 clone warning as though the FCA has just issued it. That is not supported by the FCA page. The specific warning was published and last updated on 1 February 2021.
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The warning remains relevant because old scam identities can continue to circulate, and criminals can reuse a company’s name or adapt the same impersonation technique. However, it should not be presented as a newly issued FCA warning.
The FCA’s current guidance is still useful when checking a suspected clone. It says consumers should use the FCA Firm Checker and compare the regulator’s contact details with the details supplied by the person or website making the approach.
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How the clone differed from the genuine Plus500 firm
The company being impersonated is Plus500UK Ltd, with FCA FRN 509909. The FCA warning lists its registered address as:
8 Angel Court, Copthall Avenue, London, EC2R 7HJ, United Kingdom
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Plus500’s current contact page also identifies Plus500UK Ltd as FCA-authorised under FRN 509909 and uses the plus500.com domain.
The domains plus500.ltd and plus-500.ltd should not be confused with the official Plus500 website. They are the domains identified in the FCA warning as being used by the clone.
The FCA warning contains minor variations in the historical contact information displayed for the genuine firm. One version lists +442038761640 and https://www.plus500.com/en/; another lists +44 02038761641 and www.plus500.co.uk. These differences are historical page variations and do not make either clone domain legitimate.
Most importantly, a scammer can copy a real company’s name, address, website content or FCA reference number. Seeing FRN 509909 in an email or on a website is therefore not proof that the contact came from Plus500UK Ltd.
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How clone-firm scams typically work
Clone scams are designed to move a victim from familiarity to payment before the details are independently checked. The FCA says criminals may:
- Use the legal name, address or FRN of a genuine authorised firm.
- Copy the genuine firm’s website and make small changes, such as substituting a phone number.
- Direct visitors to the real firm’s website while giving them separate contact details for the scammer.
- Use lookalike email addresses or free services such as Gmail and Outlook.
- Claim that the FCA Register or Firm Checker is out of date.
- Make unexpected approaches by phone, email, newsletter or social media.
- Target people who have previously searched online for investments, loans or trading services.
A familiar brand and polished website are not enough. The firm must be authorised for the particular product or service being offered, and the contact information must match the regulator’s current record.
Warning signs in a trading or investment approach
A caller who claims to be from Plus500 but uses one of the warned-about domains or phone numbers should be treated as suspicious. Other warning signs include:
- Pressure to deposit immediately or increase an account balance.
- Promises of unusually high or guaranteed returns.
- Requests to pay an “administration”, “tax”, “release” or withdrawal fee before receiving money.
- Instructions to send funds to a personal account, cryptocurrency wallet or unrelated company.
- Requests for remote access to a computer or phone.
- Explanations that the FCA record is temporarily wrong or has not caught up with a recent change.
- Difficulty withdrawing funds after an apparently profitable period.
The FCA’s guidance on unauthorised forex and brokerage scams describes a common pattern: victims may first see apparent profits, which encourages them to invest more. Later, withdrawals stop, the account is suspended or the firm stops responding.
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How to check a firm through the FCA
Do not use a link, phone number or email address supplied by the person who contacted you. Open the FCA website independently and follow this process:
- Open the FCA Firm Checker.
- Choose “Check a firm” and search for the firm by name.
- Select the product or service the firm is offering.
- Confirm that the firm is authorised and has permission for that specific activity.
- Compare every contact detail shown by the Firm Checker with the phone number, email address, website and physical address used by the person who approached you.
The FCA says the Firm Checker and Financial Services Register take an average of around 24 hours to update. A claim that the FCA’s records are out of date is therefore unlikely to be a credible explanation for mismatched details.
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Checking the firm name alone is not sufficient. A clone may use the exact name and FRN of the genuine business while substituting its own phone number, website or payment instructions.
Check the FCA Warning List—but do not rely on it alone
The FCA’s Warning List includes a search field labelled “Search for names of firms”, a “Search” button, a “Clear filters” button, first-letter filters from “0-9” through “Z”, and sorting options for “Name,” “Date added” and “Date updated”.
Search for the name and domain, but do not treat a clean result as approval. The FCA expressly says that a firm’s absence from the Warning List does not prove it is authorised or legitimate. The regulator may not yet know about a firm, or the criminals may have changed its name.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What protection is lost when dealing with the clone?
The FCA states that dealing with the Plus-500 clone would not provide access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
This should not be read as a blanket statement about every service offered by the genuine Plus500UK business. Protection for an authorised firm depends on the service, investment, permissions and applicable rules. Plus500 separately explains that client-money and FSCS treatment depends on the relevant circumstances.
In other words, neither the use of a well-known name nor the appearance of an FCA number automatically creates compensation protection. The firm, activity and product all need to be checked.
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What to do if you have been contacted or paid money
- Stop communicating with the suspected clone. Do not click further links, install software or provide identity documents.
- Do not pay a withdrawal or recovery fee. A second caller offering to recover lost money may be running a recovery scam.
- Contact your bank or card provider immediately using the number on its official website, statement or bank card. Ask whether a payment can be recalled or whether accounts and cards should be protected.
- Save evidence. Keep emails, web addresses, phone numbers, payment records, screenshots and chat logs.
- Report the approach to the FCA. The FCA’s contact number is 0800 111 6768. The regulator also provides a reporting form for approaches involving the buying or selling of shares.
- Report the fraud to the relevant authorities and follow your bank’s instructions if money or personal information has already been handed over.
Do not assume that a second firm can recover the money simply because it knows details of the original loss. The FCA specifically warns that victims of investment and forex scams can be targeted again by recovery scammers.
Claims that should be treated with caution
| Claim | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| “The FCA has just issued a new Plus500 clone warning.” | The specific warning was published and last updated on 1 February 2021. |
| “FRN 509909 proves this caller is genuine.” | Clone firms can copy a genuine firm’s FRN and other corporate details. |
| “plus500.ltd is the official Plus500 website.” | The FCA identified plus500.ltd and plus-500.ltd as clone websites. The current official Plus500 site uses plus500.com. |
| “The firm is safe because it is not on the Warning List.” | The FCA says absence from the Warning List does not establish legitimacy. |
| “Using an authorised company name means the investment is protected.” | Authorisation, product permission and any FSCS or Ombudsman protection must be checked in context. |
FAQ
Is the Plus500 clone warning new?
No. The FCA warning about “Plus-500 (Clone of FCA authorised firm)” was first published and last updated on 1 February 2021. It is a genuine FCA warning, but it should not be described as a newly issued alert.
Is plus500.ltd the real Plus500 website?
No. The FCA identified plus500.ltd and plus-500.ltd as websites used by the clone. Plus500’s current official website is on plus500.com.
Does FCA FRN 509909 prove that an email or caller is genuine?
No. FRN 509909 belongs to the genuine Plus500UK Ltd, but clone firms can copy a legitimate firm’s name, address and reference number. The contact details must also match the FCA’s current record.
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Contact your bank or card provider immediately using an official number and ask what recovery or payment-blocking steps are possible. Preserve all evidence, report the matter to the FCA on 0800 111 6768 and be cautious of anyone offering recovery for an upfront fee.
Does absence from the FCA Warning List mean a firm is safe?
No. The FCA says unauthorised firms may not yet appear on the Warning List. Use the FCA Firm Checker to verify authorisation, the relevant product permission and matching contact details.
The Bottom Line
The Plus500 clone warning is legitimate but dates from 1 February 2021. Treat plus500.ltd, plus-500.ltd and the phone number 07476547304 as warning indicators, not as official Plus500 contact details. Verify the firm through the FCA Firm Checker independently, never rely on a copied FRN, and contact your bank promptly if money has already been sent.
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