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The historical warning matters because clone firms copy the identity of legitimate financial businesses, including names, addresses and FCA reference numbers. But the FCA listing should not be confused with proof that the current website at ct-trade.com is still operating as the same financial scam.
What the FCA warning says about CT-Trade
The FCA described CT-Trade as a firm contacting people while pretending to be an authorised business. The firm was presented as a clone of Citibank Europe plc, rather than a genuine part of the Citigroup group.
| Detail | Information recorded by the FCA |
|---|---|
| Name | CT-Trade |
| Classification | Clone of FCA authorised firm |
| Address | 71–75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom |
| Telephone | 020 8089 1189 |
| Website | www.ct-trade.com |
| Additional address | Office 239, Emilii Plater 53, 00-113 Warszawa, Poland |
The FCA cautions that clone operators can use several addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses. They may also change those details after a warning is published. A matching address or telephone number is therefore not enough to establish that a firm is genuine.
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Which firm was impersonated?
The firm named by the FCA as the genuine business was Citibank Europe plc. Its FCA details included:
| Detail | Genuine Citibank Europe plc record |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Citibank Europe plc |
| FCA Firm Reference Number | 211646 |
| Address | Citigroup Centre, 33 Canada Square, London, Tower Hamlets, E14 5LB |
| Telephone | +44 0800 005 500 |
| Website | www.citigroup.com |
The FCA expressly stated that Citibank Europe plc had no connection with CT-Trade. Citibank’s name, address or FRN appearing in documents or on a website would not authorise CT-Trade and would not establish a relationship between the two firms.
Why an FCA number does not prove a firm is legitimate
An FCA Firm Reference Number identifies a regulated firm in the FCA’s records. It does not function as a transferable licence that anyone can quote. A clone can copy a genuine firm’s FRN and place it next to a different website, phone number or email address.
For example, FRN 211646 belongs to the genuine Citibank Europe plc record. It does not prove that CT-Trade was authorised. The name, contact details and permissions must all match the FCA record.
This last point is important because authorisation is service-specific. A firm might be authorised for one regulated activity but not for the investment, loan, insurance or payment service being offered to you.
What “clone firm” means
The FCA uses “clone firm” for an unauthorised business that pretends to be, or claims to work for, an authorised firm. The operator may copy:
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- the genuine firm’s legal name or trading name;
- its FCA reference number;
- its registered or principal address;
- its branding and website layout;
- telephone numbers, email addresses and documents.
The approach may look professional. Fraudsters can use authentic corporate information mixed with false contact details, which is why searching the name alone is not a reliable check.
What is currently at ct-trade.com?
The domain named in the old FCA warning currently resolves to a website for a Taiwan-based electronics and tooling business called CTtrade. The site displays electronics-related product categories, the telephone number +886-2-8226-9877, the email address [email protected], the Chinese company name 思笛貿易有限公司, Taiwan business number 89119810 and a 2026 copyright notice.
That site is materially different from the financial business described in the FCA warning. The available information does not establish that the current electronics business is the same operator as the historical clone, or that the old financial fraud remains active at the domain.
The accurate conclusion is narrower: the domain was listed by the FCA in 2018 as one of the details used by CT-Trade. Its present content should not be treated as proof that the historical clone is still operating, nor as proof that the domain is safe for financial transactions.
How to check a financial firm before sending money
- Open the FCA’s official Firm Checker or search the Financial Services Register.
- Search for the business using its name and other identifying details.
- Select the specific product or service the business is offering.
- Confirm that the firm is authorised for that precise activity—not merely that a similarly named firm appears in the search results.
- Compare the FCA record’s website, telephone number and address with the details supplied by the caller, email or website.
- If anything differs, stop contact and use the FCA’s official contact details. Do not call the number provided by the person who approached you.
The Financial Services Register is particularly useful when you need current and former firm information, unauthorised-firm records and clone warnings. The FCA says its Firm Checker can take, on average, up to 24 hours to reflect updates. Neither a search result nor a warning-list result should be treated as a substitute for checking permissions and contact details.
Does not appearing on the FCA Warning List mean a firm is safe?
No. The FCA says the Warning List is not an exhaustive, real-time list of every unauthorised or fraudulent business. It adds warnings as soon as possible, but unauthorised firms can change names and details quickly.
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You can search the list using its search bar, filter by the first letter of a firm’s name or click the Name column to sort results alphabetically. However, a firm’s absence from a particular Warning List view is not evidence of authorisation. Use the Firm Checker or Financial Services Register and verify the firm’s permissions.
What protection would a customer have?
The FCA warning says that dealing with CT-Trade would not provide the protections normally associated with an authorised firm. In particular, a customer would not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service for a complaint against the clone and would not receive Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection if the clone failed.
That does not mean every payment made to a suspected clone is automatically impossible to recover. Recovery depends on the payment method, date, circumstances and the bank or card provider’s investigation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Could money sent to CT-Trade be recovered?
Do not assume that the FCA warning alone answers this question. Possible routes can include:
- an authorised push-payment (APP) scam claim through your bank;
- card chargeback;
- a claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, where the transaction and eligibility conditions allow it;
- the Direct Debit Guarantee, where a payment was collected by Direct Debit;
- a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service about a payment provider’s handling of a claim.
For eligible UK APP payments sent through Faster Payments or CHAPS on or after 7 October 2024, mandatory reimbursement rules generally apply. The standard maximum reimbursement is £85,000; reimbursement should usually be made within five business days, and a provider may apply an excess of up to £100 under the applicable rules. An assessment can take up to 35 business days.
The rules cover individuals, microenterprises and charities, but do not cover every payment or fact pattern. Overseas payments, card payments, crypto-exchange payments and some internal transfers are handled under different rules. A bank may also refuse reimbursement in circumstances such as fraud by the customer or failure to meet the required standard of caution. See the FCA’s fraudulent payments guidance for details.
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If you have already paid or shared information
- Contact your bank or card provider immediately using the number on your card, banking app or statement.
- Tell it clearly that you believe you are the victim of an investment or impersonation scam and ask what recovery process applies.
- Preserve emails, messages, contracts, payment confirmations, telephone numbers, website addresses and screenshots.
- Do not send a further “release fee”, “tax”, “verification payment” or recovery payment. Fraudsters often target previous victims with a second scam.
- Report the matter to the relevant UK fraud-reporting service and provide the FCA with information if appropriate.
FAQ
Is CT-Trade currently FCA authorised?
The FCA warning identified CT-Trade as an unauthorised clone of Citibank Europe plc. Do not rely on the name or the historical warning alone; check the business and the specific service in the FCA Firm Checker or Financial Services Register.
Was CT-Trade regulated by Citibank Europe plc?
No. Citibank Europe plc was the genuine firm whose identity the FCA said CT-Trade was impersonating. The FCA stated that Citibank Europe plc had no connection with CT-Trade.
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Does FCA FRN 211646 prove CT-Trade was authorised?
No. FRN 211646 is associated with the genuine Citibank Europe plc record. A clone can copy a real FRN, so the firm name, website, telephone number and permissions must also match.
Is ct-trade.com still the FCA-flagged broker?
That has not been established. The domain currently hosts a different-looking Taiwan-based electronics and tooling website. The FCA warning records that the domain was used by the historical CT-Trade clone; it does not prove that the current site is operated by the same entity.
Can victims of CT-Trade get their money back?
Possibly. The clone itself would not provide FOS or FSCS protection, but separate remedies may apply depending on the payment method and date. Contact your bank or card provider immediately. Eligible UK APP payments through Faster Payments or CHAPS made on or after 7 October 2024 may fall under mandatory reimbursement rules.
The Bottom Line
CT-Trade was listed by the FCA as an unauthorised clone impersonating Citibank Europe plc. The warning dates from 2018, with a 2020 update, so it should not be described as a new FCA action. Citibank Europe plc, FRN 211646, had no connection with CT-Trade.
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