According to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, a clone of an authorised firm is using that firm's details on false pretences.

Almost all firms and individuals carrying out financial services activities in the UK have to be authorised or registered by the FCA. The regulator, however, says that this firm is not authorised or registered but has been targeting people in the UK, claiming to be an authorised firm. This is what it calls a 'clone firm.'

Fraudsters usually use this tactic when contacting or 'cold-calling' people out of the blue. In this case they are using the following details as part of their efforts to deceive HNW investors.

Investec Private Banking (clone of FCA authorised firm)
Telephone: 0207 183 1761
Email: scott.mason@secureinbox-investec.com; applications@securemail-investec.com

The authorised firms that fraudsters are claiming to work for have no association with the ‘clone firm.’ Their correct details are as follows.

Firm Name: Investec Click & Invest Ltd
Firm Reference Number: 718616
Address: 2 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7AP
Telephone: 0207 597 1234
Email: jane.warren@investecwin.co.uk

Firm Name: Investec Bank PLC
Firm Reference Number: 172330
Address: 30 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QN
Telephone: 020 7597 4000
Website: https://www.investec.com.