Investors are being warned against dealing with an unauthorised firm following a statement published by the FSA today stating that a company has cloned the FSA authorised bridging lender, Cheval Bridging Finance Ltd.
The statement advises members of the public that an organisation identifying itself to UK individuals as Cheval Bridging Finance Ltd Markets (Clone of FSA authorised firm), trading at address:
Meridien House
6971
Clarendon Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD17 1DS
Telephone: +44 0844 800 3200
is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) to carry on regulated activities in the UK.
Regulated activities include, amongst other things, advising on investments and arranging deals in investments. The FSA believes that this organisation may be targeting UK consumers.
The statement published by the regulator this morning confirms that the following FSA authorised firm has no association whatsoever with the
organisation named above, identifying itself as Cheval Bridging Finance Ltd Markets:
Cheval Bridging Finance Ltd (FSA authorisation: 300605)
Victoria House
49 Clarendon Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD17 1HP
Gavin Diamond, Finance Director of Cheval Bridging Finance Ltd, said: “The organisation is using our name and purporting to be us by using our registered address with a website located in China. It has nothing to do with us. We became aware of the organisation via a Google search on our company name and immediately reported it to the FSA.”
If you are an investor, you should be aware that the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme are not available if you deal with an unauthorised firm or individual.
To find out whether a firm or individual is authorised, go to the FSA Register at:
https://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do
For an up to date list of unauthorised firms issued, visit: www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/index.shtml
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