icbc-en.com Clone of FCA authorised firm

What Is This Scam?

icbc-en.com is a fraudulent website operating as a clone of a legitimate, FCA-regulated financial institution. This scam uses deceptive tactics to impersonate an authorised bank, tricking consumers into believing they are conducting business with a trustworthy, regulated entity. Scammers operating this clone site target individuals seeking banking services, investment opportunities, or financial products, exploiting the trust associated with the legitimate brand name.

The fraudulent operation uses professional-looking website design and official-sounding communications to create legitimacy. Victims may be persuaded to provide personal information, financial details, or transfer funds under the false belief they are transacting with a real, regulated bank. This type of clone fraud is particularly dangerous because it leverages the reputation of an established financial institution.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The scammers are impersonating ICBC (London) plc, the legitimate London-based subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited. The genuine institution is fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Details of the legitimate company are as follows:

• Firm Name: ICBC (London) plc
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 222030
• Registered Address: 81 King William St, London, EC4N 7BG, United Kingdom
• Official Telephone: +4402073978888
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Official Website: http://www.icbclondon.com
• Regulatory Authority: Financial Conduct Authority (www.fca.org.uk)

Evidence & Regulatory Action

This scam has been formally documented and warned against by multiple regulatory authorities. The FCA issued an official warning on 22 January 2025 identifying icbc-en.com as a clone of an FCA authorised firm.

The fraudulent operation has been registered across international financial crime watchlists, including the IOSCO I-SCAN database and the Cloned Firm Registry. The scam has also been flagged by the Dutch financial regulator AFM and included on comprehensive scam alert databases including RedFlagg.

Key details from regulatory findings show that the fraudulent entity operates using the email address [email protected] and telephone number +442078707701. The website icbc-en.com is confirmed as an unregistered and unlicensed entity offering financial products or services.

Red Flags

• Website URL is icbc-en.com rather than the legitimate icbclondon.com
• Unsolicited contact via email from [email protected]
• Requests for personal information, account details, or payment information
• Pressure to act quickly or secrecy about transactions
• Email addresses that do not match the official [email protected] address
• Telephone numbers that differ from the official +4402073978888
• Generic greetings or poor grammar in communications
• Requests to verify account information through the fake website

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

If you have received communications from icbc-en.com or [email protected], take the following steps:

• Do not respond to the email or click any links contained within it
• Do not provide any personal, financial, or account information
• Do not transfer any money to any account referenced in the communication
• Report the phishing email to your own email provider's abuse team
• Contact the legitimate ICBC (London) plc directly using their official contact details to confirm whether any communication was genuine
• Report the scam to the FCA using their official warning page or contact the Information Commissioner's Office
• If you have already shared information, monitor your financial accounts closely for suspicious activity and consider placing a fraud alert with your bank
• Report the scam to Action Fraud or your local law enforcement agency