bosinternationalfund.co.uk (Clone of FCA authorised Fund)

What Is This Scam?

bosinternationalfund.co.uk is a fraudulent website designed to impersonate a legitimate, FCA-regulated investment fund. This clone operation targets UK consumers by presenting itself as an authorised financial services provider, when in fact it holds no regulatory approval whatsoever. Scammers operating this website use deceptive branding and official-sounding communications to convince victims that their money will be invested through a trustworthy, regulated entity. In reality, any funds transferred to this fraudulent operation are likely to be stolen, with no legitimate investment activity taking place. The scam exploits consumers' trust in the FCA regulatory system by mimicking the appearance and credentials of genuine, authorised firms.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The fraudulent website bosinternationalfund.co.uk is cloning BOS International Fund, a genuine fund that is properly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The legitimate BOS International Fund holds FCA Reference Number 839471 and operates in full compliance with UK financial services regulations. The scammers have carefully replicated the name and branding of this authorised fund to deceive consumers into believing they are dealing with a legitimate, regulated investment vehicle. By impersonating an FCA-authorised entity, the fraudsters exploit the reputation and regulatory standing of the genuine firm to gain consumer confidence and facilitate theft.

Evidence & Regulatory Action

The FCA has formally identified and warned the public about bosinternationalfund.co.uk. According to the official FCA warning issued on 18 December 2024, this website is not authorised or registered by the FCA but has been actively targeting people in the UK. The firm has been added to the FCA Register as an unauthorised firm, with documentation confirming that it uses the details of a genuine FCA-regulated firm when offering financial services. Additionally, the scam has been reported to the International Securities & Commodities Alerts Network (I-SCAN) operated by IOSCO, further confirming its status as an unregistered and unlicensed entity offering financial products and services.

Red Flags

• Website domain bosinternationalfund.co.uk is not listed on the official FCA Register as an authorised firm
• Email communications from [email protected] do not originate from FCA-regulated personnel
• The firm uses the name and branding of BOS International Fund (FCA Reference 839471) without authorisation
• The website claims FCA authorisation that cannot be verified through the official FCA Register
• Offers investment opportunities with guaranteed or unusually high returns
• Pressure to deposit funds quickly or urgently
• Requests for personal financial information or upfront payments

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

If you have received communications from bosinternationalfund.co.uk or [email protected], do not engage further with the fraudsters or provide any personal or financial information. Do not click links or download attachments from suspicious emails. If you have already transferred money to this scam, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to report the fraud and attempt to recover your funds. Report the scam to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting service) and to the FCA directly. Always verify the authenticity of investment firms by checking the official FCA Register before engaging with any financial services provider.