Bates Finance

What Is This Scam?

Bates Finance is a fraudulent financial operation using the website batesfinance.co.uk and the email address [email protected] to deceive consumers. This scam operates as a clone of a legitimate UK-registered company, meaning the fraudsters have deliberately copied or mimicked the identity of a real, authorised business in order to appear credible and trustworthy. Clone firm scams of this nature are particularly dangerous because they exploit the reputation of genuine regulated entities to lower victims' defences. Targets are typically individuals seeking investment or financial advisory services, who may be approached cold via phone, email, or online advertising before being directed to the fraudulent website.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The scammers are impersonating Bates Finance Limited, a legitimate UK-registered company. The genuine firm operates from County House, 100 New London Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0RG and can be found at batesfinance.uk. Companies House records confirm that Bates Finance Limited is a registered UK entity with company number 03562178. The legitimate company describes itself as a premier asset management firm focused on long-term value through disciplined portfolio diversification. The real firm's contact number is listed as 0124 592 2172 and its official email is [email protected] — note the .uk domain extension, not .co.uk. The relevant regulatory authority for financial services firms of this type in the United Kingdom is the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Evidence & Regulatory Action

The Financial Conduct Authority has issued an official warning against this clone firm. The FCA's warning, published approximately four days ago, identifies the fraudulent operation by name and lists the following contact details associated with the scam: telephone numbers 01245944218 and 01245944391, a mobile number of 01245922172, and the email address [email protected]. The warning has also been picked up by financial due diligence monitoring services, confirming the alert's circulation within the industry. Consumers can view the official FCA warning directly at: Bates Finance (clone of UK registered company) | FCA. The FCA maintains a Warning List of unauthorised firms and individuals, and this entity now appears on that list.

Red Flags

• The scam uses a .co.uk domain (batesfinance.co.uk) that closely mimics the legitimate firm's .uk domain (batesfinance.uk), a classic clone firm tactic.
• The domain was registered very recently — October 24, 2025 — indicating a newly created site with no established track record.
• The scammers use phone numbers and contact details that differ from those of the legitimate registered company.
• The FCA has officially listed this entity as an unauthorised firm operating without proper regulatory approval.
• Clone firm scams frequently use unsolicited contact methods such as cold calls and emails to reach potential victims.
• The fraudulent website mimics a professional asset management firm to appear legitimate and build false trust.
• No verifiable FCA authorisation or licence number is associated with the fraudulent operator.

Domain Information

A WHOIS lookup of the fraudulent domain batesfinance.co.uk reveals the following registration details:

• Registration Date: October 24, 2025
• Domain Age: Approximately 0.4 years — a very recently created domain
• Registrar: PDR Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com (Tag: PDR-IN)

The extremely short domain age is a significant warning sign. Legitimate, established financial firms typically operate domains with years of history. A domain created in late 2025 and associated with financial services solicitations should be treated with serious caution.

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

• Do not send any money or provide personal financial information to anyone associated with batesfinance.co.uk or the phone numbers listed in the FCA warning.
• Check the FCA Register at fca.org.uk to verify whether any firm contacting you is genuinely authorised before engaging with them.
• Report the scam to the FCA directly via their online reporting tool or by calling the FCA Consumer Helpline on 0800 111 6768.
• Report to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre) at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040 if you have already lost money or shared personal details.
• Contact your bank immediately if you have made any payments, as they may be able to halt or reverse transactions under the bank's fraud protection procedures.
• Warn others by sharing the official FCA alert link with friends, family, or online communities who may be targeted by similar approaches.