European Trust International Investment Bank (clone of an FCA authorised firm)

What Is This Scam?

European Trust International Investment Bank is a fraudulent clone operation designed to deceive consumers into believing they are dealing with a legitimate, FCA-regulated financial institution. This scam operates through a counterfeit website (https://etiib.com) and corresponding email address ([email protected]) to solicit investment funds and financial information from unsuspecting victims.

The scam targets individuals seeking investment opportunities with established, trustworthy financial institutions. Perpetrators exploit the reputation and branding of legitimate firms to build false credibility, encouraging victims to transfer money or disclose sensitive personal and financial data. This type of clone fraud is particularly effective because it leverages the trust associated with regulated financial services.

Who Are They Impersonating?

European Trust International Investment Bank is impersonating Castle Trust Capital PLC, a legitimate, FCA-authorised financial services firm based in London.

• Legitimate Firm: Castle Trust Capital PLC
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 541910
• Registered Address: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ, United Kingdom
• Official Telephone: +4408006520008
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Official Website: www.castletrust.co.uk
• Regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – www.fca.org.uk

Castle Trust Capital PLC is properly licensed and regulated by the FCA. Any communication claiming to represent this firm should only be trusted if it comes through the official contact details listed above.

Evidence & Regulatory Action

The Financial Conduct Authority issued an official warning about European Trust International Investment Bank on September 26, 2024, identifying it as a clone of an FCA-authorised firm.

According to the FCA and corroborated by multiple fraud registry sources, the fraudulent operation uses the following details:

• Scam Entity Name: European Trust International Investment Bank (clone of an FCA authorised firm)
• Fraudulent Address: ETIIB, 4 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4UP, United Kingdom
• Fraudulent Email: [email protected]
• Fraudulent Website: https://etiib.com

This scam has been documented across multiple consumer protection and fraud registry databases, confirming its active status and ongoing threat to consumers.

Red Flags

• Website domain (etiib.com) does not match the legitimate Castle Trust Capital PLC domain (castletrust.co.uk)
• Email address ([email protected]) differs from the official compliance contact ([email protected])
• Physical address (4 Chiswell Street) does not match the registered office address (Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street)
• Unsolicited contact offering investment opportunities with guaranteed returns
• Pressure to act quickly or transfer funds immediately
• Requests for personal identification, banking details, or investment capital via email
• Professional-looking website that closely mimics legitimate financial services sites
• No verifiable FCA authorisation when cross-referenced with the official FCA register

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

• Do not respond to any emails from [email protected] or communications from the fraudulent website
• Do not provide personal information, banking details, or investment funds
• Verify independently by contacting Castle Trust Capital PLC directly using the official telephone number (+4408006520008) or email ([email protected])
• Check the FCA Register at www.fca.org.uk to confirm the authorisation status of any financial firm before engaging with them
• Report the scam to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) or your local law enforcement agency
• Alert your bank if you have already transferred funds or disclosed banking information
• Monitor your accounts closely for any unauthorised transactions or suspicious activity