Housing Claims Advice (clone of an FCA authorised firm)

What Is This Scam?

Housing Claims Advice is a fraudulent operation designed to deceive consumers by impersonating a legitimate, FCA-regulated financial services firm. This type of scam, known as a "clone firm," uses a nearly identical name and web presence to trick potential victims into believing they are dealing with an authorised financial business.

The scam targets individuals seeking housing-related financial advice or claims assistance. Fraudsters use the cloned identity to establish false credibility and persuade victims to disclose sensitive financial information or transfer funds under the guise of legitimate services. Victims may believe they are working with a properly regulated firm, when in fact they are communicating with unscrupulous operators with no regulatory oversight or consumer protections.

Who Are They Impersonating?

Housing Claims Advice is cloning 205 Group Ltd, a legitimate firm authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

• Firm Name: 205 Group Ltd
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 830545
• Regulatory Authority: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Official Address: Office B, 15 Connect Business Village, 24 Derby Road, Liverpool, L5 9PR, United Kingdom
• Official Telephone: +4401512459774
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Official Website: www.205group.co.uk

Consumers should verify any firm claiming to be 205 Group Ltd by checking these details against the FCA register or contacting the firm directly using the official contact information above.

Evidence & Regulatory Action

The FCA has formally identified and warned the public about this clone firm. According to the FCA warning issued on January 22, 2025, Housing Claims Advice is operating under the following fraudulent contact details:

• Website: https://housingclaimsadvice.co.uk
• Telephone: 01510009999
• Mobile: 07511802845

This scam has also been documented in the Cloned Firm Registry, confirming the fraudulent nature of the operation and the deliberate attempt to impersonate a regulated financial services provider. The regulatory warning confirms that these contact details and website are not affiliated with the legitimate 205 Group Ltd.

Red Flags

• Website URL differs from the legitimate firm (housingclaimsadvice.co.uk versus 205group.co.uk)
• Contact telephone and mobile numbers do not match the official 205 Group Ltd contact details
• No email address provided for the scam operation
• Firm claims to offer housing claims services but is not registered with the FCA under this name or identity
• Unsolicited contact offering financial or claims advice services
• Pressure to provide personal or financial information quickly
• Requests for upfront payments or fees before services are rendered

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

• Do not provide any personal, financial, or banking information to this organisation
• Do not transfer any money or make any payments
• Do not click links or download files from emails or messages claiming to be from this firm
• Report the scam to Action Fraud by visiting actionfraud.police.uk or calling 0300 123 2040
• Report the fraudulent website and contact details to the FCA using their report fraud page
• If you have already provided information, contact your bank and credit card providers immediately
• Monitor your financial accounts closely for unauthorised activity
• If you have been a victim of fraud, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file with the major credit bureaus