ING Bank N.V. (clone of an FCA authorised firm)

What Is This Scam?

This is a clone firm scam targeting UK consumers. Fraudsters have created a fake entity using the name and details of ING Bank N.V., a legitimate, FCA-authorised financial institution. The scammers use deceptive email addresses and websites designed to closely mimic the genuine bank's online presence, tricking victims into believing they are communicating with the real ING Bank.

The primary goal is to obtain personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims, potentially leading to unauthorised transactions, identity theft, and financial loss. This type of impersonation scam exploits the trust and brand recognition of established financial institutions to appear credible and legitimate.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The scammers are impersonating ING Bank N.V., a genuine financial services firm authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The legitimate company's verified details are as follows:

• Firm Name: ING Bank N.V.
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 124940
• Registered Address: 8-10 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6DA, United Kingdom
• Official Telephone: +442077671000
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Official Website: www.ing.com
• Regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Evidence & Regulatory Action

The FCA officially identified this scam and added it to its register of unauthorised firms on 3 March 2025. According to the FCA's official warning, this clone firm "is not authorised or registered by the FCA but has been targeting people in the UK."

The FCA's unauthorised firms register confirms that this entity "uses the details of a genuine FCA-regulated firm" as part of its deceptive scheme. Additionally, this scam has been flagged internationally through the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) as an unregistered and unlicensed entity offering financial products or services.

Red Flags

• Email addresses that do not match the official ING domain (legitimate: @uk.ing.com or @ing.com)
• Website URLs that closely mimic but do not exactly match www.ing.com (such as ing-europe.com or similar variations)
• Unsolicited contact requesting personal, banking, or payment card information
• Pressure to act quickly or secrecy requirements around communication
• Links to login portals that appear slightly different from the genuine ING website
• Requests for two-factor authentication codes or security credentials

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

• Do not respond to emails or messages from the suspected scam address ([email protected])
• Do not click links or download attachments from suspicious emails
• Do not provide personal, financial, or security information
• Contact ING Bank directly using the official telephone number (+442077671000) or visit www.ing.com to verify any communication
• Report the scam to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) or the FCA (www.fca.org.uk)
• Monitor your accounts for unauthorised activity and consider setting up fraud alerts with your bank
• Check the FCA Register before engaging with any financial services firm at register.fca.org.uk