Ocean Credit UK (Clone of FCA authorised firm)

What Is This Scam?

Ocean Credit UK is a fraudulent operation that impersonates a legitimate, FCA-authorised financial lending firm. The scam targets UK consumers seeking credit products by using deceptive branding and contact methods to build false credibility. Victims are misled into believing they are dealing with an established, regulated financial services provider when in reality they are engaging with an unauthorised entity operating outside regulatory oversight.

The fraudsters behind this scheme use the identity and operational details of a genuine firm to establish trust before potentially extracting personal information, financial details, or fees from unsuspecting applicants. This type of clone fraud is particularly damaging because it exploits the legitimacy of real companies and the trust consumers place in regulated financial institutions.

Who Are They Impersonating?

Ocean Credit UK fraudulently uses the identity and details of Intelligent Lending Limited, a legitimate FCA-authorised financial services firm.

• Legitimate Firm Name: Intelligent Lending Limited
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 310069
• Registered Address: Think Park, Mosley Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1FQ, United Kingdom
• Official Telephone: +441616727575
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Official Website: www.oceanfinance.co.uk
• Regulatory Authority: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Evidence & Regulatory Action

The fraudulent nature of Ocean Credit UK has been formally confirmed by multiple regulatory authorities. The FCA issued an official warning on 22 November 2024, stating that "Ocean Credit UK (Clone of FCA authorised firm) is not authorised or registered by the FCA but has been targeting people in the UK."

The scam has also been documented in the FCA's unauthorised firm register, which confirms that this entity "uses the details of a genuine FCA-regulated firm" whilst operating without authorisation. International regulatory bodies, including the AFM (Netherlands) and IOSCO (International Organization of Securities Commissions), have also issued alerts regarding this clone fraud operation.

Red Flags

• Website domain is oceancredituk.com rather than the official www.oceanfinance.co.uk
• Contact email is [email protected] (generic Gmail address rather than official corporate domain)
• Entity is listed on the FCA's unauthorised firm register
• Firm is not listed as authorised on the official FCA register when searched by name or reference number
• Official regulatory warnings have been issued against this operation
• Poor website design or spelling errors that differ from the legitimate firm's standards
• Pressure to provide personal or financial information quickly
• Requests for upfront fees or payments before credit approval

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

• Do not provide any personal information, financial details, or identification documents to this entity
• Do not make any payments or transfers of money
• Verify the legitimacy of any contact by visiting www.oceanfinance.co.uk directly or calling +441616727575 using the official number
• Report the contact to the FCA by visiting www.fca.org.uk and using their scam reporting tool
• Report the fraudulent email to Action Fraud or your local police force
• If you have already shared personal information, consider placing a fraud alert with your bank and credit reference agencies
• Block the fraudulent email address and website domain