Patron Capital / Patroncapital.ltd (Clone of FCA authorised firm)

What Is This Scam?

This is a sophisticated website cloning fraud where scammers have created a fake website (patroncapital.ltd) designed to impersonate a legitimate, FCA-authorised financial services firm. The fraudsters use this counterfeit operation to deceive consumers into believing they are dealing with a regulated and trustworthy investment company. Victims who interact with this scam website may be solicited for investments, personal financial information, or payment details under false pretences. The scam specifically targets individuals seeking professional investment advice and financial services, exploiting the trusted reputation of the genuine Patron Capital firm to establish credibility.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The fraudsters are impersonating Patron Capital Advisers LLP, a legitimate financial services firm that is properly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom.

• Legitimate Firm Name: Patron Capital Advisers LLP
• FCA Firm Reference Number: 541800
• Official Address: 2nd Floor, 33 Glasshouse Street, London, W1B 5DG, UNITED KINGDOM
• Official Telephone: +4402076299417
• Official Email: [email protected]
• Legitimate Website: www.patroncapital.com
• Regulatory Authority: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

If you have any doubt about whether you are communicating with the genuine firm, you can verify their FCA authorisation using the official FCA register at register.fca.org.uk and cross-reference their firm reference number 541800.

Evidence & Regulatory Action

Multiple financial regulators and international bodies have confirmed this as an active and dangerous fraud. The scam was officially identified and warned against on September 13, 2024.

• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a formal warning on its official warnings page identifying this as a clone of an FCA-authorised firm
• The scam has been registered on the FCA's unauthorised firms register, confirming that patroncapital.ltd is not authorised to conduct financial services in the UK
• The International Securities & Commodities Alerts Network (I-SCAN), operated by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), has recorded this warning internationally
• The Dutch Financial Authority (AFM) has also issued a consumer warning regarding this fraudulent operation

Red Flags

• Website domain is patroncapital.ltd (not the legitimate www.patroncapital.com)
• Email address [email protected] does not match the official email [email protected]
• The scam website is listed as unauthorised on the official FCA register
• Registered address is listed as Rome, Italy (not the London address of the genuine firm)
• Official warnings have been issued by the FCA and international regulators
• The firm claims FCA authorisation but cannot be verified on the legitimate FCA register

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

• Do not respond to any emails from [email protected]
• Do not provide any personal, banking, or investment information
• Do not make any payments to this fraudulent operation
• Report the scam to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting service) at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
• Report to the FCA using their consumer warnings reporting mechanism at www.fca.org.uk
• Contact your bank immediately if you have already transferred any funds
• Verify independently any future communications by contacting the genuine Patron Capital firm directly using the official telephone number +4402076299417 or the official website www.patroncapital.com