TL;DR
The FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk lists every UK-authorised financial firm. Checking the Register confirms authorisation, permissions, and contact details. Essential before sharing financial information with any firm.
Key facts
- FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk is the authoritative UK source.
- Free to search; no registration required.
- Shows authorisation status, permitted activities, contact details.
- Firm reference number (FRN) identifies each authorised firm.
- Clone scams imitate real firms; check contact details carefully.
- ScamSmart at fca.org.uk/scamsmart warns about known scams.
- Firm types: banks, lenders, brokers, insurance, AISP/PISP, EMI.
- Searching by name or FRN both work.
The FCA Register is the authoritative UK source for verifying that a financial firm is authorised. Every UK-regulated financial firm appears on the Register with their permissions, contact details, and current status. Checking the Register before engaging with any firm protects against scams, including the prevalent 'clone firm' scams that imitate real authorised firms.
This guide walks through searching the Register, understanding the firm details, identifying clone scams, and using the FCA's ScamSmart resources.
Searching the Register
Access the Register at register.fca.org.uk - free, no registration required. The search box accepts firm name or firm reference number (FRN). Both searches work; FRN is more reliable where the firm name is common or where you suspect a clone.
For a firm name search: enter the name as it appears in the firm's marketing or website. The Register shows all matching firms; clicking through each shows their authorisation details, permissions, and contact information. Where multiple firms have similar names, the trading address and contact details help identify the correct one.
For an FRN search: the FRN is a unique number assigned to each authorised firm. Marketing materials and websites often display the FRN (e.g. 'Firm Reference Number 123456'). Searching by FRN goes directly to the firm's entry, eliminating any name-matching ambiguity.
Worked example: a website claims 'Barclays Mortgage' with phone number 0800-EXAMPLE. Searching FCA Register for 'Barclays' returns Barclays Bank PLC (FRN 122702). The real Barclays Bank PLC has specific listed contact details. The 0800-EXAMPLE number doesn't match Barclays' published contact details - this is likely a clone scam impersonating Barclays.
Understanding the firm details
The firm's Register entry shows: legal name, trading names, FRN, status (typically 'Authorised'), permissions (the specific financial services they can provide), addresses, contact details, key individuals (directors, senior managers), and historical changes.
Permissions: each firm is authorised for specific activities. A bank might be authorised for deposit-taking, mortgage lending, and consumer credit. A broker might be authorised for advising on insurance, mortgages, and investments. Permissions outside the listed scope are unauthorised even where the firm has other valid permissions.
Status: most authorised firms show 'Authorised'. Other statuses: 'Limited', 'Appointed Representative' (acting under another firm's permission), 'Withdrawn' (no longer authorised). Withdrawn firms cannot conduct regulated business; engagement with them is essentially unauthorised.
Key individuals: senior managers and certified persons under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime are listed. The presence of named individuals adds credibility to the firm's claims. Clone scams typically lack these individual listings or have generic-sounding names that don't match the named individuals at the real firm.
Identifying clone scams
Clone scams impersonate real authorised firms to gain consumer trust. The clone uses a name very similar to the real firm, may even use the same FRN, but with different contact details (phone, email, website). The consumer thinks they are dealing with the real firm but is engaging with the scammer.
Common clone indicators: phone numbers and email addresses that don't match the real firm's Register entry, websites with slight URL variations (added words, different domain extensions), pressure tactics or unusual urgency, requests for unusual payment methods (cryptocurrency, gift cards, transfers to personal accounts), guaranteed unusually high returns.
The FCA publishes a list of known clone firms at fca.org.uk/news/warnings. Searching for any concerning firm or product name there surfaces specific warnings the FCA has issued.
Practical action: when in doubt about a firm's identity, contact the firm using the contact details from the FCA Register (not the contact details provided by the firm itself). Real firms will confirm whether they have made an approach; clone scams will not match up with the real firm's records.
ScamSmart and ongoing protection
The FCA's ScamSmart resources at fca.org.uk/scamsmart provide guides to recognising and avoiding investment scams. Topics include: investment scams, pension scams, romance scams that lead to investment fraud, recovery scams (scammers contacting prior victims claiming to recover lost funds for a fee), and impersonation scams.
Common scam patterns: cold calls or unsolicited contact about investments, pressure to act quickly before an 'opportunity' is gone, claims of unusually high returns with no risk, requests to transfer funds to a personal or international account, requests to send money before receiving any service.
Reporting scams: the FCA has a Consumer Helpline (0800 111 6768) for reports about firms. Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk) handles fraud crimes more broadly. Both provide reference numbers for any investigation or insurance claim.
Practical action: treating any unexpected contact about financial products with suspicion is the safest default. Real firms typically don't cold-call about specific products; cold calls about investment opportunities are almost always scams. The 30 seconds to check the FCA Register before engaging prevents most scam losses.
What to do if you've been scammed
Where loss has occurred, immediate action limits further damage. Contact your bank immediately to stop further payments and report potential fraud. Many banks can reverse recent transactions; under the APP fraud reimbursement scheme effective October 2024, most authorised push payment scams are reimbursable by the sending bank.
Report to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk) for the police record. This is essential for any insurance claim or for the bank's APP fraud reimbursement process. Report to the FCA at fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-unauthorised-firm if the firm imitated an authorised firm.
For investment scams where funds have been transferred, the recovery options are limited. Cryptocurrency scams are particularly difficult to recover from because the transactions cannot be reversed. Some specialist law firms offer recovery services but the actual recovery rates are low.
Practical action: 'recovery scams' often target prior victims, claiming to recover lost funds for an upfront fee. These are typically further scams compounding the original loss. The FCA's warning is to never pay upfront fees for any 'recovery' service; legitimate recovery (where possible) operates through court action or formal bank reimbursement claims without consumer fees.
Limited permissions and what they mean
Some firms have 'limited permissions' under FCA authorisation, restricting them to specific lower-risk activities. Common examples: consumer credit firms with limited permission to lend specific products, payment institutions limited to specific payment service categories.
The Register shows the specific permissions granted to each firm. Activities outside the granted permissions are unauthorised, even where the firm has other valid permissions. A firm authorised only for consumer credit cannot lawfully provide investment advice; engaging them for the unauthorised activity is essentially engaging an unauthorised provider.
Appointed Representatives (ARs) act under the permissions of an authorised 'principal' firm. The AR is on the Register but their permitted activities are through the principal's authorisation. Where the principal-AR relationship ends, the AR loses authorisation unless they have their own permissions or join another principal.
Practical action: when checking the Register, looking at the specific permissions of the firm and matching them to the activity being offered confirms not just authorisation but appropriate authorisation. A firm with mortgage advice permission cannot lawfully give investment advice; the Register surfaces this through the permission detail.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information based on rules and figures published by UK government and regulator sources as of May 2026. It is not personal financial, legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules, fees and figures change and individual circumstances vary. Readers should check primary sources or consult a qualified, regulated adviser before acting on any information here.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a UK financial firm is genuine?
Search the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk. Every UK-authorised financial firm appears with their permissions, status, and contact details. Verify the firm's contact details match what you've been given. Where the contact details don't match the Register entry, you're likely dealing with a clone scam impersonating the real firm.
What's a Firm Reference Number?
The FCA's unique identifier for each authorised firm. Marketing materials and websites should display the FRN. Searching the Register by FRN goes directly to the firm's entry, eliminating any ambiguity from similar firm names. Where a firm cannot provide an FRN or where the FRN doesn't match the firm's claimed identity, the firm is likely unauthorised or a clone.
What's a clone firm scam?
A scammer impersonating a real authorised firm using a similar name and sometimes the same FRN. The clone uses different contact details (phone, email, website) but tries to gain consumer trust through association with the real firm. Common indicators: phone numbers and email addresses that don't match the Register entry, slight URL variations, pressure tactics, unusual payment methods. Check the Register entry's contact details before engaging.
Should I report a suspected scam?
Yes. Report to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk) for the police record. Report to the FCA at fca.org.uk if the firm imitated an authorised firm. The FCA publishes warnings about known scams; your report helps build the warning. The reports also support any later insurance claim or bank reimbursement claim.
Will I get my money back if I've been scammed?
Depends on the scam type. Authorised Push Payment fraud (where you were tricked into authorising a payment) is reimbursable by the sending bank under the PSR mandatory scheme effective October 2024, subject to limited exceptions. Investment scams and cryptocurrency scams are typically not recoverable. Card-based fraud can sometimes be reversed through chargeback. Contact your bank immediately to maximise recovery options.