This is for all the people who have no knowledge of how the UK Business environment works, and might just be tempted by this scam
Legal disclaimer, while all below is true, the advise is my opinion
ANY legitimate company has to register the company Name, Address, directors and company secretary’s details with Companies house, this applies to ANY and ALL companies be they limited liability or partnerships. Anyone can search the database at
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ Now because it only costs £80 to register a company proper fraudsters will spend the money and have a registered company, so when checking look at the registration date of the company, if they are filing their accounts and the registered address.
Even better, for a nominal fee (£2-£3) Companies house will provide you with the names and addresses of the company’s directors, and details of their last filed returns.
How to use this information, well firstly if any one approaches you claiming to be a UK company ask for the registered name and company number, communicate only via the registered address, if you are transacting business with them, spend the pennies, run the checks, so if they claim to be a Petroleum broker and have filed returns where they’ve turned over £5000 a year or claim to be an investment house and only set up the company 2 weeks ago, then you have all the information you need to shout 419.
Investment advisors or houses in the UK similarly have detailed rules and regulations covering their existence, but I can tell you straight up any Investment house posting to blogs and web sites about opportunities is a SCAMMER
An finally, people don’t be so gullible, there is no one out there who is giving you money for nothing, yes country is hard however giving away the little you have to these BA***RDS is not going to help you, it is only going to cause you more heartbreak.
Companies in every country in the world have similar rules so if anyone claims to be working on behalf of any company, do your research, asking questions on the forum that will mostly be replied by the fraudsters using another name should be a first step.