Reporting fraud about a company to Companies House

How to report suspected fraudulent company activity to Companies House and find out what action they can take.

This guide covers information on:

• what Companies House can and can’t do
• who you should report fraud to
• fraud and scams Companies House knows about

1. What Companies House can and can’t do

Companies House can only assist with issues that involve forms being filed at Companies House.

The function of Companies House is to incorporate and register companies. It can take action against companies that fail to deliver documents under the Companies Act 2006, such as removing a company from the public register or prosecuting its directors.

Companies House has no investigatory powers and is unable to investigate allegations of fraud. If you suspect fraudulent activity you should report the details to the police. Companies House works closely with various law enforcement authorities by providing them information when they need assistance with their inquiries.

You should get in touch with Companies House if you have concerns that:

• a registered office has been changed without the company’s knowledge or consent
• an individual has been appointed as an officer without their knowledge or consent
• a company name has been changed without permission
• an un-authorised address is being used for a registered office or officer’s service address

Provide full details of your complaint and your contact details to: [email protected]

Internal company disputes

Companies House will not become involved or offer advice on disputes between company officers or shareholders, either past or present. It is the company’s responsibility to resolve any differences which are outside the remit of the registrar of companies and file the appropriate documentation with him.

If a solution cannot be reached you’ll need to seek your own independent legal advice.

2. Who you should report fraud to

If you suspect fraudulent activity you should report it to the police.

If your complaint is about the conduct of a company or its officers you should contact The Insolvency Service - learn more about how to complain about a limited company.

The Company Investigations team within The Insolvency Service has the power to investigate limited companies where information received suggests corporate abuse, such as:

• serious misconduct
• fraud or scams
• sharp practice in the way a company operates

Further support on fraud

You can get advice and support on matters of fraud, from Action Fraud who are the UK’s national fraud reporting centre.

3. Known fraud and scams

Information and advice on fraudulent activity and scams which Companies House is aware of, including:

• late filing penalty payment
• bogus Companies House emails
• bogus requests to verify your Companies House password
• suspicious job vacancies
• pension liberation fraud
• telephone scam

Late filing penalty payment

Companies have been contacted asking for payment of a late filing penalty over the telephone. The caller says they will accept a payment of ￡5 by credit or debit to place a hold on any further action being taken.

Companies House will not contact you for immediate payment of a late filing penalty or request payment of a nominal fee to place a hold on any recovery action.

Payment plans are set up with the agreement of the manager dealing with your late filing penalty query. We will not cold call you to take a payment.

Bogus Companies House emails

There have been a number of suspicious emails being sent claiming to be from Companies House. These emails have not been generated by Companies House.

Bogus ‘Document Order’ emails

These emails appear to come from a valid Companies House email address but do not. Genuine ‘Document Order’ emails are only produced when a copy of current company information is requested from within our online filing service.

Also, genuine ‘Document Order’ emails contain your company name and number under an ‘Order detail’ heading, and a reference to the attached PDF of company information. The bogus emails appear not to contain this individual company information, and the attachment is not in a PDF format. Do not open the attachment.

If you’ve received one of these emails forward it to [email protected] and then delete it. Don’t try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Other customers have been sent emails stating:

“Thank you for completing a submission Reference # (0516538). Check attachment to confirm acceptance or rejection of this filing”

Companies House will tell you within the email whether your submission has been accepted or rejected. Please do not open the attachment.

If you have received one of these emails forward it to [email protected] and then delete it. Do not try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Bogus requests to verify your Companies House password

There have also been reports from customers that they’re receiving email requests to validate their Companies House email address and password. If you’re not expecting to receive an email to reset your password it may be a scam. Our advice is to forward it to [email protected] and then delete it.

The email contains a link to a web page that requests the entry of your email address and password. Always check that the URL (the website address) you are about to link to is a genuine Companies House or GOV.UK address.

For example, a request for a password reset for our online filing service will have an address that starts: ewf.companieshouse.gov.uk

If the link doesn't contain '.gov.uk' within the address, it's not a Companies House page and is potentially a scam.

Suspicious job vacancies

There have also been instances about fake job adverts in the UK. These generally offer highly paid vacancies or opportunities in the oil, hotel or banking industries. The job adverts are often placed in print or on websites to appear genuine.

Treat all job offers with extreme caution. The contact details are usually fake, and you should avoid replying to the providers of these vacancies.

The advert might request money up front before the application can be processed, and they might also mention UK visas. Be sure to check with UK Visas and Immigration for information on applying for a UK visa.

Pension liberation fraud

Pension scams are on the increase in the UK and Companies House has been made aware that under some schemes individuals have had limited companies established in their name. If you believe that you have had a company set up in your name, please see legal advice before taking any action to close it.

Scams are promoted using terms such as an offer of unique investment opportunities, free pension review, legal loophole, cash bonus or as a government endorsed scheme and victims are being approached via cold calling, text message or in person door to door. You should treat all approaches about your pension with caution if it is not from a source that you recognise and trust.

If you are approached, do not share your personal information or sign any paperwork. You are able to check whether the offer of service is genuine and the Pension Advisory Service website can help.

The Pensions Regulator also offers guidance to help individuals who think that they may have been targeted by pension scams.

Companies House telephone scam warning

Companies have been contacted by persons claiming to be from Companies House, who ask them for details of their company’s directors.

Companies House personnel will never contact you by telephone to find out who your officers are, or ask for secure information such as authentication codes.

If anyone contacts you claiming to be from Companies House asking for this information, try to obtain a return telephone number and contact Companies House immediately on 0303 1234 500.

Don't enter any details or click any links or buttons. The web page is not linked to our services and will send your details to the scammers.

4. Company register payment requests

Companies registered at Companies House are receiving notifications asking for money to maintain their company on a register.

The companies concerned are receiving what looks like a genuine request from one of the following:

• New Companies Register
• Digital Companies Register
• National Register of Companies
• Economic Index for Europe
• Register of Companies and Businesses
• Scottish Commercial Register (publication of companies)
• Welsh Commercial Register
• e-public.co.uk Company Register

These organisations are not connected to, or endorsed by, either Companies House or GOV.UK and the fee requested is not required to keep the company registered at Companies House.