The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has warned London Capital & Finance (LCF) bondholders of scams.

The SFO has been made aware that emails and London Capital & Finance (LCF) headed letters have been sent to London Capital & Finance Bondholders purporting to be from a director of the company. These communications refer to ‘lodging claims’ and that failing to act will result in a loss.

The phone number quoted in the emails and letters can be found on a website which the Financial Conduct Authority warns is unauthorised and any emails from info@londoncapitalfinanceuk.com are not authorised by the administrators of London Capital & Finance. LCF believes that scammers may also be cold-calling bondholders.

Please be extremely wary of any contact that isn’t directly from London Capital & Finance’s administrator, Smith & Williamson. If you are unsure, please visit their website at https://smithandwilliamson.com/london-capital/ for further information.

The SFO continues to investigate the dealings of London Capital and Finance Plc and associated companies. If you are an investor victim in this case and have changed your contact details, please update the case team by emailing axite@sfo.gov.uk.

On 31 March the SFO closed the questionnaire, with 3,825 responses submitted.

London Capital & Finance (LCF) was a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorised firm which issued unregulated non-transferable debt securities, commonly known as ‘mini-bonds’, to investors and then speculatively invested the funds received in a number of underlying businesses. LCF went into administration in January 2019 and at the point of failure 11,625 bondholders had invested around £237 million.