Some scams copy a real, licensed firm to borrow its good name. On 30 October 2026 the UK Financial Conduct Authority warned that Shard Credit Partners at shardcreditpartners.uk is a clone of authorised firms, with no connection to the genuine business it imitates. If a site using that name contacted you, this is what to know.
What the FCA said about the clone
The FCA notice flags shardcreditpartners.uk as a clone that copies the identity of authorised firms to look legitimate. The genuine business has no link to this website. Dealing with the clone means no Financial Ombudsman access and no Financial Services Compensation Scheme cover, because the people behind it were never authorised. The warning is backed up by the browser itself, which now shows a suspected phishing alert on the address.
Verified evidence
- FCA clone warning published 30 October 2026 naming the website shardcreditpartners.uk
- Flagged as a clone that copies the identity of authorised firms
- The genuine firm has no connection to this website
- Domain shardcreditpartners.uk registered on 15 December 2025
- Browsers now show a Suspected Phishing warning when the site is opened
Report this broker to ReclaimDC
Why a clone is so convincing
A clone is dangerous because the details it quotes are real. The firm name and history belong to the authorised company being copied. The part that does not match is the website and the contact route. Always confirm a firm through the FCA register and use only the contact details listed there, not the ones in an email or a message. A familiar name is exactly the hook.
What to do if the clone contacted you
Act fast. Tell your bank or card provider you paid a firm the FCA has flagged as a clone and ask about a chargeback or a recall. Keep the emails, the account pages, the messages and any account or wallet numbers, because those are the details an investigator follows. Report it to the FCA and to your local police or cybercrime unit. Treat any later offer to recover your funds for a fee as a second scam, because no honest agency charges a victim upfront.
A real firm name does not make a website real. The FCA says shardcreditpartners.uk is a clone, and the browser now calls it phishing. Verify every firm on the FCA register before you send a penny, and if this clone reached you, report it to ReclaimDC.
Sources: UK Financial Conduct Authority Warning List, clone notice published 30 October 2026 (shardcreditpartners.uk); public domain registration record for shardcreditpartners.uk (registered 15 December 2025).
