Fraudsters target SJP clients in clone scam offering advice

Pretending to be SJP adviser

Sophie King
clock • 2 min read

Clone scammers have targeted St. James’s Place (SJP) customers by pretending to be a fake bond website and acting as an adviser from the advice giant.

Professional fixed income investor and campaigner Mark Taber spotted the scam and has reported it to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and SJP. Scammers appeared to be acting as a fake SJP adviser called Richard Thorpe, offering support and guidance relating to bonds with fake website 'Bond Compare'. Taber became aware of the fraudulent website last year after it targeted customers of other advice firms. He reported the website on 17 November 2020 but, at the time of writing, the website still appeared on Google. A note on the FCA website from 4 December last year outlined that...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Regulation

Regulatory and employment-related changes – what do firms need to prepare for?

Regulatory and employment-related changes – what do firms need to prepare for?

‘Getting these issues right is not just about avoiding regulatory action or tribunal claims’

Sophie White
clock 21 August 2025 • 4 min read
FOS fees could fall if cases resolved early

FOS fees could fall if cases resolved early

Consultation seeking to modernise charges

Jenna Brown
clock 13 August 2025 • 2 min read
Consumer Duty two years on: Challenges remain for advisers

Consumer Duty two years on: Challenges remain for advisers

‘Biggest challenge for advisers at the moment'

Sahar Nazir
clock 31 July 2025 • 4 min read