Reporting scams pretending to be from Companies House
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-04)

What to do if you think you've noticed a scam pretending to be from Companies House, and examples of scam emails, letters and telephone calls.

There’s a separate process if you want to:
- complain about a limited company (https://www.gov.uk/complain-company)
- protect your company from fraud and scams (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-your-company-from-fraud-and-scams)
- report a company using your personal details without your permission (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-company-using-your-personal-details-without-your-permission)
Scam telephone calls

We’ll never call you to ask for secure information like:
- passwords
- bank details
- authentication code
- details of directors or company officers
If you receive a suspicious call

If anyone calls you claiming to be from Companies House and asking for this information:
- do not give out your information
- try to get a return telephone number
- contact us immediately on xx-xxxx-xxxx
Examples of known phone scams

A caller claims to be from the Companies House “registration department” which does not exist. They ask for contact details to send out “registration documents”.

A caller asks you to pay a late filing penalty over the phone. They say they’ll accept a payment of £5 by credit or debit to place a hold on any further action being taken.

A caller tells you there’s a “discrepancy with the information held on the register” and asks for information such as full dates of birth for directors.

Scam emails

Deceptive or fraudulent emails often include:
- false and confusing information
- spelling or grammatical errors
- pressure to act quickly
- demands for payment
- formatting and logos to make it look like they’re from Companies House
- pressure to open an attachment or link, or to provide an authentication code
If you get an email claiming to be from Companies House

Even if an email seems legitimate:
- check the sender - real emails from Companies House will come from an email address ending “.gov.uk”
- hover over links to check where they go - if the URL looks different to what you were expecting, do not click the link
If you get a suspicious email:
- report it immediately at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- do not share any personal information
- do not open any links or attachments
- delete the email from all mailboxes, including your deleted items
Examples of known email scams

Email from “Robin Lawrence” asking you to scan the attached document and fax it to xx-xxxx-xxxx: Scam email example: email from "Robin Lawrence" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9ee39a085bda43efbf/Scam_email_example_1.jpg) (JPEG, 91.7 KB)

Fake request to verify your email address: Scam email example: fake request to verify your email address (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9ed140bbbaa59a2a6a/Scam_email_example_2.jpg) (JPEG, 156 KB)

Emails claiming to be generated in response to a company complaint: Scam email example: response to company complaint 1 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d513046b952c500a8/Scam_email_example_12.png) (PNG, 236 KB) Scam email example: response to company complaint 2 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d513046b952c500aa/Scam_email_example_4.jpg) (JPEG, 146 KB)

Email featuring the HMRC logo telling you that Companies House needs to verify your identity: Scam email example: Companies House needs to verify your identity (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9dd140bbbaa59a2a69/Scam_email_example_5.jpg) (JPEG, 169 KB)

Email telling you your “application” has been submitted and asking you to download a copy of the application: Scam email example: your "application" has been submitted (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d2c6b98ecdbc500b4/Scam_email_example_6.jpg) (JPEG, 70 KB)

Email asking you to “verify your identity” within 24 hours using a one-time “reference number”: Scam email example: verify your identity within 24 hours (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d21ef5aaa6543efd4/Scam_email_example_10.png) (PNG, 144 KB)

Email claiming to “inform you about some important matters related to your Companies House WebFiling account” with a button saying “Access Now”: Scam email example: important matters related to your Companies House WebFiling account (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d2c6b98ecdbc500b3/Scam_email_example_11.jpg) (JPEG, 73.9 KB)

Request to complete a “Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) verification”: Scam email example: "Know Your Customer" and "Know Your Business" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691f0471c62d57eb3a7107fa/Scam_email_example_14.pdf) (PDF, 125 KB, 2 pages)

Email claiming to be about “changes to our WebFiling service”: Scam email example: "changes to our WebFiling service" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9de39a085bda43efbc/Scam_email_example_13.png) (PNG, 49.9 KB)

Known fraudulent email domains

The following email domains have been used in fraudulent emails claiming to be from Companies House:
- @arccoz.com
- @companies-house-gov.uk
- @companies-house.me.uk
- @companieshouse.me.uk
- @companieshousecomplaint.co.uk
- @companieshousecomplaints.co.uk
- @companieshouseemail.co.uk
- @companieshouseemail.uk
- @companieshousel.ink
- @companieshouses.co.uk
- @companieshouses.com
- @companieshousesecure.co.uk
- @companiesshouse.co.uk
- @companiesshouse.com
- @cp-securemessage.co.uk
- @cpgov.uk
- @ebilling-companieshouse-gov.uk
- @libero.it
- @notification.service.gov.uk.en-uk.website
Scam letters

Scam letters may include:
- QR codes
- links to web pages
- formatting and logos to make it look like they’re from Companies House
- bank details
- poor quality print and format
- pressure to act quickly
- demands to make a payment or visit a web page
If you get a letter claiming to be from Companies House

If you receive a suspicious letter:
- contact us immediately on xx-xxxx-xxxx
- do not pay any money to the sender
- do not visit any web page or QR code links
- do not share any personal information
Examples of known scam letters

Fake invoice for “Company Registration”: Scam letter example: fake invoice for "Company Registration" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9e2c6b98ecdbc500b5/Scam_letter_example_1.jpg) (JPEG, 102 KB)

Fake invoice mentioning “Unit Charge” and “Units Violated”: Scam letter example: invoice mentioning "Units Violated" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9ee39a085bda43efbe/Scam_letter_example_2.jpg) (JPEG, 206 KB)

Letter from “Company Registry” to “confirm your company details & activate secure vault”: Scam letter example: letter from "Company Registry" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9de39a085bda43efbd/Scam_letter_example_3.jpg) (JPEG, 127 KB)

Letter asking you to pay £48 for “Enhanced Web Filing Access”: Scam letter example: pay £48 for "Enhanced Web Filing Access" (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9dd140bbbaa59a2a67/Scam_letter_example_4.png) (PNG, 189 KB)

Letter on green paper from “Companies House Register” about paying for “company registration”: Scam letter example: letter from "Companies House Register" page 1 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d513046b952c500a7/Scam_letter_example_5.png) (PNG, 575 KB) Scam letter example: letter from "Companies House Register" page 2 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691ddb9d2c6b98ecdbc500b2/Scam_letter_example_6.png) (PNG, 686 KB)

Pension liberation scams

Pension scams are increasingly common in the UK.

Scammers might try and set up a limited company in your name. If you believe someone has set up a company in your name, seek legal advice before taking any action to close it.

You might see scams promoted as:
- offers of ‘unique investment opportunities’
- free pension reviews
- legal loopholes
- cash bonuses
- government endorsed schemes
Pension scammers might approach you:
- by calling you on the phone
- in a text message
- in person, door to door
Be careful any time you’re contacted about your pension, unless it’s from a source you recognise and trust.

If someone approaches you about your pension, do not share your personal information or sign any paperwork.

The Money and Pensions Service (https://maps.org.uk/en#) can help you check if the offer of service is genuine.

The Pensions Regulator has information to help you if you think you’ve been targeted by a pension scam (https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/pension-scams).

Scam company register payment requests

Scammers have sent companies ‘notifications’ asking for money to maintain their company on a register.

These notifications might come from:
- 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
- regist.co.uk
This is not a real fee and Companies House is not connected to any of these organisations.

Do not pay the fee.