That’s because, as the Financial Conduct Authority warned on Friday, they have been taken almost word for word from the website of Shawbrook Bank.
Shawbrook Bank chief executive Ian Henderson said: “Shawbrook immediately alerted the FCA and is taking steps to mitigate the risks to potential customers that are being targeted by these websites. Shawbrook takes the issue of security very seriously”.
The regulator warned Shawz Online Bank was not authorised to carry on regulated activity in the UK and continued: “Shawbrook Bank Limited would like to inform the public that the organisation discussed above identifying itself as Shawz Online Brookhas no association whatsoever with Shawbrook Bank Limited.”
Shawz Online Brook uses the logo of a lion rampant and the same customer picture on its homepage.
Shawbrook Bank, which entered the mainstream buy-to-let market last week, includes a recommendation from a secured loan customer stating: “The service from our broker and Shawbrook was second to none. Great rate, lovely people, superb service.”
The clone website carries a similar recommendation: “The service from our broker and Shawz Online Brook was second to none. Great rate, lovely people, superb service.”
However, when Mortgage Solutions tried calling the pretender’s customer service numbers it was not possible to speak to an operator.
Spot the difference
