UK-listed Aberdeen Asset Management has warned that a scam artist is attempting to defraud investors by posing as a representative of the firm.

UK-listed Aberdeen Asset Management has warned that a scam artist is attempting to defraud investors by posing as a representative of the firm.

In a statement published on its website, the asset manager said that an individual is offering false lease agreements through email using the name and old logo of the firm as well as using a profile on the Linkedin website to lend credibility to his approach.

The firm asked clients to note that although Linkedin was used for networking purposes, it would never make contact with prospective clients or offer unsolicited business proposals via the site.

"Aberdeen does not offer such agreements and will not contact the public in this way to offer such. Please also note that although our staff will use Linkedin for networking purposes they never make contact with prospective clients or offer unsolicited business proposals via the site," Aberdeen said.

Aberdeen also warned investors to be alert to telephone calls from people claiming to work for Aberdeen or third-party firms offering to buy their investment company shares.

"These may be scams which attempt to gain your personal information with which to commit identity fraud or could be boiler room scams where a payment from you is required to release the supposed payment for your shares. These callers do not work for Aberdeen and any third party making such offers has no link with Aberdeen. Aberdeen Asset Management never makes these types of offers and does not cold-call investors in this way," Aberdeen said.

Surge in fraud

Following a recent surge in the number of clone firms and fraudsters out to scam investors, the UK watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, recently issued a number of warnings of unauthorised financial services companies targeting UK investors.

Amongst the fraudulent firms were Mesirow Financial or Mesirow Financial International UK copying details from the authorised firm, Piccadilly-based Mesirow Financial International UK Ltd.

Fraudsters are also trying to scam people in the UK with the clone firm AMI FX, AMI Professional Services Ltd, AMIFX located in Essex and which is a copy of AMI Professional Services.

In addition, the boiler room firm LBV Asset Management, LBV is cloning LBV Asset Management LLP of No 1 Poultry, London, while dgfinancialservicesltd@gmail.com is abusing the details of the Durham, UK-based authorised firm, D&G Financial Services.

This follows the arrest last month of three individuals in connection with an investigation into boiler room activity. The FCA also said that the arrests are not linked to any other ongoing investigation and that no individuals have currently been charged.