Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-scams-pretending-to-be-from-companies-house

Change description : 2025-04-02 12:52:00: Scam telephone calls – Added information about a new scam telephone call claiming to be from Companies House. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-10-07 10:20:05.659635677 +00:00..2025-04-02 11:52:08.682679061 +00:00

Guidance

Reporting scams pretending to be from Companies House

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

From:
Companies House
Published
23 December 2020
Last updated
27 AprilOctober 20252024 — See all updates

Many people are wanting to make charitable donations to support the people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator has issued guidance for people looking to donate to make sure the donations reach their intended causes.

There’sThere aare separate processprocedures if you want to:

Scam telephone calls

We’ll never call you to find out who your officers are, or ask for secure information like your authentication code.

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 0303 1234 500

Registration documents

Scammers have called people who have recently registered a company. They claim to be calling from Companies House in Cardiff or from the ‘registration department’ which does not exist. They ask for contact details so they can send out ‘registration documents’.

Late filing penalty payment phone call

ScammersCompanies have calledbeen tocontacted askasking companiesfor paypayment of a late filing penalty over the telephone. The caller says they’ll accept a payment of £5 by credit or debit to place a hold on any further action being taken.

We will not callcontact you for immediate payment of a late filing penalty.penalty Weor willrequest notpayment askof youa fornominal moneyfee to place a hold on furtherany recovery action.

Payment plans are set up with the agreement of the manager dealing with your late filing penalty query. We will not cold call you to take a payment.

Asking for your authentication code over the phone

We’ll never ask you what your authentication code is over the phone.

If Doanyone notcalls giveyou outclaiming thisto information.be from Companies House asking for your authentication code - try to get a return telephone number and contact us immediately on 0303 1234 500.

Asking for directors’ details over the phone

PeopleCompanies have been telephoned by people claiming to be from Companies HouseHouse, havewho calledrequest companies and asked for details of their company’s directors.

After being advised there’s a “discrepancydiscrepancy with the information held on the register”,register, the caller asksrequests for information such as full dates of birth for directors.

We’ll never contact you by telephone to find out who your officers are, or ask for secure information.

If anyone calls you claiming to be from Companies House asking for this information over- thetry phone.to get a return telephone number and contact us immediately on 0303 1234 500.

Scam emails

YouWe’re mayaware receiveof scamsuspicious emails being sent that claim to be from Companies House.

Some emails might have an attachment, such as a Word document.document, Theyand mightmay ask you to enter an authorisation codecode. orThese clickemails ahave link.not been generated by us.

If you getreceive a suspicious email:

  • email, you should report it to us immediately at phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk.

  • do

    Do not sharedisclose any personal information,information click any links or open any attachments

  • deleteattachments. theCompanies emailHouse fromwill allnever mailboxes,ask includingfor your deletedauthentication items
    • code.

ScamPhishing emailsscam about a complaint related your companyWebFiling account

SeveralThis scamis emailssent claimfrom tothe beemail notifyingdomain you@libero.it ofabout a“important complaintmatters related to your company.Companies House WebFiling account”.

TheThese emails mayare givenot asent referenceby numberCompanies orHouse. submissionDo numberno forclick theon complaint.any Theylinks mayand askdo younot toreply open an attachment or click a link to download and review the complaint.email.

TheDelete sender of the email mayfrom beall “complaints@companies-house-gov.uk”mailboxes, orincluding “noreply@cpgov.uk”.your deleted items.

Investigations Scam andemails Enforcementabout Servicesonline emailsidentification

These emails claim to be from theCompanies ‘InvestigationsHouse and Enforcementask Servicesyou atto Companiescomplete House’.online Theidentification.

Do emailsnot sayreply they’re automatically generated in response to athe complaintemails, aboutor aopen company.

Theany emailsattachments askor youclick toon viewany anlinks. attachedDelete document.the Doemails notfrom openyour thisinbox, attachment.including Ityour containsdeleted malware.items.

PhishingScam scamemail about youra WebFilingcompany accountcomplaint

ThisThere emailis comescurrently froma thescam domainemail @libero.it,circulating aboutimpersonating “importantCompanies mattersHouse.

Do relatednot toclick youron Companiesany Houselinks, WebFilingreply account”.

 Scamto emailsthe aboutemail onlineor identification

Theseopen emailsany claimattachments. toPlease bedelete fromthe Companiesemail Housefrom andall askmailboxes youincluding toyour completedeleted “online identification”.items.

Scam email request to avoid legal action

ThisWe’ve emailhad claimsreports of suspicious emails claiming to be from Companies House.House Itand asksasking youcustomers to usemake “e-Signa platform”correction.

These emails are a scam - do not reply to downloadthem, andopen reviewany documentsattachments affectingor click on any links. Please delete the email from your business.inbox.

Scam email request to use an e-Signa-Sign platform to download documents

ThisSome people have reported receiving phishing emailemails asksin youthe form of a request to download documents about the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill second reading.

The email address may be clearly fraudulent, but even if the email seems to be from Companies House, customers should be aware that the email is not from Companies House.

If you’ve received one of these emails forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it.

Do not try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Phishing scam with subject line ‘Hundreds of phone calls and emails have been sent in the name of your company – Notice #’

This scam email claims that hundreds of phonephonecalls calls and emails have been sent in your company name. It also asks youcustomers to click a link to see what type of information has been sent. These emails are not from us.

If you’ve received one of these emails forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and delete it from all mailboxes, including your deleted items.

Do not click any links or buttons or enter any details.

Phishing scam asking to verify your identity

TheseSome phishingcustomers scamhave received emails come from the“noreply@companieshousel.ink” addressasking “noreply@companieshousel.ink”. They ask you to ‘Verify your identity by Friday, Feb 8”. These emails claim to be from Companies House and HMRC.

If you receive any emails from this sender, forward them to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Delete the email from your mailbox and do not disclose any personal information or click any links.

Scam company complaints emails

Some customers have received suspicious emails about company complaints. These emails are not from us.

If you receive any emails from this sender, forward them to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Do not open any attachments.

The email is sent from: “complaints@companies-house-gov.uk” or “noreply@cpgov.uk” with the following message:

This message has been generated in response to the company complaint submitted to Companies House WebFiling service.

(CC01) Company Complaint for the company was accepted on 25/06/2018.

The submission number is 5GBV2LXEK5ULLKW

Please quote this number in any communications with Companies House.

View WebFiled document

All WebFiled documents are available to view / download for 10 days after their original submission.

Investigations and Enforcement Services emails

Since 2016, we’ve seen emails claiming to be from the ‘Investigations and Enforcement Services at Companies House’. The email says it’s automatically generated in response to a complaint about a company.

Customers are asked to view an attached document. This document has been shown to contain malware - do not open this attachment.

Some of these emails have contained the following domains which we do not use:

  • @arccoz.com
  • @companies-house-gov.uk
  • @cpgov.uk
  • @companieshouse.me.uk
  • @companies-house.me.uk
  • @companieshousecomplaint.co.uk
  • @companieshousecomplaints.co.uk
  • @companieshouseemail.co.uk
  • @companieshouseemail.uk
  • @companieshouses.com
  • @companiesshouse.com
  • @companiesshouse.co.uk
  • @companieshouses.co.uk
  • @companieshousesecure.co.uk
  • @cp-securemessage.co.uk
  • @ebilling-companieshouse-gov.uk
  • @companieshousel.ink

If you’ve received one of these emails forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it.

Do not click any links or try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Scam request to download a copy of an application

These emails appear to come from a valid Companies House email address but do not.

TheIf you’ve received one of these emails tellforward youit thatto phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it from your applicationmailbox, hasincluding beenyour submitteddeleted anditems.

Do asknot youclick toany tolinks, download aany copyattachments, ofenter theany application.data or reply to this email.

Scam ‘Document Order’ emails

These emails appear to come from a valid Companies House email address but do not.

You’ll only get a real document order email if you’ve requested a copy of current company information using our online filing service.

Genuine document order emails contain:

  • contain your company name and number under the ‘Order detail’ heading
  • heading, and a reference to the attached PDF of company information
information.

The scam emails do not contain this individual company information, and the attachment is not in a PDF format. Do not open the attachment.

If you’ve received one of these emails forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it.

Do not try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Scam online filing submission emails

SomeThis scam emailsemail claimclaims to be a response to an online filing submission.

TheyWe’re mightalso askaware youthat to:some customers have been sent emails with the following:

  • scan

    Thank andyou faxfor ancompleting attacheda document

  • checksubmission anReference # (0516538). Check attachment to confirm your acceptance or rejection of athis filing
    • filing.

IfDo thenot emailopen isan genuine,attachment to check information.

In any emails from us, we’ll tell you inwithin the body of the email ifwhether we’veyour submission has been accepted or rejectedrejected.

If youryou’ve submission.received one of these fake emails, forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it.

Do not try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Scam eReminder requests for accounts

TheseSome people have reported receiving phishing emails appearin tothe beform aof an email reminder to submit accounts.

The emailsexamples we’ve been shown have an incorrect due date.date Theyon askthem. youThis tois “findyour first indication it might be a scam.

The phishing emails also say ‘Please find information in the following link regarding your Company’s annual accounts”.accounts.’

Do not openclick this link.link, Itas takesit transfers you to ‘118enquiries.com’ and downloads a zip-file onto your device.

If you’ve received one of these emails forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it.

Do not try to view any attachments contained in the email.

Scam requests to verify your Companies House password

We’ve had reports of people receiving email requests to validate their Companies House email address and password.

If you’re not expecting to receive an email to reset your password,password it may be a scam. Forward it to phishing@companieshouse.gov.uk and then delete it.

AlwaysThe checkemail thecontains websitea addresslink (URL)to you’rea aboutweb topage visit.that Ifrequests the entry of your email address doesand notpassword.

Always containcheck ‘.gov.uk’,that itthe isURL not(the awebsite Companiesaddress) Houseyou’re pageabout andto couldvisit beis a scam.genuine Companies House or GOV.UK address.

ForExample A example,request for a password reset request for our online filing service will have an address that starts: ‘ewf.companieshouse.gov.uk’.ewf.companieshouse.gov.uk

 Fraudulent email domains

SomeIf scamthe emailslink usedoesn’t thecontain following‘.gov.uk’ domainswithin inthe theiraddress email- addresses.it’s Wenot doa notCompanies useHouse thesepage domains:

  • @arccoz.com
  • @companies-house-gov.uk
  • @cpgov.uk
  • @companieshouse.me.uk
  • @companies-house.me.uk
  • @companieshousecomplaint.co.uk
  • @companieshousecomplaints.co.uk
  • @companieshouseemail.co.uk
  • @companieshouseemail.uk
  • @companieshouses.com
  • @companiesshouse.com
  • @companiesshouse.co.uk
  • @companieshouses.co.uk
  • @companieshousesecure.co.uk
  • @cp-securemessage.co.uk
  • @ebilling-companieshouse-gov.uk
  • @companieshousel.ink

Scamand letters

Scamcould lettersbe maya include:scam.

  • QR

    Do codes

  • linksnot toenter webany pages
  • bank details

They mayor askclick youany tolinks visitor abuttons. The web page oris makenot alinked payment.

Ifto youour receiveservices aand suspiciouscould letter:

  • contactsend usyour immediatelydetails on 0303 1234 500
  • do not pay any money to the sender
  • doscammers.

    Scam not visit any web page or QR code links

letters

Letter aboutfrom ‘Company Registration’

This is a scam letter asking for paymentpayment. forDo “publishingnot yourvisit company’sany legalwebpage informationor onQR thecode publiclinks, databaseand ofdo Companiesnot Housemake Registerany (COHOREG)”.payments to the details shown.

Letter about ‘payment code’

This is a scam letter asking for paymentpayment. forDo ‘Enhancednot Webvisit Filingany Access’.webpage or QR code links, and do not make any payments to the details shown.

Letters from prosecuting solicitors asking for payment

ThisWe’re isaware of a scam letter appearingthat appears to be from Companies House prosecuting solicitors.

It asks for payment into a bank account to clear an outstanding invoice for “prior‘prior penalty negotiations”.

negotiations’. We do not sendissue these kindsletters.

If ofyou letters.receive a suspicious letter, contact us immediately on 0303 1234 500. Never pay any money into the bank account shown.

Scam invoice asking for payment for company registration

ThisWe’ve scamhad letterreports appearsof tothe befollowing an invoice claiming to be from Companies House.

It asks for payment of a balance shown in dollars, and is addressed from ‘Government Digital Service, Caroline Street, Birmingham’.

These invoices are not from Companies House.

If you receive a suspicious invoice, contact us immediately on 0303 1234 500. Never pay any money to the sender.

Suspicious job vacancies

ScamWe’re receiving email enquiries about job vacanciesadverts in the UK.

These adverts generally offer highly paid vacancies or opportunities in the oil, hotel or banking industries.

The job adverts are often appearplaced in print or on websites to seemappear genuine.

TheyTreat mightall askjob foroffers moneywith toextreme processcaution. yourThe applicationcontact ordetails mentionare UKusually visas.fake, Check with UK Visas and Immigrationyou forshould informationavoid onreplying applyingto forthe aproviders UKof visa.these vacancies.

The contactadvert detailsmight arerequest usuallymoney fake.up Youfront shouldbefore notthe replyapplication tocan thebe providersprocessed, ofand thesethey vacancies.

Treatmight allalso jobmention offersUK visas. Be sure to check with extremeUK caution.Visas and Immigration for information on applying for a UK visa.

You can search for genuine job vacancies at Companies House on the civil service jobs website.

Pension liberation scams

Pension scams are increasinglyon commonthe increase in the UK.

ScammersUK mightand tryunder andsome setschemes upindividuals ahave had limited companycompanies set up in yourtheir name.

If you believe someoneyou’ve hashad set up a company set up in your name, seek legal advice before taking any action to close it.

YouScams mightare seepromoted scamsusing promotedterms as:

  • offerssuch as an offer of ‘uniqueunique investment opportunities’
  • opportunities, free pension reviews
  • review, legal loopholes
  • loophole, cash bonuses
  • governmentbonus endorsedor schemes

Pensionas scammersa mightgovernment approachendorsed you:

  • byscheme callingand youvictims onare thebeing phone
  • inapproached athrough cold calling, text message
  • or in person,person door to door
door.

BeYou carefulshould anytreat timeall you’reapproaches contacted about your pension,pension unlesswith it’scaution if it is not from a source you recognise and trust.

If someoneyou’re approachesapproached, you about your pension, do not share your personal information or sign any paperwork.

The Money and Pensions Service can help you check if the offer of service is genuine.

The Pensions Regulator hasoffers informationguidance to help youindividuals ifwho you think you’vethat they may have been targeted by pension scams.

ScamCompany company register payment requests

ScammersCompanies haveregistered sentat companiesCompanies ‘notifications’House are receiving notifications asking for money to maintain their company on a register.

TheseThe notificationscompanies mightconcerned comeare from:receiving what looks like a genuine request from one of the following:

  • 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

ThisThese isorganisations are not aconnected realto, feeor andendorsed by, either Companies House or GOV.UK and the fee requested is not connectedrequired to anykeep ofthe thesecompany organisations.

Doregistered notat payCompanies the fee.House.

Updates to this page

Published 23 December 2020

Last updated 27 AprilOctober 2025 + show hide all updates" href="#full-history">+ show all updates

    2. Scam telephone calls – Added information about a new scam telephone call claiming to be from Companies House.

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Contents

Update history

2025-04-02 12:52
Scam telephone calls – Added information about a new scam telephone call claiming to be from Companies House.

2024-10-07 11:19
Scam letter from ‘Company Registration’. Do not visit any webpage or QR code links, and do not make any payments to the details shown.

2024-05-23 14:53
Do not click on any links or reply to any emails from the domain “@libero.it”. This is a phishing scam impersonating Companies House.

2024-01-25 14:47
Added scam letter about a ‘payment code’.

2023-11-23 14:28
Scam email pretending to be about online identification.

2023-10-27 14:57
New scam email claiming to be from Companies House asking for online identification.

2023-03-24 14:38
A warning about a scam letter has been added.

2022-12-07 14:13
A new scam email has been added to the list.

2022-11-22 14:17
Details of a scam asking users to download a copy of a submitted application has been added to the page.

2022-03-04 17:00
Many people are wanting to make charitable donations to support the people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator has issued guidance for people looking to donate to make sure the donations reach their intended causes.